Every year, Pantone releases its Color of the Year. While vibrant shades like Peach Fuzz and Viva Magenta have won the title in the past, 2025’s winner is Mocha Mousse, a warm mid-toned brown. According to insiders, the hue will be the backbone of your outfits (and your nail routine) for the year ahead.
It might be early days in 2025, but the light brown hue already gives other neutrals a run for their money. It's a minimalist magnet and will lighten up your winter closet while playing nicely with every other seasonal color trend, from cherry-red to pale pink. “Light brown is trending because it embodies stability, reliability, and timeless appeal,” echoes Joanne Thomas, the Director of Color at global trend forecasting platform Trend Snoops. "It's unpretentious and represents meaningful minimalism, transforming timeless colors into symbols of subtle elegance."
Designer brands are already buying in, too: The shade was a key part of several Spring 2025 collections, which debuted at Fashion Week last September. At Saint Laurent, Mocha Mousse-toned leather was fashioned into a trendy bomber jacket. At Isabel Marant, there were Mocha Mousse-hued suede pieces aplenty. At New York-based label Kallmeyer, the shade was styled with an all-black, a very East Coast-approved ensemble.
Saint Laurent, Kallmeyer, and Isabel Marant baked mocha mousse into their Spring/Summer 2025 collections.
Off the runway, it has become popular amongst color-fatigued shoppers looking for timeless pieces they can invest in now and wear forever. Faux fur jackets, UGG boots, and teddy coats, which often come in the same soft brown shade, have also risen in popularity over the last few months. Pieces like Bella Hadid's suede Coach Brooklyn Bag have been hard to keep in stock since she styled it over the summer. More recently, Katie Holmes's mocha-hued trench coat made waves online alongside many of the actresses' off-duty staples.
This may explain why my closet is already full of the buzzy shade. To adopt the color yourself, I've rounded up the best mocha mousse- pieces in every category. I found luxe cashmere sweaters, warm winter jackets, and suede bags to add to your collection. Keep scrolling to see all my hand-selected options and get tips from stylist Ariel Tunnell on on making the color work for you.
- Shop Mocha Mousse Sweaters
- Shop Mocha Mousse Jackets
- Shop Mocha Mousse Bags
- Shop Mocha Mousse Shoes
- How to Style Mocha Mousse
Mocha Mousse Sweaters
At Prada and Versace, the shade was given a preppy flair, while Max Mara stuck to tonal styling that felt elevated and classic.
Maybe the easiest way to incorporate the color into your rotation is with a new knit, as shown on the runways of Max Mara and Prada. Luckily, brands like Sezane and Aritzia have you covered. If you prefer a cardigan, try a casual cropped silhouette from Reformation.
Mocha Mousse Jackets
Chloé, Zimmermann, and Ferrari all showed jackets in a veriety of cropped and elongated silhouettes.
Jacket styles in the season's most in-demand hues, inspired by the runways at Zimmermann and Chloé, feature oversized silhouettes and flowing boho details. You can also emulate Ferrari's sporty version with a leather pick.
Mocha Mousse Bags
Stella McCartney, Miu Miu, and Hermès all showed mocha-hued bags in suede and leather fabrications.
If you're looking for a new fall bag, look to the runways at Miu Miu, Hermès, and Stella McCartney for inspiration. You'll find an array of easygoing silhouettes that will complement everything you already wear. Off the runway, there are tons of options from brands like Coach and Madewell.
Mocha Mousse Shoes
Victoria Beckham, Saint Lauren, and Dries Van Noten offered their own take on shoes that come in the rich hue for for Spring 2025.
If you're tired of wearing black shoes this winter, swap a pair or two for a mocha-hued option. Victoria Beckham showcased mesh loafers on its runway. In real life, emulate them with a life-proof pair from Jamie Haller. Or, slip into a pair of Adidas sneakers that come in the perfect light brown color.
How Fashion Insiders and Celebrities Are Styling Mocha Mousse
Mocha Mousse is endlessly versatile, providing the perfect backdrop for the rest of winter’s biggest color trends, like pale gray or pastel blue. Stylist Ariel Tunnell also recommends incorporating other shades of brown for a mixed monochromatic look or teaming it with other neutrals like black or white.
"I see it as a gorgeous evolution of the traditional nudes we think of," she says. “It’s less of a color and more of a tone that really speaks to the magic of rich, monochromatic neutrals. It feels like mauve and taupe’s rich cousin.”
Street stylers combined brown with other neutrals and brighter accessories for a fresh pop.
Among the A-lister set, celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Katie Holmes, and Pamela Anderson have elevated the shade in accordance with their personal styles. On a trip to Aspen in December 2024, Lopez teamed a loud, luxurious-themed fur coat with her signature platform UGG boots, both of which came in the mid-toned hue. Holmes later swapped her favorite The Frankie Shop coat for her trench style, pairing it with straight-leg jeans and black loafers.
Anderson also likes the hue, choosing it for a pre-Golden Globes party to celebrate her film The Last Showgirl. The star stayed true to her low-key style (she famously doesn't work with a glam team or stylist) and teamed a light brown sweater with a darker brown midi skirt, showing how the two hues can work in tandem.
Lopez, Holmes, and Anderson show that Mocha Mousse works both on the street and in dressier situations.
Meet The Experts
In her role as Director of Color, Joanne had the pleasure of working closely with some incredible brands in Fashion, Home, Beauty, and more. Her mission is not just to predict trends but to craft unique color strategies that resonate with your brand identity.
Ariel Tunnell is a Los Angeles based celebrity stylist and accessory lover. Current clients include Stephanie Beatriz, Rachel Bloom, Poppy Liu, Lauren Ash, Melissa Fumero, and Abby Elliott.
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