Brown Is the Unexpected Spring Hue That Celebrities Love

When the spring hits, it’s typically time to shed your dark, heavy outerwear in favor of pieces that are lighter and more colorful. There’s some truth behind that famous line in The Devil Wears Prada, “Florals? For spring? Groundbreaking.” When it comes to celebrity style, this wardrobe shift is always measurable. Last spring, for instance, we saw stars like Cardi B, Dua Lipa, and Selena Gomez instantly slip into bright neon colors the second the weather warmed up. But this year, A-listers are shaking things up and embracing a more unexpected hue this season: They’ve been taking autumnal browns and giving it a fresh, summery twist instead.

Though brown is a neutral like black or navy, it’s notable that stars are rebuking spring’s cheery color palette and embracing a more stealthy approach to dressing. We’ve seen a handful of trendsetters do head-to-to brown in a way that’s still super eye-catching. Just take Rihanna, who wore brown leather thigh-high boots with a shearling coat to match back in late March. Earlier this month, Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber both stepped out in two monochromatic brown outfits—Jenner in a shearling Roberto Cavalli jacket and 16Arlington leather skirt, and Bieber in leather bomber, turtleneck, and pants all by KNWLS.

Other stars have incorporated brown into their spring wardrobes in more subtle ways. Dua Lipa wore a patchwork bomber jacket in brown leather, while Gabrielle Union opted for a long, sleek trench. Bella Hadid also wore a brown sweater vest overtop a classic white tee. You may think the hue is more fall-appropriate, but if you think about it, brown is way more upbeat than classic black—and it still acts as a basic that can be paired with just about anything. Whereas black or navy basics can ground an outfit, a brown piece can uplift an ensemble, making it feel way more effortless. Plus, considering labels like Fendi, Hermès, and Eckhaus Latta are all embracing the early tone on their spring runways, we’d say it’s safe to consider it as a new staple hue of the season. Sorry, neon fans!

Below, more celebrities who are embracing brown this spring.