That’s my style espresso! Turns out, the colour I most overlook is the key to maximising my style

I know, this is the third time we’ve talked colour in as many weeks. But bear with me here, because this is another important piece of the dressing-for-now puzzle that you need to know about.

First off, we highlighted that burgundy is the colour of the season. And it is! Just as it was in the summer, and last winter too. Burgundy, aubergine, claret… whatever you want to call it, looks fabulous worn as literally any item of clothing, as accessory and even – if you want to go the whole hog – worn top-to-toe, shoes included. I have a burgundy outfit of Hush knit, Albaray cords and Hush ballet pumps that I currently wear on repeat, and it requires no further thought than finding the clothes in the wardrobe again.

But what happens when you want to loosen it up towards something casual for a country walk, a mosey around a weekend market or simply to walk the dog? That’s where burgundy paired with khaki comes in.

In this instalment of ‘how to wear colour now’, we look at how to make burgundy more glam and luxurious-looking for a night out or for a professional work look – and, surprisingly, this is where espresso shot brown comes in.

You might think of brown as a shoe, bag or jacket colour. Something brown surely equals a durable, sturdy item? Not this autumn.

In fact, the design teams at all our favourite retailers from Arket to Albaray, Massimo Dutti to Cos and Marks & Spencer have taken espresso brown into luxury territory with elegant pieces designed for evening and daytime power dressing. But, you guessed it, I think its main power lies in wearing it as a dynamic colour pairing with burgundy.

There’s one simple reason these colours are dreamy together – brown is the root colour behind them all! Burgundy is deep red with a shot of brown. Khaki is yellow with a shot of brown. Brown, well it’s a double dose of espresso and all the richer for it.

Pair a burgundy trouser or skirt with a patterned brown Cos roll neck, or a silky brown shirt from With Nothing Underneath, and suddenly – pow! You’re showing your fashion knowhow and giving maximum elegance.

The edit shared here highlights all the most elevated brown pieces we can find now. From a silky dark brown bias-cut midi skirt at Mint Velvet, or a dark brown velvet midi skirt at Next – wear with a burgundy jumper or jacket – to Lilysilk’s gorgeous silk shirt, which works with baby blue, or claret-coloured jeans or cords. The effect is instant elegance.

The beauty of this is that you need just one shot of espresso brown to give the rest of your autumn wardrobe a total refresh. In that respect, espresso brown is as effective as a real cup of coffee for its ability to energise you and your style.

Discover our edit of the best espresso brown pieces to elevate your autumn wardrobe now