Chestnut, caramel, coffee – sound yummy? Maybe they remind you of popular hair colors, or… Chestnut, caramel, coffee – sound yummy? Maybe they remind you of popular hair colors, or better yet, of the revolutionary and fashionable shade for Fall 2005.

This fall, brown is the perfect transition color for the end-of-summer “I know it’s September but I’ll still pretend it’s July and wear my mini skirt and forget about the slight chill in the air” blues. Brown, in its ability to appear dark while still having a warm feel, allows us to shift smoothly to winter without “forcing the season” and being premature in our fashion decisions.

As if the ancient shade is a hot newcomer for fashion, brown presents women and men with the ingenious option of stepping away from black while maintaining a classic look. Sound like an excellent plan? It is.

According to Carson Kressley from “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,” at the Golden Globes, “brown is the new black” – and if you want to update your style, you better get hip to it.

But fall 2005 doesn’t appear to be your typical autumn season; this year designers have incorporated styles that give a refreshing breath of air to the otherwise stifled season. More popular styles include crocodile-embossed flat boots and military and beribboned jackets. The added bonus: Most styles can be found at inexpensive local stores in which you won’t silently have a heart attack upon glancing at the price.

Take Steve Madden for example. The trendy Steve Madden retail store is conveniently located at the Southside Works and offers an array of brown hues that demand a certain authority and sophistication. Its wedged Strive shoe – a 4-inch suede and leather shoe available in dark brown and camel – is priced at $169.

Still too pricey for your taste?

Mosey over to Monroeville Mall and indulge yourself with designer-inspired sunburned sweaters and beige blouses that don’t ask you to choose between luxury and warmth – it’s all-inclusive.

But without fail, there will probably be some of us who – whether we’d like to admit it or not – won’t have an inkling of what color to wear with brown.

For those of us in need, try adding a hint of light blue against your brown garments: Not only will it soften your look, but it will give you the look of warmth during the blustery weather season. And, if you’re still looking for a chance for your dull wardrobe to play hooky during the fall season, try mixing brown with pink. It’s feminine, and it oozes Park Avenue Princess.

Before you spend your work-study paycheck, here’s some not-so-good news: Women’s Wear Daily recently crowned blue as the new black for spring 2005, meaning that the beloved earthly brown may not be here to stay.

So, what’s a girl to do?

Well, I’m confident that I speak for the masses when I say brown isn’t going anywhere anytime soon: It’s way too popular and easy to accessorize. With brown, virtually anything goes, and it isn’t an intimidating shade. After all, Carson Kressley declared it as being the new black, and who dares to argue with his eye for fashion? Not I.

Deena loves brown. A lot. If you’re excited to have brown one of this season’s must-haves, send your fashion comments to [email protected].