The best colors to pair with Pantone's Mocha Mousse, according to stylists
Pantone's 2025 Color of the Year, Mocha Mousse, is a comforting, soft brown shade that many already own.
Described as “an evocative soft brown that transports our senses into the pleasure and deliciousness it inspires,” Pantone said that Mocha Mousse is a mellow brown hue that evokes the indulgence of cacao, chocolate, and coffee.
This shade somehow exudes a sense of understated luxury—not overly flashy or attention-grabbing, but rather, it has a quiet confidence.
But how else can you wear this color aside from pairing it with denim or as knitwear? To inspire your wardrobe, we turned to fashion stylists for their expert advice.
Whites, creamy whites
A neutral color palette provides a versatile foundation for understated elegance and bold statements. Celebrity fashion stylist Myrrh Lao-To said that the soft, creamy brown color can be paired with creamy whites. He also thinks "It's cute also with gold/brass."
For Aldrin Ramos, who styles Rhian Ramos and Lovi Poe, "adding any staple white clothing to it will also make it fresh and clean."
Actress Max Collins put on her chic fall outfit, wearing a black shirt, white jeans, and a mocha-colored coat from Sandro.
Black, navy
Black and dark gray colors can make browns moodier.
"A black contrast to mocha mousse also adds a more serious and edgier appeal to your look," Ramos said. "Strong colors like navy and maroon mixed and matched with mocha mousse also have quite interesting combinations and add an elegant touch to your look."
Kylie Verzosa wore a mocha dress which she paired with black slingback heels.
Pale blues and green
As blue and brown are complementary colors, Lao To mentioned that soft pale blue and mint can be an option.
Designer and illustrator Chi Gibbs, known for her knack for colors, mixed an all-brown look with green accessories and a pair of beige sneakers with touches of neon green.
Meanwhile, Chie Filomeno paired her light blue button-down with a mocha-colored coat during a trip to Hong Kong.
Mauve, lavender, mustard
Brown's neutral status allows it to complement not only other neutrals like black, cream, and white, as well as earthy tones such as olive green. However, Lao To said it works to balance out brighter statement colors, too.
"For the colorful peeps who want to make a statement with brights, can be with mustard yellow, lavender/mauve, or peach/coral," he said.
If you like to keep it subtle, just look at the interesting touches of purple on Nadine Lustre's flowy high-neck dress by Patty Ang.
Other shades of brown
If all else fails, go monochromatic—it's the easiest way to wear the color. Mix and match mocha with caramel or taupe or with warm bright browns like terracotta. It will look extra stylish when combined.
"To achieve an ultra-chic look, something I would do is build a monochromatic look with all mocha mousse colors or make mocha mousse the color of footwear then mix and match the mentioned colors with it," Lao-To told L!fe.
Ramos also said the same thing, adding that "It adds variation instead of going for something monotone."
We love how Pia Wurtzbach styled her copper boxy, cropped blazer and baggy trousers and paired it with a mocha-colored inner top. To make it stand out, designer Patty Ang added colorful embellishments on the cuffs of Pia's blazer.
Julia Montes, with the help of Lao To, also wore a pair of wide-leg mocha trousers which were matched with a dark brown asymmetrical top.
