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Pantone is ushering in the New Year with a color prediction that’s easy to get behind.
The trend-forecasting color institute announced Thursday that Mocha Mousse is the shade to watch across fashion, beauty, and interiors in the year to come. Dubbing it an “aspirational” brown, Pantone remarked on the hue’s richness and innately comforting quality, likening it to chocolate and coffee.
While deep chocolate brown has been a hero of 2024 color trends, Mocha Mousse is a less serious, more approachable evolution of fashion’s love affair with the neutral hue, marrying luxury with familiarity. It’s already been popping up in the beauty space. Think: winter nail polish trends like “chocolate milk” manicures, or the bronzed look of “latte makeup,” both seen on TikTok.
The medium brown hue is easy to work into any wardrobe, providing a softer neutral base than black or dark brown, while still effortlessly mixing with other shades. And unlike darker colors, Mocha Mousse is seasonless. The color is just as appropriate in the warmer months as it is in winter, bringing to mind terracotta pottery or suede leather accessories. Alo was an early Mocha Mousse trend arbiter with its “Chestnut” and “Toasted Almond” shades.
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Courtesy of Pantone
Mocha Mousse isn’t far off from the quiet luxury aesthetic that gained popularity as a mellow counterpoint to all things Y2K revival. Incorporating the chocolate soft serve-esque color doesn’t require any massive sartorial or beauty leap. Our editors have rounded up the best Mocha Mousse products to offer a new neutral to one’s repertoire, by way of lip gloss, women’s sweaters, your favorite Nike sneakers, and more.
Shop our picks for a sophisticated revamp of your beauty and fashion staples, that while technically on-trend, skew totally timeless.
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Essie Expressie Nail Polish in Never Skip a Beat
Nail polish is the lowest commitment method to test drive any color trend. While you’ve probably seen dark chocolate-adjacent winter nail polish shades this year, embrace the trending “chocolate milk” manicure that is gaining traction on TikTok to take Mocha Mousse for a spin. Essie’s “Never Skip a Beat” color nails the shade.
Price upon publish date of this article: $7.41
Coach Tabby Shoulder Bag 26
The ultra-popular Coach Tabby Bag solidified its most-coveted status when it appeared on Google’s Holiday 100 list of top gifting items this holiday season. The versatile crossbody bag with shoulder strap comes in its own version of Mocha Mousse, a cooler-hued rendition dubbed Dark Stone. The medium shade is rendered in a pebbled leather with a glossy sheen. The classic silhouette was pulled from Coach’s 1970s archives when it was released earlier in 2024.
Price upon publish date of this article: $450
Lele Sadoughi Cognac Bardot Faux Leather Bow Barette
Small accessories are another way to dip your toe into a new trend without a style overhaul. Hair bows offer a festive nod to the holiday season, and this Lele Sadoughi faux leather style is a sophisticated version that you can continue to wear throughout the year. Nailing the Mocha Mousse trend, this soft brown adds depth to blonde and chestnut hair shades, and provides contrast to deep brown and black locks.
Price upon publish date of this article: $49
Violette Fr Yeux Paint in Tout Doux
Cheers to trends that are uber-wearable and flattering. This matte liquid eyeshadow and liner is a perfect shade for daily wear, suiting most skin tones. The highly-pigmented formula is buildable, blendable, and formulated to stay on all day without creasing. Wear it across the entire lid or as a more subtle, smudged liner.
Price upon publish date of this article: $32
Skims Fits Everybody Square Neck Bodysuit in Jasper
This bodysuit exemplifies Mocha Mousse’s power as a neutral base to complement the rest of your wardrobe. Scoop up this Skims layering piece to wear year-round. Wear it under a cardigan in the winter, with a silk skirt in the spring, or with shorts and sandals in the summertime. The double-layered style from the shapewear brand stretches for a flattering fit, but is lightweight so you don’t feel suffocated.
Price upon publish date of this article: $60
Victoria Beckham Satin Kajal Liner in Cinnamon
Opt for a shimmery take on Mocha Mousse in this warm, sparkling brown eyeliner shade by Victoria Beckham. The creamy liner evokes the glossiness of actual whipped mousse, emphasizing the luxuriousness of the trending color. The warm tone is arguably the most flattering of the bunch of eyeliner shades.
Price upon publish date of this article: $34
Freja New York Lafayette Tote in Pecan
Oversized bags are having a moment, which is good news for the laptop-toting among us. Freja New York is not only an editor-approved brand, it’s also loved by celebrities and influencers. Hailey Bieber and Alix Earle are just a couple of the famous faces who have been pictured carrying the brand’s vegan material bags. The Lafayette tote bag is the company’s largest offering, featuring sumptuous, thick straps and lots of inner pockets.
Price upon publish date of this article: $398
Slip Silk Midi & Large Scrunchie Set of 3
It’s time to elevate your humble ponytail or messy bun. Slip’s fan-favorite silk hair scrunchies are easy on your hair, and that much more sophisticated in this warm, neutral brown. The hue is complementary to medium brunettes and blondes, while also flattering when juxtaposed against darker hair shades.
Price upon publish date of this article: $34
Nike P-6000 Sneakers
Mocha Mousse gets sporty in this textural take on the color-to-watch. These Nike walking sneakers perfectly pair the shade with a complimentary linen-esque, oat milk hue. The unisex sneaker style offers a sophisticated and cool approach to comfort dressing.
Price upon publish date of this article: $120
Makeup by Mario Moistureglow Plumping Lip Color in Soft Nude
Enjoy a latte lip moment a la TikTok in this soft brown lip color that reads like a nude lip gloss. The liquid lip color is hydrating, full-coverage, and creates a plumper look. Pair it with a deeper-hued lip liner to create an on-trend dimensional look.
Price upon publish date of this article: $24
J.Crew Factory Ribbed Boyfriend Crewneck Sweater in Heather Brown Dove
A loose boyfriend-style sweater is a wardrobe essential. In this Mocha Mousse shade, it becomes even more versatile. Wear it with a pair of straight-leg jeans and loafers, or drape it over your shoulders with a white t-shirt.
Price upon publish date of this article: $29.40
Alo Yoga Accolade Sweatpants in Chestnut
Fashion lovers’ favorite athleisure company Alo always causes a stir with new color releases, and this limited-edition Chestnut shade has been ultra-popular. The warm brown has sold out in most items, but not in the brand’s best-selling sweatpants. Indulge in the cozy shade while you still can.
Price upon publish date of this article: $128
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Meet the Author
Ashley Davis is a New York-based writer focusing on fashion, lifestyle, and everything in between. She regularly reports on top trending fashion and beauty products for outlets like WWD.