When it comes to Fashion, black is the default, right? It’s easy, it’s often flattering and it goes with damn near everything. But it’s also a little extreme. Personally, I tend to sidestep black in favor of navy blue, which has been my go-to neutral for years. But this fall, I’m increasingly convinced that we should all be making a little more room for brown.

And apparently, I’m not alone. Vogue Business has been tracking the hue’s rise from supporting shade to genuine style statement and apparently, it’s part of a larger move toward warmer, earthier neutrals. That shift has been particularly noticeable in menswear, where shades of chocolate, espresso, tobacco, chestnut and cognac are showing up on everything from tailoring and trousers to knits and accessories. Brown suddenly feels less old-fashioned and more like the sophisticated modern alternative to black or grey.

What makes it particularly appealing right now is that you don’t need actual fall weather to start wearing it. A chocolate knit polo looks great with faded jeans. Dark brown chinos or a sweatshirt in a mocha colorway just feels a whole lot more interesting than the standard colors we’re used to seeing. You’re dressing for the season without sweating through it.

Brown is also surprisingly easy to work into an existing wardrobe. It looks especially good with navy (which certainly helps my case) but also a slew of other colors. And unlike some of the louder shades that periodically get declared the “color of the season,” you don’t have to think too hard about how to wear it. Maybe that’s why brown feels ready for prime time. It isn’t really functioning as a “color” anymore. It’s a warmer, richer neutral that makes familiar clothes feel a little different. And right now, when it’s technically fall but still feels like summer outside, that might be exactly the wardrobe update we need.