Of all the fashion regrets I have, the biggest is all the black I wore. For years, if I bought a coat, it would automatically be black. A pantsuit, a turtleneck sweater, an evening dress, black, black and very dense inky black. I don’t think I’m the only one who spent the 1990s in Victorian mourning.

Now, of course, I wouldn’t dream of wearing black; my complexion can’t take it anymore and what was once bold and sophisticated seems ordinary and flat. Moreover, fashion is no longer under the influence of black: it is there, still as chic, but it is no longer the first choice nor the obvious fallback solution.

That prize goes to navy blue, gray or camel which – coincidentally – are much more forgiving towards us 50+ year olds. But the biggest change, and what led me to wear color every day, is how we wear color now.

The fashion term for this is “tonal dressing”: wearing different shades of one or more colors that lie next to each other on the color wheel – brown, caramel and camel, for example. And boy, is it a revelation.

Chocolate plain knit sweater, sleeveless, £22.99, zara.com

Mustard alpaca and wool short-sleeved sweater, £45.99, zara.com

Color used to be something you threw into the mix – a red sweater, a cobalt blue top – and hoped for the best. Now you build your outfit in single-color gradients that automatically work together (bingo! Zero effort) and the effect is subtler and more wearable.

A tone-on-tone outfit looks elegant, but not matching. It’s versatile and less statement than head-to-toe block color.

And since it’s a spectrum of shades, the colors themselves are more interesting. No more “brown is the color of fall 2024,” there are six or seven shades to choose from this season — and wear together.

In Me+Em – a good example – you’ll find dozens of items in the range of browns, from caramel to camel to conker to maple, and they all look delicious combined.

It’s hard to get excited about just one brown item, but a mix of golden tans and chocolates looks rich and beautiful. It’s also worth noting that their black velvet jacket that you’d expect to find this time of year is a dark brown called double espresso. And guess what? It’s all the warmer and more interesting – autumn 2024.

You don’t need to spend Me+Em prices to embrace the new color vibe. Start with one color from the current fall batch – all dark reds, all browns, any shade of blue, winter pinks – then choose a few pieces to start with.

Brown faux leather trapeze midi skirt, £69, monsoon.co.uk

Double Front Wrap Coat in Burgundy, £159, johnlewis.com

A sweater is a good place to start: quality wool carries color so well. Head to Marks & Spencer for a cashmere crew neck (£89, markandspencer.com) in all colors, from fuchsia to camel.

I’m sold on that brown moment after buying a cinnamon skirt in summer that everyone noticed (all browns go equally well with off-whites and creams in winter). Start it all off with a plain knit sleeveless chocolate jumper (£22.99, zara.com) or a nutmeg waistcoat from M&S (£19.50), worn alone or over a cream shirt. Or Zara has a mustard alpaca and wool short-sleeve jumper (£45.99, zara.com).

You can wear any of them with Me+Em’s Velvet Trousers (£195, Meandem.com) or M&S’s Faux Leather A-Line Midi (£39.50, markandspencer.com) both with bitter chocolate. The key is to not stop at your size (most of us tend to wear colors on top) and to make the color last.

Stretch velvet trousers, £195, Meandem.com

Marks & Spencer has a wide range of cashmere crew neck jumper colors (£89), from subtle camel to acid yellow (pictured)

Turtleneck Sweater from Marks & Spencer in Bright Green (£35)

There are plenty of chocolate A-line leather midis for fall (£69, monsoon.co.uk) or a pair of bespoke wools (£85, johnlewis.com) or tweed pants would be suitable.

Bright greens and olives are also popular in fall. Some greens you can play with include M&S’s Turtleneck in Bright Green (£35), their Casual Two-Button Single Breasted Coat in Forest Green (£69) and their Deep Moss Green Wide Leg Trousers (£29.50) .

Or do it with every shade of wine, starting with the John Lewis Wrap Coat in Burgundy (£159, johnlewis.com), berry satin jacket (£125) and matching trousers (£85).

This is also the time to create unexpected color combinations such as pea green and pink (again, it’s M&S or John Lewis for a mismatched twinset) and unlikely bright but icy colors including iris and winter citrus – the palest, sharpest lemon is lovely as a style accent. with blue or mixed with off-white.

Color has rarely been so desirable.