What Colors Go With Burgundy? 11 Easy Outfit Pairings

The colors that go with burgundy best are soft neutrals (cream, camel, gray, navy and denim blue), deep greens like forest and olive, blush pink for a tonal look, and mustard or teal when you want a bolder contrast. If you’re wondering what colors go with burgundy in a real outfit, start with one neutral and add a single accent at most.

Burgundy is a deep red with a touch of purple and brown in it, which is why it behaves almost like a neutral. It pairs with far more than you might expect. Below you’ll find a quick table of combinations, the neutrals that make it look polished, a few bolder pairings, how to wear it head to toe, and which colorings it tends to suit best.

What colors go with burgundy: 11 easy combinations

Use this as a cheat sheet. The first color is burgundy; the second is what you pair it with.

Combination	Why it works
Burgundy + cream	Softer than white, so the outfit looks warm and expensive rather than stark.
Burgundy + camel	A classic autumn pairing; try a camel coat over a burgundy knit.
Burgundy + navy	Two deep shades that look smart together, great for work.
Burgundy + charcoal gray	Calm and modern; the gray lets burgundy be the only color.
Burgundy + mid-blue denim	The easiest everyday look: a burgundy top with jeans.
Burgundy + forest green	Rich, slightly festive contrast; keep the shades equally deep.
Burgundy + olive	Earthy and relaxed, good for casual layers and outerwear.
Burgundy + blush pink	A tonal red family look that feels soft rather than loud.
Burgundy + mustard	Bold and warm; use mustard as a small accent like a scarf.
Burgundy + teal	Jewel-tone contrast that works well for evening.
Burgundy + black	Dramatic and sleek, but can look heavy on lighter coloring.

The best neutrals to wear with burgundy

Neutrals are where most burgundy outfits start, and the right one depends on the mood you want and your own coloring.

Cream, ivory and off-white

Cream is often more flattering next to burgundy than bright white. Pure white creates a sharp, high-contrast look that suits people with strong contrast between their hair, skin and eyes. Cream softens the jump between the two colors, which tends to look better on most people and feels more relaxed.

Camel, tan and brown

Burgundy has a brown undertone, so warm browns blend into it naturally. A camel coat, tan trousers or a chocolate-brown bag all make burgundy look richer. This family works especially well if your skin has a warm or golden undertone.

Navy and gray

Navy is the go-to if you want burgundy to look sharp and professional: think a navy suit with a burgundy tie, or a burgundy sweater over navy trousers. Charcoal and mid-gray are the cooler, quieter option. Both suit almost any setting, from the office to a weekend coffee.

Denim

Blue denim counts as a neutral here. A mid-blue or dark-wash pair of jeans with a burgundy shirt, hoodie or knit is one of the simplest outfits you can put together, and it works for every age and body type.

What about black?

Burgundy and black can look striking, especially in evening wear or leather. The catch is that both are very dark, so the pairing can feel heavy and drag down the face of anyone with light or soft coloring. If black feels harsh on you, swap it for charcoal or navy. Our guide to colors that make you look tired explains why very dark shades near the face do that to some people.

Bold color pairings with burgundy

If neutrals feel too safe, burgundy can carry a second strong color. The trick is to match the depth: pair it with colors that are about as deep or as muted as it is, so neither one shouts over the other.

• Forest and bottle green. Red and green are opposites on the color wheel, so this pairing has real energy. Deep versions keep it grown-up rather than holiday-themed.
• Olive and khaki green. Softer and earthier than forest green, great for jackets, cargo trousers and casual layering.
• Mustard and ochre. A warm, retro mix. Keep mustard to a smaller area, like a scarf, beanie or knit vest.
• Teal and petrol blue. Cool jewel tones that make burgundy look even richer; nice for dresses, shirts and evening suits.
• Dusty purple or plum. These sit next to burgundy on the color wheel, so they create an analogous look that feels moody and coordinated.

A simple rule of thumb: one bold color plus burgundy plus a neutral is usually plenty. Three loud colors in one outfit rarely work.

Tonal and monochrome burgundy outfits

Wearing burgundy with other shades of red is a quietly stylish move. Try:

• Burgundy and blush pink for a soft look, such as a blush shirt under a burgundy blazer or cardigan.
• Burgundy and dusty rose or mauve for something in between soft and rich.
• All burgundy, head to toe, in a mix of textures: a knit with corduroy trousers, a wool coat over a satin dress, or a suede jacket with matching trousers. Varying the textures stops it from looking flat.
• Burgundy with oxblood or wine accessories, like shoes, a belt or a bag, which add depth without adding a new color.

Tonal outfits make you look taller and more put-together, because the eye travels in one line without breaks.

Outfit ideas: putting burgundy together

Here are a few formulas that work for suits, dresses, skirts and trousers alike:

1. Smart work look: navy suit or trousers, light blue shirt, burgundy tie or burgundy knit.
2. Weekend casual: burgundy sweater, mid-blue jeans, white or cream sneakers.
3. Autumn layers: camel coat, cream knit, burgundy trousers or skirt, brown boots.
4. Evening: burgundy dress or suit with teal or deep green accessories.
5. Earthy and relaxed: olive jacket, burgundy shirt, tan chinos.

Accessories are the low-risk way to try burgundy. A burgundy bag, scarf, tie, beanie or pair of shoes adds color to a neutral outfit without committing to a full burgundy piece. For metals, gold tends to look warmer against burgundy and silver cooler; our post on gold or silver jewelry helps you pick.

Who does burgundy suit best?

Burgundy is one of the more forgiving deep colors, because it sits between warm and cool. Still, how it looks on you depends on your coloring:

• Deep coloring (dark hair, dark eyes, or deep skin) often looks fantastic in burgundy, because the color matches your natural depth.
• Warm undertones tend to suit brick-leaning, browner burgundy.
• Cool undertones tend to suit wine and berry-leaning burgundy with more purple in it.
• Light, soft coloring can find full-strength burgundy heavy near the face. Try it in trousers, shoes or a bag, or choose a lighter rose instead.

Not sure where you fall? The undertone test is a quick place to start, and the burgundy color guide goes deeper on which shades of burgundy suit which people.

How to check if burgundy suits you

Stand by a window in daylight, hold a burgundy top under your chin and look at your face, not the fabric. If your skin looks clear and your eyes look brighter, it works. If you notice shadows under your eyes, redness or a gray cast, try a slightly lighter, warmer or cooler version instead, or keep burgundy away from your face.

If you want a second opinion, Skintonic can help: upload one selfie and it suggests your color season, with a free preview of what that means for you. You can try Skintonic here or check a single shade with does this color suit me.

Quick recap

• The easiest colors to wear with burgundy are cream, camel, navy, gray and denim blue.
• For bolder looks, pair it with forest green, olive, mustard, teal or plum, keeping the depth similar.
• Blush, rose and all-burgundy outfits make a polished tonal look; mix textures to keep it interesting.
• Black works but can feel heavy; charcoal or navy is a softer swap.
• Deep coloring often suits burgundy most; lighter, softer coloring can wear it away from the face.

Keep reading

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