11 Burgundy Color Combos for Winter with Color Formulas

Burgundy is an even more popular color this winter than usual, so today I'm sharing 11 color combinations with burgundy for your style inspiration. I'm also showing some color formulas (i.e., how you apply the colors to different pieces of an outfit, such as an inner column of color) for ideas of how to put these color combos into practice.

I am using "burgundy" as an umbrella term to cover a range of these dark pink/red colors that include maroon, wine, merlot, etc. Select the colors that suit you, that you like best, and (especially) the ones that you already have. If you want to shop for burgundy pieces, this winter is a good time to do it, but shop your closet first; you might be surprised at what you already own in this trendy color! Also remember that buying second-hand is another great way to add a trending color to your closet in a way that is easy on the planet and your pocketbook. (It's also a good way to find clothing of a quality level that is hard/expensive to get otherwise these days.)

Since I am high on the Color Integrator (vs. Color Blocker) end of that spectrum, my examples here include a bridge piece print (containing multiple outfit colors) that pulls the colors of the outfit together in an intentional way, a variant on Road Map Styling. However, these color combos and color formulas can be used with or without a print piece depending on what you own and what you're in the mood for.

I am also usually wearing scarves in my winter outfits so you'll see combos/formulas that include scarves, but you can easily substitute a necklace or switch the pieces around in your own look. If you are intimidated by scarves, you're not alone! But I've got you covered with these two blog posts: How to Wear Scarves Without Tying Them and How to Tie Rectangular Scarves: 5 Genuinely Easy Methods.

Let's get started...

Combo #1: Burgundy + Black

For a can't-miss dark color combo for winter, burgundy with black is a reliable favorite. Here I combined a burgundy print top with a black skirt and burgundy scarf, tights, and boots. A dark blue denim jacket is the ultimate neutral piece that coordinates with (pretty much) everything but adds some dimension to the look.

Color formula: Matching scarf and shoes; dark wash denim as the ultimate goes-with-everything add on.

A few ways to tweak it:

-Wear a matching (solid color) top and shoes instead.

-Add a print scarf with burgundy and/or black for extra interest with the solid top.

-Switch the pieces around; for example, dark blue jeans with a print top and burgundy or black topper.

Combo #2: Burgundy + Grey

This combination can be less harsh than burgundy and black. As a bonus, you can choose from a range of dark to light grey tones (including mixing them in the outfit) to suit your preferences and personal coloration. In this look, I combined a different print blouse with a burgundy vest and multiple grey pieces: a silver scarf, charcoal pants, and dark grey flats.

Color formula: Tonally matched scarf and pants.

A few ways to tweak it:

-Use a range of burgundy/pink tones in the outfit instead of (or in addition to) the grey.

-Substitute a burgundy top (modern twin set) or grey top (inner column of color).

-Wear a top in a different neutral.

Combo #3: Burgundy + White

Burgundy and white is definitely a less common color combination, especially in winter, but I think it can be a fantastic option that stands out against the more typical all-dark winter outfits. I created this outfit to showcase the pretty burgundy and white rabbit print scarf that was a birthday gift from my sister in 2023, but I think the outfit would still look great without it. I wore warm tan animal print flats to bookend my hair color and to add extra interest to a simple look with a print mix.

Color formula: Color blocked top and pants; bridge piece print; shoes that bookend your hair color; print mix.

A few ways to tweak it:

-Add a topper piece in white (modern twin set), burgundy (outer column of color), denim, or a different neutral or rainbow color that coordinates with burgundy (color blocked).

-Switch up the print mix by combining a print scarf + skirt/pants, a print top + jacket, etc.

-Substitute your favorite metallic color in the shoes.

Combo #4: Burgundy + Brown/Camel/Tan/Beige/Cognac

Burgundy often has a bit of a warm undertone, which makes it a great pairing with any color in the brown/beige color family that shares that warm quality. In this outfit, I combined a camel skirt with a burgundy marl sweater and burgundy/maroon tights and boots. The print scarf pulls the colors together in a loose way (note that it isn't a perfect match to any of the colors in the outfit but coordinates well) and adds some extra color and fun.

Color formula: Matching top and shoes; add extra colors with a print piece.

A few ways to tweak it:

-Switch the pieces, such as a print top and solid scarf/necklace.

-Complete the inner column of color with a burgundy skirt and use the brown/beige color in your scarf, jewelry, or topper piece. You could switch the tights/boots or shoes (if wearing pants) to match your brown color as well.

-Add a topper in a color drawn from the print (such as black in this case).

Combo #5: Burgundy + Navy

Navy is a great neutral in every season of the year, though I tend to wear it a bit less in winter than in summer. If you'd like to put your navy pieces into higher rotation this winter, consider pairing them with some burgundy. I went with a print mix in this outfit, combining a striped scarf and floral skirt that share the colors navy and pink. The burgundy sweater and tights/boots are darker than the pinks of my prints but coordinate nicely.

Color formula: Matching sweater and shoes; print mix.

A few ways to tweak it:

-Tone down the look by substituting a solid navy skirt or a solid print scarf, eliminating the print mix.

-Substitute navy (solid or print) pants for the skirt.

-Add a denim jacket in any shade of blue.

Combo #6: Burgundy + Blue

Certain soft denim-like, chambray-like blue colors can function in outfits as a substitute for actual denim, offering color pairing possibilities you might not have thought of. This thrifted top has all the comfort of stretchy knit fabric with much of the versatility of denim. (See this post for more examples of these useful blue tones.) The eagle-eyed among you might notice that this outfit uses the same color formula as the white combo #3: blue (white) top, burgundy pants, print scarf, and bookending animal print shoes. The only real difference is that the scarf is not functioning as a bridge piece because it doesn't contain the blue color of my top. Instead it repeats the burgundy color of the pants (bringing that color up to the face area) and adds interest.

Color formula: Color blocked top and pants; matching scarf and pants; shoes that bookend your hair color; print mix.

A few ways to tweak it:

-Wear an actual denim or chambray shirt instead of a different blue...or try a bolder shade of blue.

-Substitute a burgundy (inner column of color) or neutral top (color block) and wear the blue/denim as a topper piece.

-Create a pop of color against the denim-y blue top with an accent color scarf that works with the burgundy, such as an olive or lime color to create a complementary color scheme with the burgundy (Red-Violet and Yellow-Green are opposites on the color wheel).

Combo #7: Burgundy + Olive

Speaking of olive, it's a great color with burgundy because of the Red-Violet + Yellow-Green complementary color scheme. I did a deep dive on this color combination and various color formulas in this post. In this outfit, I combined olive on top with a burgundy print scarf and brown pants/shoes. Don't forget that you can add an extra neutral to an outfit very easily. As my husband put it when I posed the question of mixing neutrals to him (as this is a typical male styling practice he uses routinely): "They're neutrals. They go with everything and with each other. That's the whole point of them."

I added my burgundy in this outfit in the form of a bridge piece scarf that contains both olive and brown to create a sense of cohesion, but for those who bat for Team Color Block, you could easily choose all neutral pieces. This outfit also shows that you don't need a lot of burgundy in your look for it to have an impact. In this example, the burgundy of the scarf has a "pop of color" function. While we often think of the pop of color styling as a bright and vivid accent, it certainly doesn't need to be; a more muted color "pop" can also bring a lot of interest to your look.

Color formula: Matching top and topper (modern twin set); add a neutral; bridge piece print; pop of color.

A few ways to tweak it:

-Switch the bridge piece print to any other item in the outfit (e.g., burgundy print top).

-Wear a modern twin set in burgundy with olive pants/skirt...or vice versa.

-Substitute a brown top for the olive to create a brown inner column of color.

Combo #8: Burgundy + Pink

The burgundy family of colors are created by mixing black into hues in the Red/Red-Violet areas of the color wheel, and the pink family of colors are created by mixing white into those same hues. So ultimately, I think burgundy and pink are just darker and lighter versions of the same underlying hue, and thus they play together extremely well in creating tonal outfit. This outfit features pink on the top and burgundy on the bottom with a print scarf that draws the lower color up to the face and creates nice vertical integrity: the eye follows the burgundy upward rather than focusing on the point where the pink and burgundy colors meet.

Color formula: Matching top and topper (modern twin set); matching scarf and shoes...or matching scarf and pants (since the skirt, tights, and boots are all one color, creating the same color appearance as a pair of pants).

A few ways to tweak it:

-Substitute a solid burgundy scarf for the print.

-Wear a burgundy top to create an inner column of color or a burgundy topper to create an outer column of color.

-Substitute neutral jeans/pants for the skirt, tights, and boots to create a color block look with the burgundy scarf as a pop of color.

Combo #9: Burgundy + Rust

Burgundy and rust is not a color combination I have seen discussed much if at all (and I didn't cover it in my rust color combos series either), but it's a combo that has some potential! I was inspired to try this combination by a print t-shirt that I bought in fall 2022 that combines burgundy with white, pink, and soft coral tones. It doesn't contain rust but seems like it does contain rust because rust is "in the span" of the other colors/has a family resemblance to the colors in the print. The vest is rust, the boots are burgundy, and the top is a burgundy print. I make use of denim and white neutrals to de-emphasize the (somewhat unusual) burgundy and rust color combination.

Color formula: Matching top and shoes; print mix; add neutrals to de-emphasize the color combination.

A few ways to tweak it:

-Go bold with the burgundy and rust color combination by eliminating one or both of the neutrals in the outfit and wearing more burgundy and/or rust instead.

-Substitute a solid burgundy top for the print one.

-Substitute a rust top (solid or print) for the burgundy one, making the shoes/boots a subtle pop of color.

Combo #10: Burgundy + Dark Green/Green-Teal

This outfit was inspired by my ongoing personal challenge to wear my wonderful jackrabbit print top as many different ways as I can (30 Wears post). I have discovered that the dark green/teal color of the jackrabbits works nicely with burgundy because they are both deep in value "shades" (colors with black added). I like wearing cream with this combination because (1) it repeats the cream background of the top but also because (2) it adds some welcome lightness to a fall/winter look. Once again, the combination of burgundy skirt, tights, and boots creates the same visual effect as a pair of burgundy pants. The only dark green/teal color in the entire outfit comes from the jackrabbits, so they serve as a pop...I mean, a "hop of color." I think the cream-background blouse and cream vest function as a bit of a modern twin set, too.

Color formula: Color block with pop of color; variant of modern twin set based on the background color of a print.

A few ways to tweak it:

-Substitute a solid dark green/green-teal top for the print to make a stronger, higher-contrast color block statement.

-Wear a topper piece in any neutral color or denim.

-Add more dark green/green-teal to the outfit in your accessories or substituting a topper in that color for the cream.

Combo #11: Burgundy + A Colorful Print

The final color combination makes use of burgundy's status as a semi-neutral to put together a very easy outfit formula for the cool weather months: burgundy top/sweater, jeans, and colorful scarf. I think the outfit template of neutral bottom + neutral, semi-neutral, or accent color top is a really versatile basis for creating outfits, especially if you like to add fun accessories that play with color, print, and texture.

My example outfit has a fairly tight color story with my colorful print including a light blue (related to the dark blue denim) and several shades of pink and purple (related to the burgundy) because that is my default style, but you could certainly experiment with prints in many different colors to jazz up the basic ensemble. I really think this is a case in which you could just hold up different prints in your closet against the outfit to see what looks good because something you wouldn't think of may look great when you try it. (A certain color/print might look great with a specific burgundy piece due its particular shade/texture/etc. but not as good with others, so it's hard to generalize.) Your combo could create a high contrast statement pop or a more subtle effect. The sky's your limit with this color/texture/print play.

If you like your colors on the integrated side, adding a print that repeats a neutral color in the outfit but also introduces some new colors is a very effective approach that is easy to implement. For example: burgundy sweater, black pants, print piece (scarf, etc.) with burgundy and/or black plus other neutrals/accent colors.

I often use scarves as my print piece because Hello I am Sally in St Paul & I Wear Scarves and Hello I Live in Minnesota, but you could play with adding different print accessories or a print top or topper as well.

Color formula: Matching top and shoes; matching top and cardigan (modern twin set); print piece as a pop.

A few ways to tweak it:

-Substitute a pullover sweater for the top + cardigan to create the same basic effect.

-Instead of matching your top (or pants, scarf, etc.) with your shoes, wear shoes with something extra like metallic, animal print, other print, obvious texture (etc.) and/or in a different color for a pop.

-Use a color wheel to create color combinations with your burgundy piece, but be very generous in thinking of broad color umbrellas rather than specific colors. For example, Red-Violet creates a triadic color combo with Blue-Green and Yellow-Orange so consider combining burgundy, teal, and mustard/gold in your outfit/print.

Liz Klebba at Closet Play Image has a good post about burgundy (wine) with several suggested color pairings for burgundy based on the color wheel, including blush, pink, mustard, persimmon, teal, Wedgewood blue, light blue, forest green, moss, and olive.

I don't have an outfit of the day photo to demonstrate it, but don't forget Combo #12: Monochromatic Burgundy. Whether you actually do burgundy head to toe or wear burgundy on top and bottom with different accessories, this is a smashing way to do a ramped up burgundy inner column of color.

Are you shopping for/wearing burgundy this winter? Is this more of a color trend for you or a staple color for the cold seasons? What is your favorite color combination with burgundy? Is there a burgundy color combo that you like that took you by surprise? Do you ever wear the sweater + jeans/pants + print/accent color scarf outfit formula?

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