Why Burgundy is the Ultimate Fall Fashion Shade

The chill in the air and the changing leaves signal that fall has arrived, and with it, the opportunity to embrace richer, moodier hues in your wardrobe. Among the season’s most sophisticated and universally flattering shades is burgundy – a deep, luscious red with notes of purple that instantly elevates any look. This regal, romantic color has been a quintessential part of the autumnal style narrative for decades, favored by trendsetters, fashion royalty, and anyone seeking to exude luxurious, confident flair.

The Luxurious Appeal of Burgundy

A warm, inviting tone that exudes elegance and confidence, burgundy has a long-standing association with luxury and refinement. This opulent hue carries a sense of royal heritage, gracing the wardrobes of aristocrats and style icons since the Renaissance. Yet burgundy’s versatility and modern edge allow it to remain incredibly relevant and covetable season after season.

A Complementary Color for Many

Unlike bright reds which can be harsh on some complexions, burgundy’s deeper tones complement a wide range of skin tones beautifully. Those with cool undertones will find the purple hints in burgundy especially flattering. Olive and tan complexions are gorgeously accented by this shade’s richness while deeper skin tones can pull off burgundy’s drama with ease.

Versatile for Day or Night

Burgundy’s versatility is another major selling point. This sumptuous shade can be dressed up or down, transitioning seamlessly from casual daytime looks to cocktail attire and formal evening wear. A burgundy suede moto jacket instantly toughens up a sweater dress and over-the-knee boots for day, while a slinky burgundy slip dress feels ultra-glam for evening with the right accessories.

The Perfect Transitional Hue

As summer fades into fall, burgundy emerges as the ideal transitional color. It pairs exquisitely with autumn’s signature shades like camel, forest green, mustard yellow, and rich plums and wines. Yet this bold red avec purple undertones can also read as fresh for spring or offer a cozy contrast to winter whites and grays.

How to Stylishly Incorporate Burgundy

Fortunately for anyone coveting this moody fall favorite, burgundy presents endless outfit opportunities across multiple fashion categories. Beyond the typical apparel, accessories, and beauty realms, pops of this lush shade can reinvigorate home spaces and personal style in equal measure.

Clothing and Accessories

A burgundy sweater or cozy knit dress provides an instant fall vibe when paired with booties or over-the-knee boots. This shade also looks chic in outerwear like trenches, blazers, and edgy moto jackets. For a foolproof formula, try a burgundy top or bottom anchored by neutrals like black, gray, or camel. Accessories in burgundy like scarves, hats, bags, gloves, shoes, and belts can effortlessly pull an entire autumnal ensemble together.

For an ultra-luxe look, play with sumptuous velvet and silk textures in rich burgundy hues. A velvet blazer adds depth and drama to any outfit while a burgundy silk blouse or slip dress screams sophistication. Leather accents in coordinating oxblood or wine shades create a tonal, monochromatic moment.

Beauty

In the makeup realm, burgundy reigns supreme for cool weather looks. Oxblood or wine-stained lip colors give your pout an ultra-modern vibe. Sweep a shimmery burgundy shadow across lids or tightline eyes with a burgundy pencil for subtle definition. For nails, a vampy burgundy lacquer feels at once edgy and sophisticated. Complement makeup with a burgundy-toned blush or highlighter on cheeks.

When it comes to hair, burgundy tones and highlights can beautifully warm up brunette locks for autumn. Deep auburn and violet-tinged red highlights impart glossy, multi-tonal dimension to any hair color.

Home Décor

Embrace the cozy ambiance of fall by incorporating pops of burgundy into your living spaces. Think sumptuous throw blankets, velvet pillows, taper candles, and blooming floral arrangements in this moody, romantic hue.Bordeaux-stained wood furniture or an oxblood accent wall can completely transform a room’s atmosphere come autumn. For subtler interest, integrate burgundy through textiles, artwork, and decorative accents.

Styling Burgundy from Head to Toe

When styling a burgundy-based outfit, the key is to consider your overall color palette and mix of varying tones, textures, and accent hues. This bold shade drenched in regal sophistication certainly has a way of commanding center stage. But it shines most beautifully when grounded with neutrals or enhanced through intentional pattern play and color combinations.

Monochromatic Moments

For a chic tonal look, build a head-to-toe burgundy ensemble by playing with various shades and textures within this deep red family. A slinky burgundy slip dress pairs beautifully with a structured blazer or leather jacket in an oxblood hue. Finish with plum tights and bordeaux ankle booties. Or try a burgundy velvet skirt with a silk burgundy camisole, duster cardigan, and over-the-knee boots – all in coordinating oxblood tones with subtle variations.

Temper with Neutrals

If you prefer understated looks, use burgundy as an accent piece against a closet of staple neutrals like black, gray, caramel, olive, and denim. A burgundy fedora, crossbody bag, or ankle boots add just the right punch when styled with a crisp white button-down, camel coat, and gray trousers. For evening, turn to a sleek burgundy slip dress or jumpsuit juxtaposed against a black blazer or duster.

Mix in Fall Brights

For a cohesive yet eye-catching look, pair burgundy with fall’s other bold fashion hues. Mustard yellow and burgundy make for a rich, jewel-toned color story while shades of plum and forest green complement burgundy’s purple undertones. A burgundy floral print dress looks fresh with a sunny yellow cardigan or emerald green blazer. Or anchor a burgundy knit with olive green corduroys and tan accessories.

Embrace Pattern Play

Thanks to its rich, multidimensional essence, burgundy lends itself beautifully to intricate patterns and textured fabrics. Look for pieces in sumptuous brocades, ornate paisley prints, textured velvets, and plush knits in your chosen burgundy palette. A burgundy tartan coat over solids provides the perfect dose of print while a sleek burgundy trouser could be elevated with a paisley blouse or burnout sweater in coordinating hues.

Burgundy’s Iconic Style Moments

Few hues are as synonymous with glamour and refinement as burgundy. This sumptuous shade has long been embraced by fashion royalty, timeless beauty icons, and socieysalebrities across the decades for its undeniable sense of luxury and drama.

Audrey Hepburn epitomized elegance in a form-fitting burgundy dress for her iconic Breakfast at Tiffany’s opening scene – a look that continues inspiring modern recreations year after year. Princess Diana turned heads in a striking off-the-shoulder burgundy gown at a Red Cross event in the 90s, her regal poise and confidence amplified by the romantic hue.

More recently, celebrities like Blake Lively, Jennifer Lopez, and Zendaya have kept burgundy’s star power alive on major red carpets. Lively stunned in an exquisitely embroidered burgundy creation at the Met Gala, perfectly themed to the event’s theatrical dress code. Lopez brought high-wattage glamour in a sultry burgundy gown with fur accents. And style chameleon Zendaya showcased burgundy’s transitional appeal, rocking a plunging belted dress from the bold shade.

No matter the silhouette, be it polished suit separates or an ultra-glam gown, burgundy always reads as a timeless, fashion-forward choice. Each fall, luxury brands and fast fashion labels alike debut covetable pieces reinterpreting this rich red in luxe velvet, sumptuous knits, and sleek silks. And while certain colors come and go with the seasonal trend cycle, burgundy maintains its appeal as an iconic yet versatile neutral.

Power of Burgundy Accents

For those looking to dip their toes into this statement-making yet sophisticated trend, the easiest way is often through strategic accessorizing and beauty touches. Even the simplest fall ensemble can feel instantly elevated with pops of burgundy in the right finishing touches.

A burgundy crossbody bag brings a tailored black dress into a more fashion-forward fall vibe. Slip into a pair of burgundy suede pumps to complement your usual 9-to-5 wardrobe basics like trousers, pencil skirts, and blazers. Even a swipe of oxblood lip color can modernize and refine your everyday autumnal makeup routine.

Burgundy footwear makes a major impact, with choices ranging from sleek ankle booties to over-the-knee boots. Follow suit with coordinating burgundy leather accents like a belt, crossbody bag, or moto jacket for a subtle tonal moment.

For more subtle accent opportunities, turn to accessories like hats, scarves, and jewelry in rich burgundy hues. A jewel-toned infinity scarf draped over an otherwise simple sweater provides the perfect cozy contrast. And an embellished burgundy velvet headband or textured leather belt makes for surprisingly chic accompaniments to monochrome looks.

Summary Table

Color Psychology	Styling Tips	Accent Pairings
Powerful, Sophisticated	Grounded Neutrals	Metallics like Gold
Confident, Dramatic	Tonal Burgundy Hues	Jewel Tones like Emerald
Elegant, Refined	Creams, Camels, Denim	Mustard Yellow, Plum
Luxurious, Sensual	Intricate Patterns	Faux Fur, Velvet Textures
Regal, Romantic	Monochromatic Moments	Rich Leathers & Knits

Conclusion

As the air turns crisp and leaves begin to fall, there’s no richer, more luxurious hue to embrace than burgundy. This deep, intoxicating red avec purple undertones epitomizes autumn’s moody elegance while retaining undeniable versatility across all settings and styles.

From sumptuous knits, sleek suiting, and eveningwear separates to casual weekend wear, burgundy instantly elevates any ensemble with its confident, sophisticated aesthetic. Yet this saturated shade can still read as effortlessly chic for everyday looks when anchored by the right mix of textures, neutrals, and pops of complementary hues.

Whether incorporating pops of burgundy through accessories and beauty looks or going full luxe with a head-to-toe tonal moment, this iconic autumnal shade allows you to tap into fashion’s timeless sense of drama and refinement. Slip into something burgundy this season and prepare to smolder with sophistication.

With its deeply saturated essence and purple undertones, burgundy also possesses a romantic, sensual quality that feels perfectly aligned with the cooler months. Play with lavish textures like velvet, luxe knits, and supple leather in this sumptuous shade. Exude confidence and sexy allure by juxtaposing sleek burgundy separates against edgy counterparts in black, charcoal gray, and oxblood.

Perhaps most appealing is burgundy’s incredible versatility as a wearable neutral. While vibrant and eye-catching on its own, it can just as easily be tempered with creams, grays, camels, and denim for chicly understated looks. The same core burgundy pieces like a knit sweater dress or suede jacket can go from day to night, corporate to cocktails with a quick swap of accompaniments and accent pieces.

So whether you crave high-wattage glamour or laid-back luxe this season, let rich, ravishing burgundy be your style guide to sophisticated Fall 2023 fashion. This iconic hue has been turning heads for decades, and its enduring chic is guaranteed to turn yours.

Frequently Asked Questions

What colors go well with burgundy?

Burgundy is highly versatile and pairs beautifully with neutrals like black, gray, tan, camel, olive, and denim as well as rich fall hues like mustard yellow, forest green, plum, and other jewel tones. Metallic accents like gold and pewter also complement burgundy nicely.

Is burgundy flattering for all skin tones?

Yes, burgundy is an extremely flattering and wearable shade for most complexions. Its deep red hue with purple undertones is less harsh than a true bright red, suiting both warm and cool skin tones. Those with olive, tan, or deeper skin tones can especially pull off burgundy’s drama with ease.

How do you style a burgundy dress?

A burgundy dress can be dressed up or down depending on the styling. For a casual daytime look, pair it with ankle booties, a denim or leather jacket, and a crossbody bag. In the evening, accessorize with luxe elements like a faux fur stole, velvet clutch, statement jewelry, and sky-high heels.

What makeup colors pair nicely with burgundy clothing?

For a cohesive monochromatic beauty look, try oxblood or wine-stained lip colors, shimmery burgundy eyeshadow, and even a subtle burgundy eyeliner. Soft, romantic shades of pink and plum on cheeks and lips also complement burgundy apparel beautifully.

Is burgundy considered a fall/winter or year-round color?

While burgundy is quintessentially autumnal, its rich, luxurious aesthetic and versatility allows it to work year-round, especially for evening events and formal occasions. However, it remains most strongly associated with fall and winter due to its moody, cozy vibe.

How do you prevent burgundy from looking too dark or harsh?

To keep your burgundy pieces from appearing too severe or goth, incorporate lighter neutrals like creams, tans, and soft grays. Also consider texture – a burgundy cashmere sweater or silk blouse will look infinitely softer than a stiffer fabric. Pops of metallic jewelry can also uplift the look.

What accessories work best with burgundy?

The easiest way to accessorize burgundy outfits is with classic pieces in black, tan, gray, brown, olive, or metallic hues like gold or pewter. Burgundy bags, hats, scarves, footwear, and belts also make chic accents. Fur and velvet textures lend extra luxury.

Is burgundy ever appropriate for professional or office settings?

Absolutely. Burgundy conveys elegance and sophistication, making it office-appropriate when styled in tailored blazers, sheath dresses, blouses and trousers. Just keep the overall silhouette sleek and polished, tempering burgundy with neutrals.

How can I incorporate burgundy into my home decor?

Burgundy pops beautifully in living spaces through textiles like throw blankets, pillows, runners, and rugs. Flowers, candles, and decorative objets in shades of burgundy, oxblood, and wine create a rich, cozy ambiance. Accent walls, furniture, or cabinetry in deep red hues add serious drama.

How do I keep my makeup from looking too severe with burgundy clothing?

For more natural makeup that complements burgundy tones without being overpowering, focus on flushed cheeks with a cream or nude lip. Or try a pretty plum or rosy lip color paired with soft, shimmery washes of color on the eyes.