I have this memory of my sister raiding my closet in college, holding up a burgundy sweater and a pair of grey trousers, asking if they “went together.” I said yes without really thinking about it. She wore that combination to a job interview and swears it got her the offer.
Ever since then I’ve been a little obsessed with pairing colors that don’t seem like obvious partners.
But red also plays surprisingly nicely with quiet colors. Grey, beige, cream, navy, all the calm ones. So this post is basically me thinking out loud about all the ways I like to wear red (and its moody cousin, burgundy).
20 Red Outfit Combinations I Actually Reach For
Grey Denim Skirt With Burgundy Knit
A grey denim skirt is one of those pieces I forget I own until I dig it out and then wear it for two weeks straight. Paired with a soft burgundy knit tucked in slightly at the front, it just works.
There is something about grey and red outfits that feels grown up without trying too hard. Add ankle boots and you are done.
Red Kitten Heels With Butter Yellow Dress
Okay so this one is my little rebellion against sensible shoes. A butter yellow dress is already sweet and springy, and then you introduce a red kitten heel and suddenly the outfit has an opinion.
I wore this to a garden party last May and got three compliments before I even sat down. The yellow keeps it soft, the red keeps it interesting.
Red Sophie Scarf With Grey Knit
If you don’t want to commit to a full color moment, a scarf is the easiest way in. A red Sophie scarf knotted at the neck over a plain grey knit does SO much with so little effort.
My friend Dana does this all winter long. She has one grey sweater, I swear, and about nine scarves, and everyone thinks she has an enormous wardrobe. The scarf is the trick. The scarf is always the trick.
Red Dress With Beige Flats
A red dress can feel like a lot, so I like to calm it down at the feet. Beige flats keep the look wearable for daytime, whether that’s lunch or errands or pretending to be productive at a coffee shop.
Red Cowboy Boots With Denim Shorts
I resisted red cowboy boots for the longest time and then caved, and now I understand the appeal completely. With denim shorts and a plain white tee they look casual and fun and a little bit like you know what you’re doing.
Weekend farmers’ market energy. Or a backyard get-together. I wore mine to my niece’s birthday and she asked if I was a real cowgirl. Close enough.
Burgundy Blazer With Beige Skirt
A burgundy blazer is such a workhorse. It’s dressier than red, it flatters basically everyone, and it looks expensive even when it is not. Over a beige skirt it reads polished and a touch autumnal.
This is one of those red and beige outfit combinations that I trot out for meetings, dinners, anything where I want to look like I have my life together. Which is a lie, but the blazer sells it.
Red Bodysuit With Oversized Gray Suit
Now for something a little bolder. A fitted red bodysuit under an oversized gray suit is such a satisfying contrast, the sharp tailoring against that pop of color underneath.
I will not lie to you, I did not think I could pull this off. But once I put the jacket on and rolled the sleeves it just clicked. Confidence, apparently, is half of getting dressed.
Burgundy Satin Skirt With Fitted Grey Cardigan
A burgundy satin skirt catches the light in the prettiest way and I feel fancy just wearing it. Tucked into a fitted grey cardigan, it turns into something you could wear to a nice dinner or a holiday party.
The satin does the heavy lifting here. The cardigan just keeps you from looking too dressed up for a Tuesday. And you can dress it up or down depending on the shoes.
Red Sweater With Cream Trousers
Simple. Classic. A red sweater with cream trousers is the kind of combination that never lets me down. It feels crisp and clean and a little bit rich-lady-running-errands, which is a vibe I fully embrace.
Gold hoops, loafers, done. This is the outfit I put on when my brain refuses to make decisions in the morning.
Burgundy Loafers With Navy Tailored Trousers
Here is your red and blue outfit, sort of, in its most quiet and sophisticated form. Burgundy loafers with navy tailored trousers is a preppy, old-money kind of pairing that I never get tired of.
Add a white shirt and you look like you summer somewhere expensive. The burgundy and navy just belong together, like they went to the same boarding school. Trust me on this one.
Denim Outfit With Red Shoes
A full denim moment can feel a bit flat, so I like to break it up. A denim shirt, jeans, and then a bright red shoe to wake the whole thing up.
It’s such an easy formula. The red is the exclamation point. And it works with sneakers, flats, or a heel, so you can take it wherever you need to go.
Burgundy Sweater With Beige Tailored Shorts
This one is for that weird in-between weather when it’s cool but not cold. A burgundy sweater with beige tailored shorts hits the sweet spot, cozy up top and breezy down below.
I wore this on a fall walk with my husband and he said I looked like I belonged in a catalog. He does not usually notice clothes, so I took the win and did not question it.
Burgundy Sweater With Beige Maxi Skirt
Long, flowy, and so comfortable it almost feels like cheating. A burgundy sweater over a beige maxi skirt is my lazy-day dressed-up outfit, if that makes sense.
You look like you tried. You did not really try. That’s the beauty of a maxi skirt – it does all the work while you do none of it.
Red Polo With Khaki Trousers
Preppy and clean and a little bit sporty. A red polo with khaki trousers is such a tidy combination, the sort of thing I would wear to a casual lunch or a round of mini golf with the family.
It’s got that classic, easy feel. And a red polo is honestly underrated. Everyone owns navy and white ones, but red? Red stands out in the drawer.
Burgundy Leggings With Cream Trench Coat
Okay, hear me out on the burgundy leggings, because I was skeptical too. Under a long cream trench coat, they look intentional and a little bit chic instead of gym-bound.
The trench elongates everything and the burgundy peeking out at the bottom feels considered. Add white sneakers for running around or ankle boots to dress it up. I do both.
Cherry Top With Khaki Pants
Cherry is my favorite shade of red, that deep glossy one that looks like it belongs on a lip. A cherry top with khaki pants is such a fresh, easy combination for warmer days.
It reminds me of summer without being loud about it. Tuck the top in, roll the pants a little, throw on some sandals. Simple, and it always looks good in photos.
Burgundy Cardigan With Beige Trousers
A burgundy cardigan is the cozy hug of the wardrobe. Over beige trousers with a little white tee underneath, it’s soft and warm and quietly stylish.
This is a lot like the sweater-and-trouser looks above, I know, but the cardigan gives it that unbuttoned, relaxed feeling I love. It’s the outfit I write in. It’s the outfit I nap in, honestly.
Red Boots With Denim Midi Skirt
Red boots are a statement and I fully support making that statement. With a denim midi skirt they look playful and just a bit edgy, like you saw them in a magazine and thought, why not.
My sister borrowed my red boots for this exact look and, of course, never returned them. Sisters. If you’re reading this, I want them back.
Red Belt With Grey Trouser Suit
A grey trouser suit is sleek and serious, so I like to interrupt it with a red belt at the waist. That single pop of color changes the entire mood of the outfit.
This is one of my favorite red and gray outfit tricks because the belt costs almost nothing and does almost everything. A little accessory, a big difference.
Burgundy Cardigan With Denim Midi
Rounding things out with an easy weekend combination. A burgundy cardigan buttoned up over a denim midi skirt feels cozy and casual and just a little bit retro.
I wear this one to the school pick-up, to brunch, to basically anywhere that doesn’t require me to look fancy. It’s comfortable and it photographs well, which is really all I ask of an outfit these days.
