There is one color in my closet that I gravitate toward the second the air turns crisp, and it is maroon. Not the loud kind of red that shouts for attention, but that deep, moody, slightly-serious shade that makes everything look a little more put together than it actually is.
My sister teases me about it. She says I own the same three tops in the same one color, which is not entirely fair (there are at least five), but I will not lie to you, she has a point. When I find a shade I love, I hold on.
So I sat down one slow Sunday morning with a coffee and started sketching out all the ways I actually wear this color.
20 Deep, Cozy Looks Built Around One Very Good Color
Burgundy Blazer With Black Trousers
This is my go-to when I need to look like I have my life together. A burgundy blazer over slim black trousers is the kind of thing you can wear to a lunch meeting, a dinner, or a school event where the other parents dress up and you didn’t get the memo (guilty).
The trick is the contrast. Black grounds the whole look, and the deep red does the talking. I add small gold earrings and call it done.
Burgundy Leggings With Oversized Blazer
Here is where things get comfy. A pair of burgundy leggings with a big, slouchy blazer thrown over the top is honestly one of the easiest maroon outfit ideas I’ve ever pulled together, and it looks WAY more intentional than it is.
Tuck a plain tee underneath, add ankle boots, and you’ve got something that works for coffee runs and errands but still photographs like you tried.
Monochrome Burgundy Knit And Trousers
Sometimes I want to go all in on one color, top to bottom. A soft knit sweater with matching trousers, both in that same deep shade, feels rich and a little bit fancy without any effort at all.
Monochrome is the lazy person’s secret to looking chic. And I say that with love, because I am the lazy person in question.
Burgundy Sweater With Beige Maxi Skirt
Okay, this one is soft and pretty in a way that makes me want to walk through a farmers market with a basket. A cozy burgundy sweater tucked into a flowing beige maxi skirt is such a gentle, warm pairing.
The beige keeps the deep red from feeling too heavy. It lightens everything up. Add flat boots and you can wear this all day and never once feel uncomfortable, which is my number one requirement for any outfit now.
Black Leather Jacket With Burgundy Dress
A little edge for the win. A flowy burgundy dress on its own is sweet, but throw a black leather jacket over the top and suddenly it has attitude. My friend Dana wore this exact combination to my birthday dinner last fall and I stole the idea immediately.
It’s that mix of soft and tough. The dress does feminine, the jacket does cool, and together they just work.
Burgundy Leggings With Cream Trench Coat
So this is my airport uniform. A long cream trench coat over burgundy leggings is comfortable enough to sit through a delayed flight in and still looks pulled together when you arrive somewhere and have to be a person.
The cream and the deep red are such a lovely contrast. Light coat, dark bottoms, and a simple top in between.
Burgundy Waistcoat With Matching Trousers
The waistcoat trend snuck up on me and now I cannot let it go. A fitted burgundy waistcoat with matching trousers is the sort of look that makes people ask where you got your suit, even though it isn’t technically a suit.
Wear it with a white shirt underneath for a classic feel, or go with just a plain tank top for something a bit more relaxed. Either way, it reads as expensive.
Beige Blazer With Burgundy Satin Skirt
Now here is an outfit maroon lovers should absolutely try, because it balances structure and softness in the prettiest way.
The satin catches the light and gives the whole thing a little shimmer. I wore something similar to a wedding two years ago and I still think about how good it felt to twirl in that skirt.
Burgundy Cardigan With Black Midi Skirt
This is the cozy-but-still-dressed version of a fall day. A chunky burgundy cardigan buttoned up and tucked (or half tucked, if you’re feeling casual) into a black midi skirt is comfort and polish rolled into one.
Add tights and boots when it gets colder. It’s the kind of outfit I put on and then completely forget about, which is the highest compliment I can give clothing.
Burgundy Leggings With Suede Bomber Jacket
A suede bomber jacket over burgundy leggings gives off a relaxed, weekend-errands sort of vibe that I love. There’s something about the softness of suede against the deep red that just feels right in autumn.
I keep a tan bomber for exactly this reason. It’s my throw-it-on-and-go layer, and it makes even the simplest maroon leggings outfit feel like I put in a bit of thought.
All-Burgundy Slip Dress And Cardigan
For the nights I actually go out (rare, but they happen), a burgundy slip dress with a matching cardigan draped over the shoulders is my quiet-glamour move.
The slip dress feels dressy and the cardigan keeps me from freezing, because I am ALWAYS cold. Same color, two textures, one very happy me.
Burgundy Blouse With Beige Wide-Leg Trousers
Wide-leg trousers have my heart. A silky burgundy blouse tucked into flowing beige wide-leg pants is office-appropriate but also just really flattering, and I find myself reaching for it on days I want to feel a little bit taller.
Of course, the beige lightens the deep red. And the wide leg does that thing where it swishes when you walk, which is deeply satisfying for no logical reason.
Black Lace Top With Burgundy Jeans
Burgundy jeans are underrated and I will die on this hill. Pair them with a delicate black lace top and you’ve got something that feels a bit dressed up but is still, at its heart, jeans and a top.
In fact, this is my dinner-out outfit when I don’t want to overthink it. The lace adds a little something, the colored jeans keep it interesting, and I’m out the door.
Burgundy Leggings With Long Wool Coat
When it gets truly cold, a long wool coat over burgundy leggings is where I live. The coat does most of the work, and underneath you can wear whatever cozy thing you own.
I like a camel or charcoal coat for this, because the deep red peeks out at the ankles and it looks intentional even though I’m mostly just trying not to freeze on the walk to the car.
Burgundy Leather Jacket With Black Dress
Flip the leather jacket idea from earlier and you get this. A burgundy leather jacket over a simple black dress adds a pop of color to an otherwise dark look, and it’s such an easy way to make a plain dress feel new again.
The colored leather is the star. A little unexpected, a little bold, and honestly kind of fun. My husband once said it looked like I was “up to something,” which I chose to take as a compliment.
Burgundy Sweater With Beige Tailored Shorts
For those weird in-between weather days, a soft burgundy sweater with beige tailored shorts and tights is a combination I turn to more than you’d think.
It’s a little bit preppy, a little bit cozy. Add loafers and you’ve got a look that works for a museum afternoon or a wander around town when it’s not quite cold and not quite warm.
Tonal Burgundy Blazer And Maxi Skirt
Tonal dressing is my favorite trick, and this is a beautiful example of it. A structured burgundy blazer with a matching maxi skirt, both in slightly different shades of the same deep red, looks so rich and considered.
The slight variation in tone keeps it from looking flat. It’s one of those maroon looks that gets noticed, in the good way, where people can’t quite pinpoint why you look so pulled together.
Black Turtleneck With Burgundy Pencil Skirt
A classic that never lets me down. A fitted black turtleneck tucked into a burgundy pencil skirt is timeless and a little bit retro in the best way.
This is my “I have a nice event and no time” outfit. It takes two pieces, five minutes, and always looks like I planned it for weeks.
Burgundy Leggings With Beige Knit Sweater
Now for pure comfort. A big beige knit sweater over burgundy leggings is my Sunday morning go-to, the one I wear to the grocery store and then somehow don’t take off for the entire day.
The cream sweater and deep red bottoms are such a soft, warm pairing. It’s cozy enough to nap in but presentable enough that you won’t panic if someone knocks on the door.
Burgundy Trench Coat With Black Trousers
And to finish, a proper statement piece. A burgundy trench coat over black trousers is the outfit that makes me feel like the main character walking through a rainy city, even if I’m just heading to the pharmacy.
The colored trench is dramatic without being over the top. Black underneath keeps it grounded. It’s the kind of piece you buy once and wear for years, and honestly, that’s my favorite kind of purchase.
