Walk through Groningen on a grey Saturday in late September and you will notice it before you can name it. Somewhere between the black puffers and the navy coats, there is a deeper red showing up everywhere: on scarves, on caps, on hoodies peeking out from under rain jackets. Burgundy is the colour of this autumn, and unlike most trends it is one you can actually wear every day.
It has been building for a couple of seasons now. The fashion weeks leaned hard into wine, oxblood and cherry tones, and like every good runway idea it has filtered down to the street, where it matters. The nice thing is that burgundy was never really a "trend" colour to begin with. It is a classic that happens to be having a moment.
What is the difference between burgundy, maroon and oxblood?
They are all deep, dark reds, just leaning in slightly different directions. Burgundy, named after the wine region, has a hint of purple in it. Maroon sits a little browner and warmer. Oxblood is the darkest of the three, closer to brown than red. In practice, shops and brands use the names loosely, and anything in this family plays the same role in an outfit: a rich colour that behaves almost like a neutral.
On our side, the shade is called Maroon, and it is one of the colours we print most of our core designs on.
Why burgundy works so well in autumn
There are three reasons this colour keeps coming back every time the leaves turn.
- It matches the season. Autumn light is low and warm. Deep reds pick that up in a way cool blues and greys do not. A maroon hoodie on a bright October afternoon just looks right.
- It is colour without shouting. If your wardrobe is mostly black, grey and navy, burgundy is the easiest way to add colour without feeling like you are wearing a highlighter. It reads as dark from a distance and rich up close.
- It hides real life. Coffee drips, bike chain grease, a rainy commute: a dark red forgives a lot more than white or light grey does.
How to wear maroon in streetwear
1. Treat it as your neutral
The simplest move is to swap one of your usual dark pieces for maroon and keep everything else the same. A Peeling Paint hoodie in Maroon with black trousers and white sneakers is exactly as easy to wear as the black version, it just has more going on.
2. Pair it with warm off-whites
Burgundy and cream is the combination of the season. Bone, oatmeal and soft cream soften the red and make the whole outfit feel warmer. Try a maroon tee like Coffee under an unzipped jacket with light stone-coloured trousers, or flip it: a bone hoodie such as Kaya Di Zieck with a maroon cap.
3. Go tonal with navy or charcoal
Dark on dark works beautifully with burgundy. Navy and maroon together look sharp and slightly collegiate. Charcoal grey and maroon feel moodier and more urban. Neither combination needs any thought in the morning.
4. Use it as the accent
Not ready for a full maroon hoodie? Start small. A Zieck Snap cap in Maroon or the Retro Trucker Cap in Cranberry adds just enough colour to an all-black outfit to make it look intentional.
5. Add one earthy colour, not three
Burgundy looks great next to olive, camel and brown, which is why it keeps showing up in autumn lookbooks. The trick is restraint. Maroon plus one earth tone (an olive beanie, a brown coat) is a look. Maroon plus olive plus mustard plus camel is a lot.
What not to pair with burgundy
Very little clashes with it, but a few combinations are harder to pull off. Bright red next to burgundy tends to look like a mismatch rather than a choice. Neon colours fight with its depth. And pairing it with a very similar shade of purple or brown can make the outfit look muddy. When in doubt, go back to black, navy, grey or cream.
Does a print still stand out on maroon?
Yes, and in some ways more than on black. Light and bright inks pop against a deep red, and the colour gives a graphic a slightly vintage, lived-in feel. It is one of the reasons we offer so many of our designs, from Patu V to Avocado II, in Maroon. Browse the full range of hoodies and t-shirts to see how each graphic sits on it.
Frequently asked questions
Is burgundy in style for autumn 2026?
Yes. Burgundy and other deep reds are one of the defining colours of autumn and winter 2026, from high fashion to streetwear. Because it is a classic shade, it will not look dated once the trend cycle moves on.
What colours go well with maroon clothing?
Maroon pairs best with black, navy, charcoal grey, cream, bone and denim blue. For a warmer autumn look, combine it with one earth tone such as olive, camel or brown.
Is maroon the same as burgundy?
Not exactly. Both are deep reds, but burgundy leans slightly purple while maroon leans slightly brown. In fashion the names are often used interchangeably, and they work the same way in an outfit.
Can men wear burgundy?
Absolutely. Burgundy is one of the most wearable colours for anyone, because it behaves like a neutral. A maroon hoodie or sweatshirt is as easy to style as a black or navy one.
How do I keep a maroon hoodie from fading?
Wash it inside out on a cold, gentle cycle with similar colours, and air dry it instead of using the tumble dryer. Heat and friction are what dull dark dyes over time. Our care guide covers the details.
Find your shade of autumn
Burgundy is one of those rare trends that is easy to join and hard to regret. Start with one piece, pair it with what you already own, and see how often you reach for it. If you are also deciding how warm that piece should be, our guide to hoodie weight and GSM is a good next read, or head straight to the Zieck shop.
