Burgundy Tights: Shades, Deniers and What to Wear Them With

Burgundy tights work best with neutral dresses (black, gray, camel, navy) and with black or burgundy shoes that continue the line of the leg. Pick sheer burgundy tights for evening and opaque ones for work, school runs and cold days.

They're the easiest way to add color to a winter wardrobe that's mostly black and gray. Deep enough to look grown-up, warm enough to look festive in December.

Burgundy, maroon and red tights: the shades

Brands use these names loosely, so it helps to know roughly what each one means:

• Burgundy: a deep red with a purple undertone, like red wine. The easiest of the group to wear.
• Wine: usually a near twin of burgundy, sometimes a touch brighter.
• Maroon and oxblood: darker and browner. Maroon tights look almost brown-black in low light and pair beautifully with brown boots.
• Red: brighter and bolder. Red tights are a statement, best with black or a simple dress where the legs are the point.

Shade names vary between brands, and screens show colors differently, so read the color name on the listing and look at more than one photo. Light changes the shade too: burgundy looks redder in daylight and much darker, close to black, under evening lighting. If you want the color to show at a night event, a brighter wine or a sheer pair keeps it visible.

Sheer or opaque burgundy tights

Denier, the measure of yarn weight, decides how much skin shows. Hosiery brands draw the lines a little differently: sheer usually means up to about 20 or 30 denier, semi-opaque about 30 to 50, and opaque 50 and up. With burgundy, the denier changes the color as well as the coverage.

Sheer burgundy tights

Sheer burgundy tights show skin through the color, which softens it into a rosy wine shade. They look dressy with evening dresses, velvet and satin. If you want burgundy tights sheer enough to show skin, look for a listing that gives a denier around 20 or lower. For more on how deniers look on the leg, see sheer black tights.

Opaque and fleece-lined

Opaque burgundy tights give a solid, rich color. They're the everyday choice for work, school runs and weekends with knit dresses and boots. For the coldest days, fleece-lined tights in a wine shade add a soft brushed lining; fleece-lined tights explains the styles. Opaque and fleece-lined pairs look darker than sheer ones, closer to the deep color on the packet.

Finish matters too. Matte tights look modern and suit knits, wool and corduroy. Tights with a slight sheen look dressier and catch the light, which suits velvet and satin at night but can look a little shiny with a casual sweater dress. The listing usually says matte or satin-finish; if it doesn't, the photos often show it.

Dress colors that work with burgundy

Burgundy is a deep, warm color, so it works with almost every neutral and with a handful of other colors.

• Black: sharp contrast, always polished.
• Charcoal and heather gray: cooler and softer. The color stands out without looking loud.
• Camel, tan and chocolate: warm on warm. These look rich and very autumnal.
• Navy: a quieter pairing that suits work.
• Cream and ivory: a lighter look for daytime. Add burgundy shoes or a burgundy bag so the tights aren't the only dark piece.
• Pink and blush: a tonal pairing from the same color family.
• Forest green: a classic holiday combination, best when the green is deep rather than bright.

Bright orange, bright red and electric blue tend to fight burgundy. If you love those colors, wear them in a print where burgundy appears too.

Burgundy tights outfit ideas

A burgundy tights outfit works best when the tights are the only strong color, or when they repeat one color in the outfit. Six combinations to start with:

1. Black sweater dress, black ankle boots. The classic. The tights are the only color, and they look intentional.
2. Gray knit dress with burgundy loafers. Matching the shoes to the tights makes the leg look long, and gray and burgundy are a natural pair.
3. Camel dress with chocolate boots. Warm on warm. Maroon or oxblood tights work here too.
4. A pale pink dress, for a tonal look. Pink and burgundy are the same color family, light and dark, so the outfit looks planned.
5. A plaid mini or pinafore. Pick up the red in a tartan for a fun winter look; see tartan dresses for styles.
6. A black velvet party dress with sheer burgundy tights and black heels. Festive without sequins, and right for December.

For an all-burgundy look at a winter wedding or a party, a burgundy dress with sheer tights in the same shade works too. Burgundy wedding guest dresses has dress ideas.

Burgundy tights by occasion

The same tights can go to very different places. A guide by setting:

• Work: opaque burgundy with a navy, gray or black dress, a blazer or cardigan, and loafers or low boots. Keep everything else simple.
• School runs and weekends: opaque burgundy with a sweater dress or a corduroy pinafore and flat ankle boots or sneakers.
• Holiday parties: sheer burgundy with a black velvet, satin or sequin dress and black heels. It looks festive without adding a third color.
• A winter wedding as a guest: sheer tights in a burgundy close to your dress, or classic sheer black with a burgundy dress if you prefer to keep the legs quiet.
• A date or dinner: sheer or semi-opaque burgundy with a black slip or knit dress and ankle boots.

Shoes with burgundy tights

Shoes decide whether the color looks long and smooth or chopped up.

• Black ankle boots: the easiest pairing, and right with almost every outfit above.
• Burgundy heels or loafers: matching the shoe to the tights makes your legs look longer and is the dressiest option.
• Brown boots: a softer look with camel and cream dresses, especially with maroon or oxblood shades.
• Gray or navy shoes: less usual, but they work with a gray or navy dress.

For a burgundy dress rather than burgundy tights, shoes for a burgundy dress has the full guide.

Plus sizes and fit

Tights only look good when they fit, and colored tights show wrinkles and sagging more than black ones. Go up a size if you're between sizes or tall for the range. Tights stretched too far look lighter and patchier at the knee, which shows more on burgundy than on black. Some plus-size ranges include burgundy or wine shades, so check the color list alongside the chart; plus size tights explains how to read the charts. Check the height-and-weight chart before you add a pair to your cart.