Want a pair of burgundy shoes? Good choice! Here’s where to buy them and how to style them.
Burgundy shoes are a bit like red accessories. A red tie is striking but can go with basically any color suit, and it wouldn’t look inappropriately loud. Similarly, dark burgundy dress shoes are more fun than the neutral blacks and browns of the world and are pretty close to being just as versatile.
Whether you’re going for casual or professional, they’re a good way to go if you’re trying to bring some color to your shoe closet. After all, they go with a wide range of color palettes if you style them properly.
That being the case, they’re also an effective entry point for the color-hesitant. Not everyone can confidently sport bright orange or yellow shoes.
Burgundy, on the other hand, is definitely a grown-up-looking hue.
Check out these 14 options and style tips.
Quick Take
Here are our top recommendations from the list:
This option is great for a versatile dress shoe that's not the typical brown or black. The darker burgundy, with subtle plum tones, allows for styling akin to a cool-toned brown shoe.
It combines a classic shape with unexpected elegance, incorporating recognizable sporty elements like the three-stripe strap and adding a sophisticated textured pattern reminiscent of Celtic bands and basket weaving.
Malone Souliers elevates the timeless resort-chic loafer with unique details and subtle design twists in the Luca, creating a distinct yet classically elegant shoe that strikes the ideal balance for a premium investment.
Read on for more info and the complete list…
14 Awesome Burgundy Shoes
Here they are, all at different styles and price points!
Carlos Santana Ritchie Driver in Leather
The Ritchie Driver from Carlos Santana is a perfect example of how universal burgundy shoes can really be. It’s luxurious but not stuffy, can be worn with a suit or jeans and even shorts, and has an overall effortless quality.
Its hue is somewhere between oxblood and burgundy, which is one of my favorite colors for a shoe. Burgundy has more purple, which isn’t always as obvious in darker variations.
However, the whisper of purple when the light hits this shoe gives it so much personality without taking away from its versatility.
And it’s this very characteristic that we turn to classic driver shoes for, so this color with that design is a perfect match.
Construction-wise, the Ritchie is made out of full-grain calfskin, which is immediately soft but strong. This shoe has great cushioning, which, combined with the rubber outsole, makes it comfortable and practical.
Allen Edmonds Park Avenue
Yes, Allen Edmonds’ always-classic Park Avenue comes in a burgundy colorway — naturally. This is an effective option if you need just one pair of dress shoes and want something a little more exciting than brown or black.
It’s a darker burgundy, meaning its plum hues are extra subtle. That being the case, you can style it like a cooler-toned brown shoe. In fact, I’ve accidentally worn the burgundy Park Avenue with my black suit, and its warm tones are just so subtle that no one noticed the slight faux pas.
And since this is the iconic Park Ave, it boasts all of the premium features you want from an investment shoe.
It’s bench-welted all the way around, meaning it’s wildly durable and resoleable. However, the price you pay is a potentially uncomfortable break-in period (which is at par for the course with high-end shoes).
It’s made out of supple full-grain leather that’ll age handsomely, and the cork insole, lined with leather, will mold to your foot exactly.
Thomas Bird Benson
There’s nothing like a whole-cut Oxford shoe to add elegance. It’s probably one of the, if not the most, classy dress shoe styles out there.
The Benson from Thomas Bird is nobility manifested. It has a sharp Italian silhouette which would look at home with a crisp suit.
Both the exterior and the interior are made of full-grain calf leather, providing a lush yet durable and extra smooth look and user experience. It’s Blake-stitched. And though that isn’t the “gold standard” that is Goodyear welting, it’s still resoleable, just not as water resistant.
Here’s why I prefer a Blake-stitch for a whole cut, though. There are literally no stitches on the upper to give you any bend at all. This shoe would likely remain pretty tight, even uncomfortable, if it were Goodyear-welted. I think it’s a strategic choice, not just one to cut costs.
Finally, Thomas Bird does something interesting with their Burgundy-adjacent colorways. Technically, this shoe is plum. However, their oxblood variant is much darker. So while this shoe is actually closer to burgundy, it doesn’t immediately look like it because the purple hue is so present in this lighter shade.
Beckett Simonon Beaumont Horsebit Loafer
The Beaumont Horsebit Loafer is another highly adaptable shoe since it’s neither too warm nor too cool. It’s technically a Bordeaux color, which also sits between oxblood and burgundy and gets closer to burgundy the darker it is. That’s the case with this shoe.
It really looks like a more interesting brown, which means you can wear it with most hues on the color wheel.
The magic of the horsebit loafer, compared to other loafers, is that it goes well with a full suit but even with workwear-adjacent casual outfits (as long as the pieces in said outfit are neat and clean-cut). The metal hardware really accents both sides of the dress spectrum.
Beckett Simonon shoes, including this Beaumont, really punch way above their price point. They’re hand-crafted with premium materials. The way they do this, though, is through a made-to-order small batch model, so the only downside is you pay with your time instead of your wallet.
Marc Nolan Captain Suede Sneaker
Do you know a sign of sophisticated styling? When you implement what I call a “quiet statement piece.” Sounds contradictory, right? The Captain
However, the upper is monochrome yet dimensional, and the entire shade is classy and moderate true burgundy. The mix of granular leather and sheepskin suede elevates the sneaker template. Even more, this shoe is a year-rounder.
It bridges the gap between the trendy and streetwear enthusiasts, with the classicists.
It would look best with dark jeans, but honestly, wear it with anything (except for a tuxedo).
Adidas Adilette Sport Slide in Burgundy
I know that slides are trending right now, but a lot of the “cool” slides are usually trend-forward or incredibly fashion-forward. The Adilette Sport Slide by Adidas has a standard and practical shape but a downright classy look and construction — something I never thought I’d say about a slide.
The Adidas template is the foundation of the design, with the recognizable and sporty three-stripe on the strap. However, it also features a sophisticated texturing that looks like something in between a Celtic band and a basket weaving.
The stripes make it look like they’re cinching and strapping down this textured surface, and it really adds a level of sophistication, as does the burgundy hue.
And since they’re slides, they’re super comfortable since the footbed is contoured and supportive. Did I mention they’re even made in Italy?
Florsheim Berkley Moc Toe Penny Loafer
You can always count on Florsheim for a good budget shoe. Sure, the Berkley Moc Toe Penny Loafer isn’t as sturdily-built as a $400 shoe. Still, it completely looks the part since Florsheim is, in fact, a heritage brand with heritage designs.
The moderate silhouette, a toe shape that sits somewhere in between squared and round, and the thin, unimposing beefrolls prove Florsheim still has that design eye. They just build a handsome look with budget materials.
The dark burgundy and black stacked heel create a more formal aesthetic, making this shoe far sleeker than other American-style penny loafers but still effortlessly adaptable.
Allen Edmonds Park Avenue Dress Sneakers in Burgundy
It took me a long time to dress
First, unlike many dress
The construction is definitely based on the cap-toe Park Ave dress shoe, giving it a sense of structure. The beautiful grain on the calfskin upper complements the burgundy hue, bringing out the warm tones where the light hits and the cooler brown towns in the lowlights.
It’s also comfortable and supportive thanks to the soft leather interior and the flexible rubber soles.
Overall, this sneaker can really level up a casual outfit.
Nike SB Zoom Blazer
A fun yet sophisticated high-top, if there ever was one, the Nike SB Zoom Blazer combines the functions and looks of skate shoes with basketball shoes.
Having both the high-top, with a lip that goes higher than the collar and the low profile gives this shoe a cool factor. It feels right in line with a café racer jacket, just with a touch of street-style flavor.
Speaking of, these multi-sectioned, multi-textured shoes would look excellent with a layered casual look involving racer or bomber jackets. Or, you can add said cool factor to a smart casual situation.
On the practical front, the SB Zoom Blazers are responsive and grippy, again combining features from skate and hoop shoes. And that interior cushioning? Super comfortable.
It’s also worth mentioning that Nike makes these guys in sizes as small as a men’s 4 all the way up to a 15, which is super considerate.
Ace Marks Diablo
I’m a big fan of Ace Marks whole-cut dress shoes, as I write about in my hands-on review of their Carlo Oxford. What I love about this Diablo colorway is that it’s lighter than the Benson (the other fellow whole-cut Oxford), which really lets the merlot undercurrent shine a bit more.
Still, the dark burnishing ensures it’s a fully understated shoe, which is exactly what we want from a classy whole-cut.
The Italian calfskin is strong and beautifully lush, while the stacked leather heel is commandingly traditional. Like the Benson, it’s Blake-stitched, which I maintain is the smarter, more comfortable construction when it comes to a whole-cut shoe since it gives it the flex the one-piece upper lacks.
Anthony Veer Clinton Cap Toe
The Clinton from Anthony Veer is a standard cap-toe Oxford but in the best way possible. By staying fully on a template, this shoe is timelessly good-looking. You can wear it with practically any suit and any t-shirt-and-jeans combo.
Its smooth leather upper leans into a browner type of burgundy, making it a great entry-level burgundy shoe. It’s not as red, still warm-toned, and perfectly fits the overall classic look.
My only gripe with the Clinton is its lack of grip. Since it isn’t an athletic shoe, though, this isn’t deeply offensive.
Piloti Shift
There’s something almost GAT-like about the Piloti Shift in that it’s sporty, low-profile, and features a gum outsole that brings a lot of character to the shoe.
Unlike the GAT, which is composed of neutral whites and browns, the Shift shoe is monochromatic. As a color block, burgundy is less statement and more versatile. The tread on the outsole is a nice texture element, though.
In addition to being a stylish sporty-casual shoe, it also boasts a few top-notch practical features. The patented heel provides smooth movement, designed to distribute your energy and force equally. Meanwhile, the soft front part of the insole is comfortable and extra responsive.
If you’re looking for a stable walking shoe, this is your guy.
Malone Souliers Luca
With the Luca, Malone Souliers takes a timeless resort-chic loafer but adds details and subtly unique approaches to the shape of the shoe. The result is a piece that’s distinct without compromising the classic elegance, which is the perfect balance to strike for a premium investment shoe.
The toe is tapered but still rounded, so it isn’t overly formal. Meanwhile, the upper is minimal, though the two straps give it a distinguished look. You can wear this shoe with ripped jeans, linens, or a three-piece suit. Regardless, it’ll bring a chicness to your outfit without any effort outside of slipping them on.
And, of course, it’s an undeniably high-end shoe. It’s handmade in Italy out of zero-waste calf leather. The heel is stacked, and the sole and lining are also made fully of leather.
Nike Court Legacy Canvas Beetroot
And finally, a classic canvas shoe made even more classic with the prominent Nike swoosh. It would be a major oversight if Nike didn’t serve up a Legacy Court Shoe in burgundy.
Everything you want is there, from the black accent on the white outsole to its front “grill.” I think this colorway brings a dapperness to the tried-and-true template. The dark hue feels modern, but it isn’t stark black, which allows you to wear it with browns and tans.
It’s a heritage look brought into the modern era while maintaining its sporty aesthetic.
How Do I Style Burgundy Shoes?
Fortunately, it’s really easy to style burgundy shoes. For the most part, they style more like neutral brown shoes than they would bright red ones.
Unless there’s some kind of theme, I would avoid pairing burgundy dress shoes with a black formal tuxedo. However, either one of our burgundy whole-cuts would partner beautifully with a dark navy tuxedo in a more “casual black-tie” setting.
When it comes to suits and casualwear, the best colors to pair with burgundy include brown and dark greens (like olive, for example).
Other good shades to wear include mustard, yellow-adjacent hues, creams, and other white-adjacent colors. These bring out the richness of burgundy because they’re all in and around its complementary colors.
Grey goes with most things, so definitely go for those charcoal trousers.
Blues go well with burgundy, which means blue jeans and navy trousers are excellent choices.
FAQs
Here are some quick answers to some common questions about burgundy shoes:
What color matches best with burgundy shoes?
Greens, browns, ochres, yellows, creams and grays go perfectly with burgundy shoes.
What is the difference between burgundy and oxblood?
Burgundy and oxblood look very similar and often interchangeably used, but burgundy has hints of purple, while oxblood has more brown. The caveat here is that a dark burgundy can look a lot like oxblood until it’s under direct light.
What color jeans go with burgundy shoes?
Blue jeans and dark gray jeans bring out the richness of burgundy shoes.
How do you wear burgundy sneakers ?
You can wear burgundy
Burgundy Shoes: A Great Way to Branch Out
The big takeaway is that burgundy shoes are an easy addition to any shoe rotation. They style a lot like brown shoes and are definitely more distinct — without begging for attention.
In fact, burgundy is the kind of stylish that looks incidental, almost like you didn’t try to look distinct and just are. Even more, it’s a completely non-intimidating hue.
What burgundy clothing items do you own? Let me know in the comments!
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