What Color Is Burgundy? About Burgundy Color

Are you curious about what color is burgundy? Stick around as we will share the answer in this article.

When you hear the word ‘burgundy,’ what normally comes to mind is unmatched sophistication alongside wining and dining all night long. If this is what comes to mind when you see this deep reddish-brown hue, you may just be right. After all, it’s from a region known for its wine.

Staying true to its origins, burgundy boasts deep, rich reds combined with hints of the color brown. Because of its complex undertones, this color has been a favorite of A-list stars and personalities and has come to represent royalty, power, and wealth over the years.

Intrigued by this hue and what it can represent? Want to know more about the makings of this color?

To learn more, make sure to keep reading…

What Color Is Burgundy?

Burgundy is said to be a mixture of dark red and violet. Most of the time, this hue contains hints of brown and even a combination of blue and green, resulting in its unique reddish-purple hue that errs on the side of brown.

Filed under hex code #800020, what makes burgundy stand out from the crowd is the presence of red, blue, and green. Because it has a darker and deeper appearance compared to other hues, burgundy is touted as the more sophisticated and elegant counterpart of true red.

While you may know and associate the color burgundy with a deeper reddish-brown hue, there are two other variations of the color burgundy in existence, namely old burgundy, and vivid burgundy.

Old burgundy has a darker and more purple appearance, while vivid burgundy is somewhat lighter in comparison.

The Beginnings of Burgundy

The color burgundy was actually inspired by a region in France of the same name. This region is famous for its wines, also called Burgundies, normally taking on a dark shade of red. In turn, the region’s name was patterned after the ancient German tribe called Burgundians.

Just like the color, the wine itself is imbued with a richness of flavors, thus resulting in a bolder and stronger taste. Among the popular creations and products of the region is Pinot Noir.

The wine’s rich, dark hue inspired the color that you see and know today.

In keeping with the color’s popularity, this very hue became the hottest and most widely-used lipstick color in the 1990s. In particular, it was often utilized by the goth subculture and their fascination with finding beauty in darkness.

The Makings of Burgundy

If you are fascinated with this hue and wish to recreate it yourself, you can easily do it if you have some specific colors on hand. Of course, red is a no-brainer in making this.

With purple undertones, you can simply get yourself a tube of purple, or work with a mixture of red and blue. To achieve the subtle green tint, combine a small amount of blue with yellow.

Once you have purple, green, and blue, add them all together in small quantities until you have achieved your desired result.

Meaning of Burgundy

Because it was used in the olden days and by royalty, burgundy is often associated with the elite and those in the upper class. In the same way, its association with those in positions of power also highlighted its sophistication and elegance, both of which were embodied by royals.

More than this, burgundy can also represent mystery. In color psychology, burgundy also dictates a thirst for power and a will to thrive and succeed, thus its links to ambition.

Today, you may see this color in a variety of institutions hoping to inspire success, such as banks, schools, and universities.

Burgundy in Culture and Design

Burgundy is a favorite for a reason – it’s the perfect balance between muted and loud, plus, it fits a variety of skin tones.

One person to sport this hue on the red carpet, at the Met Gala no less, was Blake Lively who dressed to the nines in accordance with the theme, ‘Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination.’

Even Meghan Markle is a fan of this hue. As a matter of fact, she sported Scottish brand Strathberry’s ‘Midi’ tote in 2017 right after she was engaged.

Featuring a prominent burgundy bag with navy sides and white handles, Markle propelled the brand’s success from that day forward; the same bag design sold out within just 11 minutes.

Meanwhile, in film and popular culture, burgundy is best exemplified in Ironman’s suit. With hints of gold, Ironman’s armor is every bit as powerful as he.

The same color palette was used in Kubrick’s The Shining to depict darkness and mystery.

The Bottom Line

Burgundy holds a wealth of meaning within. Being associated with sophistication, power, confidence, and mystery, burgundy is a great hue for a wide variety of art forms and sectors.

What did you learn about burgundy today?