Burgundy Sweaters: How to Wear Merlot Cashmere This Fall

The burgundy sweater worth buying this fall is a fine cashmere knit in a dark wine shade, and the Adam Lippes Fall 2026 collection has three in merlot: the Marilyn V-neck, the Worth cardigan and the Ava shell, all 100% cashmere. Wear one alone with camel and grey, and wear the Worth and Ava together as a twinset.

Below: whether burgundy is in style for Fall 2026, how burgundy differs from merlot, oxblood and wine, our verdicts, a colour pairing table, and how to wear a burgundy sweater from the office to dinner.

Is burgundy in style for Fall 2026?

Yes. The Adam Lippes Fall 2026 runway set winter white and icy neutrals against racing red and deep black, and the knitwear brings that red indoors as merlot, a darker and easier shade to wear every day. Burgundy works because it behaves like a neutral. It sits next to brown, grey, navy and camel without fighting them, and it gives a plain outfit a colour without asking for jewellery.

Burgundy, merlot, oxblood, wine: what is the difference?

These are names for neighbouring shades, and brands use them loosely. As a rough guide:

Check the colour in daylight on the product page, and look at it next to what you already own. Dark reds shift more than most colours between screen and wool.

The best burgundy sweaters for Fall 2026

1. Best overall: Adam Lippes Marilyn knit in merlot. Italian 100% fine cashmere, a close heritage fit and a classic V-neckline. The V keeps a dark colour from feeling heavy at the face.
2. Best cardigan: Worth cardigan in merlot. Italian 100% fine cashmere, cropped, crew neck, self-fabric buttons. The brand pairs it with the Ava shell in merlot.
3. Best for layering: Ava shell in merlot. 100% cashmere, cropped, with a relaxed crew neckline. Wear it alone in heated rooms and under the Worth outside.
4. Best twinset: the Worth and Ava in merlot together, one colour from neck to waist.
5. Best purple-leaning alternative: Greer cardigan in aubergine. From an earlier Adam Lippes season, for anyone who suits cooler shades.

The same Marilyn also comes in black if you want a second one in a neutral. The full designer sweater edit covers every label, and the Adam Lippes brand page has the rest of the collection.

What colours go with a burgundy sweater?

Burgundy goes with more than most people expect. The pairings below use pieces from the same Adam Lippes collection, so the shades were designed to sit together.

The pairing to avoid is a bright, warm red right next to burgundy, which makes the burgundy look brown. Keep ruby in a print, and keep pure red away from the merlot.

How to wear a burgundy sweater

To the office

The Marilyn in merlot tucked into the houndstooth Tess skirt, cut on the bias with a midi length that flares from the knee, and lined in silk. Camel-brown and merlot are made for each other, and a V-neck over a bias skirt has a clean, long line.

At the weekend

The Worth in merlot, buttoned up, with the Wyatt pant in hunter green corduroy. Front pin tucks and a generous leg give the cropped cardigan something to balance against. Red and green together reads as autumn, not Christmas, when both are this dark.

For dinner

The Ava shell in merlot with the Noam pant in black, a stovepipe leg in stretch silk-wool with no side seams. Add the Worth over the shoulders. Matte cashmere and the dense, clean line of silk-wool is all the contrast you need.

Over a dress

The Worth over the Stacey shirt dress in ruby is a tonal look: ruby silk under merlot cashmere, with the dress’s self-fabric belt at the waist. Keep the shoes dark.

For more ways to build outfits around one good knit, see how to style Adam Lippes and our guide to old money style.

How do you choose a burgundy sweater?

• Fibre. Dark dyes look richest on a matte fibre such as cashmere, which has none of the shine of a synthetic knit.
• Shade. If you suit silver jewellery, lean towards burgundy and aubergine; if gold, towards merlot and oxblood.
• Neckline. A V-neck like the Marilyn breaks up a dark colour at the face. A crew neck like the Ava is better for layering.
• Fit. Close fits suit dark shades, which already read as slim. Adam Lippes knits run XXS to XXL and Coveti reads them as true to size; our size guide has the measurements.

How do you care for a burgundy cashmere sweater?

The Adam Lippes merlot knits are labelled Dry Clean Only, and a professional clean is also the best protection for a dark dye. Keep the sweater out of direct sun when stored, since dark reds fade at the shoulders first. Fold it, store it with cedar, and lift pills with a cashmere comb.

Shop the edit

• Marilyn V-neck, merlot fine cashmere
• Worth cardigan, merlot fine cashmere
• Ava shell, merlot cashmere
• All designer knitwear on Coveti

Frequently asked questions

Is burgundy a good colour for a sweater?

Yes. Burgundy is one of the most useful colours for a sweater because it behaves like a neutral: it pairs with camel, grey, navy, black, ivory and hunter green. A fine cashmere burgundy sweater, such as the Adam Lippes Marilyn knit in merlot, adds colour to a plain outfit without needing jewellery and works from the office to dinner.

What colour trousers go with a burgundy sweater?

The easiest trousers to wear with a burgundy sweater are camel, black, grey, ivory and hunter green. Camel and brown are the warmest pairing, black is the sharpest, and green is the most seasonal. From the Adam Lippes Fall 2026 collection, try the Wyatt pant in hunter green corduroy and the Noam pant in black.

What is the difference between burgundy and merlot?

Burgundy is a dark red with a purple cast, while merlot is a dark wine red that is slightly softer and more neutral. Brands use the names loosely, so check the colour in daylight on the product page. The Adam Lippes Fall 2026 Marilyn, Worth and Ava knits are listed in merlot, a dark wine red shade.

Is burgundy in style for fall 2026?

Yes. The Adam Lippes Fall 2026 runway paired winter white and icy neutrals with racing red and deep black, and the collection’s knitwear translates that red into merlot cashmere. Dark reds come back every autumn because they pair with the season’s camel, brown and green, and the Marilyn, Worth and Ava knits make them easy to wear.

Can you wear burgundy with black?

Yes. Burgundy with black is a sharp, evening-friendly pairing, and the dark red reads clearly against black where it might disappear against navy. Try the Adam Lippes Ava shell in merlot with the black Noam pant in stretch silk-wool, then add the merlot Worth cardigan over the shoulders. Keep accessories black and simple.

How do you keep a burgundy sweater from fading?

Store a burgundy sweater folded, away from direct sunlight, because dark reds fade first where light hits the shoulders. Clean it as the label instructs; the Adam Lippes merlot knits are Dry Clean Only, which is also gentler on dark dyes than repeated home washing. Rest it a day between wears and keep it with cedar.

Read next: the best cashmere cardigans, Adam Lippes cashmere explained and the Adam Lippes Fall 2026 collection.