What Colours Go With Plum Clothes? 10 Outfit Ideas

Cream, grey, navy, black, camel, blush pink, forest green, chocolate brown, white, and denim blue all go with plum clothes. Plum is a deep purple with a red undertone, so it behaves like a dark neutral and pairs most easily with soft, quiet colours rather than other strong ones.

Plum is often confused with aubergine and burgundy. Aubergine is darker and browner. Burgundy is redder. Plum sits between them, with enough purple to read as a colour rather than a neutral, which is why it is one of the more interesting autumn options.

Why plum works as an autumn anchor

Most autumn wardrobes are warm: brown, camel, rust, olive. Plum is cool, and that is exactly why it is useful. It breaks up a wardrobe that has drifted entirely into earth tones without introducing anything as stark as black.

It is also flattering in knitwear near the face, because the red undertone keeps it from looking cold.

10 colours to wear with plum

1. Cream

The softest contrast, and the pairing that makes plum look richest. Outfit formula: cream knit + plum trousers + brown boots.

2. Grey

Cool on cool, calm, and easy for work. Mid grey works better than charcoal, which can flatten plum. Outfit formula: grey jumper + plum midi skirt + grey ankle boots.

3. Navy

Two deep colours that share a cool base. Keep a clear difference in depth so they do not blur. Outfit formula: navy blazer + cream shirt + plum trousers.

4. Black

Sharp and formal, and the most reliable evening pairing. Outfit formula: plum dress + black tights + black boots.

5. Camel

The warm counterweight, and the pairing that stops plum from feeling heavy. Outfit formula: camel coat + plum jumper + dark denim.

6. Blush pink

Tonal, since both contain red, and much softer than it sounds. Outfit formula: blush knit + plum trousers + tan loafers.

7. Forest green

A jewel-tone pairing that works for evening and holiday dressing. Outfit formula: forest green trousers + plum knit + black boots.

8. Chocolate brown

Warm and unexpected. The brown keeps plum from reading as formal. Outfit formula: chocolate brown coat + plum scarf + cream jumper.

9. White

Cleaner than cream and better for early autumn or a sharper office look. Outfit formula: white shirt + plum trousers + black loafers.

10. Denim blue

The casual answer, and mid-wash denim softens plum more than dark denim does. Outfit formula: plum knit + mid-wash jeans + white trainers.

Keeping plum from looking heavy

Plum absorbs light. Two large plum pieces with dark accessories can read as a block with no shape, especially in winter fabrics. Three ways around it:

• put something light directly next to your face, such as a cream or white collar;

• use texture, since a cable knit or velvet in plum shows shape that a flat fabric hides; and

• keep one accessory clearly lighter, such as a tan bag or a cream scarf.

Avoid pairing plum with bright red or orange. The shared red undertone makes the two fight rather than complement.

Frequently asked questions

Is plum the same as burgundy?

No. Burgundy is a deep red with a hint of purple. Plum is a deep purple with a hint of red. They suit similar neutrals, but plum reads cooler.

Does plum go with brown?

Yes, and chocolate brown is the best version. It is warmer and less formal than black, and the contrast between warm brown and cool plum looks deliberate.

Can I wear plum to the office?

Easily. Plum trousers with a grey or cream knit, or a plum jumper with navy, both read as professional. It is a softer alternative to black without being casual.

Test plum against the neutrals you already own before adding another deep colour to your wardrobe. Download Wdrobe to see your pieces together and save the combinations that work.

Next, compare it with the closely related colours that go with burgundy and colours that go with maroon.