Burberry® Beige
History, Fashion, Store + Brand Design, & Pantone®
It’s been a while since I’ve spotlighted a neutral for Color of the Week—so today we’re talking about Burberry Beige. This soft-spoken shade is undoubtedly a masterclass in quiet luxury and timeless elegancle.
But before we dive into the history and strategy behind this iconic shade, let’s take a moment to check in:
A Brief History
While many fashion houses are known for their bold, high-contrast palettes, Burberry has always stood out by leaning into subtlety and soft sophistication—anchored by a signature beige woven into the fabric of its British identity.
The Beige Military Trench
Burberry Beige first gained prominence as the base color of the brand’s iconic trench coat, a silhouette that was originally developed for British military officers in the early 20th century.
As seen in vintage ad above, Burberry merged military utility with refined elegance, meaning its beige trench was both practical for camouflage in war and polished enough for civilian style.
But the true innovation came even earlier: in 1888, founder Thomas Burberry invented gabardine, a tightly woven, waterproof yet breathable fabric.
This material changed the game for outerwear, offering comfort and protection in harsh weather—and became the base for what would evolve into one of the most recognizable designer coats in the world.
Burberry Check Pattern
By the 1920s, the now-iconic Burberry check pattern was introduced, layered over the familiar beige background.
What initially started as functional became foundational—a quiet backdrop that now holds decades of brand heritage and equity.
Fashion Design
From the runway to retail, it’s apparent beige is part of the brand’s DNA, even when it’s not everywhere, or in your face.
Spring 2025 Ready-To-Wear
Burberry’s 2025 spring collection reimagines utilitarian elegance with a sun-washed beige, structured silhouettes, and glints of gold that nod to both heritage and play.
Fall 2025 Ready-To-Wear
As I briefly mentioned earlier, not every Burberry collection has to heavily incorporate beige. Their Fall 2025 RTW, for example, trades the classic tone for deeper, moodier variations, displaying evolution without loss of identity.
The Iconic Trench
Back to Burberry’s classic beige trench coat—the ultimate symbol for high-end, yet minimalist outerwear.
Their main heritage trench collection (consisting of the Chelsea, Kensington, and Waterloo coats) also come in other variations of beige, and even other colors, but this type of beige is the most classic option.
Store Design
Burberry boutiques worldwide also honor their heritage by weaving their signature beige into their architecture and interiors.
Exterior Design
Burberry’s storefronts tend to be refined and architectural. On the left, a pre-opening facade is wrapped in sculptural panels of Burberry Beige, and on the right, a more classic exterior blends seamlessly into a luxury retail district.
Interior Design
Inside, Burberry Beige often appears in curated textiles, upholstery, and natural-toned wall treatments—creating a calm, curated sense of luxury.
The use of warm neutrals alongside modern lighting and materials creates a sleek, yet comforting shopping environment. Think modern British townhouse meets futuristic gallery space.
Branding
Even amid logo redesigns and creative direction shifts, Burberry Beige has stayed consistent—acting as a visual and emotional anchor.
From packaging and print campaigns to digital content and seasonal collections, the beige tone never tries too hard. It simply exists, confident in its quietness.
Pantone® & More
While Burberry Beige isn’t trademarked like Hermès Orange, it’s still closely protected as part of the brand’s aesthetic identity. If you're inspired to work with a similar color, here's a close Pantone system match is Pantone 12-0703:
HEX: #D6CABB
RGB: (214, 202, 187)
CMYK: (0, 6, 13, 16)
This specific beige offers a similar sense of soft elegance and warmth—ideal for branding, interiors, and digital projects with a refined edge.
As always, thank you so much for reading—hope you learned something new today about this neutral color, or now maybe want to try working with it!
the trench is timeless. burberry has done a great job maintaining their brand image for decades with little to no change in their products. thats how you know you have a great brand. the timless elegance speaks for itself