Happy Tuesday! Today we’re talking about Burnt Orange, an earthy retro shade that is also the perfect transition to autumn :)
Psychology
Burnt Orange combines the optimism and extroverted energy of orange with the grounded, calm nature of brown. It’s definitely welcoming, carrying warmth with maturity.
Brief History
Burnt Orange actually traces its roots to some of the oldest colorants we know. Specifically, iron oxides and natural ochres that were used in prehistoric cave art and ceramics.
Across ancient cultures, this earthy color was tied to clay, pottery, and textiles. It was both practical and symbolic of life tied to the land.
And the term “burnt orange” itself comes from the process of heating orange pigments until they deepen into a darker, browner shade.
It was the mid-20th century, however, that cemented this muted orange shade as a cultural touchstone. During the 1960s and 70s specifically, the color became emblematic of a new, earth-conscious aesthetic.
Burnt orange showed up in corduroy suits, shag rugs, interior accents, and much more. It represented both natural simplicity and stylistic rebellion against the sterile whites and pastels of the postwar years.
In the decades since, this retro, yet timeless orange shade has cycled in and out of trend, but it has consistently returned as a marker of warmth, craft, and a certain nostalgia.
Fashion Design
Although orange is an unmistakable fall color, it actually took me quite some time to find our specific shade for fall 2025! Perhaps it’s a bit too on the nose.
Dries Van Noten Fall 2025 Ready-to-Wear (RTW)
In Dries Van Noten’s Fall RTW, for example, burnt orange appears with a tailored coat over tonal knits, followed by a slouchy mohair sweater styled with a sculptural sequined skirt.
Lanvin Fall 2025 Ready-to-Wear (RTW)
And here, we have a satin column dress and relaxed trousers in burnt orange anchoring Lanvin’s Fall 2025 lineup, styled with gloves.
Interior Design
When I think of burnt orange in interior design, I immediately see conversation pits. They’re essentially these cool sunken living rooms that were popular during the 1960s-1970s. Take a look below:
Because of the color’s popularity at the time, many retro design elements often wore burnt orange as their signature shade. Check out this 70s-inspired lounge area, for example:
And deviating from strictly retro 70s design a bit, below is a burnt orange living room with eclectic art and a dramatic, velvet sectional, followed by an office with sleek furniture, striped rugs, a semi-reflective ceiling.
Branding
Not the most common shade in branding, but it works for categories that want tactile credibility like outdoor goods, coffee, and beauty & wellness.
Timberland
Timberland, for example, uses earthy burnt orange in boot linings, seasonal outerwear, and marketing accents like the design below:
Dorado Coffee
And here’s a coffee brand example that I’m not familiar with personally, but the designer definitely got the burnt orange tactile memo.
Pantone® & More
If you’re interested in working with this shade, I recommend PANTONE 16-1448 TCX Burnt Orange. The image below also contains HEX, RGB and CMYK color details.
Thank you so much for reading, and hopefully you learned something new about burnt orange today! If you enjoyed reading, please give this post a like so I know what you guys want to see more of :)
And tell me, which color should I feature next? See you next Tuesday!