Winter family, bright and cool
Bright Winter color palette
The highest contrast the wheel allows.
Bright winter is the clearest, most saturated cool season. Hair is dark, eyes are bright, and the skin has a cool base. The contrast between features is strong, and soft colors disappear on it.
The palette is cool and electric: hot pink, electric blue, emerald, lemon. Black and bright white are both at home. The one thing it cannot carry is a muted, grayed color, which looks like a faded version of the right answer.
Palette at a glance
winter family · Polished silver, platinum and chrome.
The palette
Twelve colors for Bright Winter
- Hot Pink#E8177F
- Electric Blue#1863FF
- Emerald#00A878
- Lemon#FFE14D
- Fuchsia#D61F9C
- Turquoise#00B8C9
- True Red#E01B2F
- Icy Lavender#E7DEF7
- Bright White#FFFFFF
- Ink#1A1F2B
- Violet#7A2FF2
- Lime#B6E01F
Neutrals
- Bright White
- Ink
- Electric Blue
- Silver
Polished silver, platinum and chrome. Yellow gold is too warm unless it is very pale.
Colors to leave out
- Muted Sage. Grayed green reads as a faded color next to this contrast.
- Camel. Warm and soft. It makes the face look pale rather than bright.
- Dusty Rose. The gray in it flattens high-contrast coloring.
- Mustard. Warm and muted at once, the two things this palette cannot use.
Wearing it
How the palette works on a body
The rules are about placement and quantity, not about permission.
Contrast over harmony
Pair a vivid color with bright white or ink. Two colors that sit close in value look flat on this coloring, even when both are correct for the palette.
One electric piece
A hot pink coat or an electric blue dress is enough. Build the rest from white, ink and silver so the color has room.
Avoid grayed basics
A gray T-shirt and stone chinos will always look tired next to bright winter features. White and ink do the same job and keep the contrast.
Base and cheek
A cool pink or fuchsia blush, applied with a light hand at first. This palette can carry pigment, but the placement should stay precise.
Eyes and lips
Electric blue, violet or silver on the eyes; hot pink or true red on the lips. Keep the finish clean rather than smoky.
Questions
Bright Winter questions
Is bright winter the same as clear winter?
Yes. Both names describe cool coloring with high contrast and the most saturated colors in the winter family.
Can a bright winter wear pastels?
Only icy pastels with a cool base, such as icy lavender or ice pink. Warm pastels look dusty on this coloring.
Can a bright winter wear black and white together?
Yes. It is one of the few palettes where the hardest contrast in the wardrobe is also the most flattering.
Which hair colors suit bright winter?
Blue-black, cool dark brown and vivid plum. Warm caramel and golden blonde soften the contrast too much.