Winter family, cool and clear
Cool Winter color palette
Blue-based color, worn at full strength.
Cool winter is the center of the winter family. Skin has a pink or blue cast, hair is dark and cool, and the eyes are clear: blue, gray or a cool green. The contrast is medium to high and the colors can be clear rather than muted.
This is the palette of true red, royal blue, emerald and icy pink. Every color has a blue base, which is why an orange-red looks wrong even when it is the same depth as the true red that looks right.
Palette at a glance
winter family · Silver, platinum and white gold.
The palette
Twelve colors for Cool Winter
- True Red#C8102E
- Royal Blue#1F4FBF
- Emerald#0F7A5A
- Magenta#C2187A
- Icy Pink#F3D7E3
- Pure White#FFFFFF
- Charcoal#2F3237
- Pine#14452F
- Sapphire#213A7A
- Plum#5A2A4A
- Silver#C4C9CF
- Aqua#4FC3D9
Neutrals
- Pure White
- Charcoal
- Sapphire
- Silver
Silver, platinum and white gold. Yellow gold reads warm and slightly dirty next to this skin.
Colors to leave out
- Orange. The warm base clashes with cool skin and brings out redness.
- Mustard. Warm and muted. It makes clear cool coloring look dull.
- Warm Brown. Chocolate is too warm; charcoal and navy do the neutral job better.
- Cream. Pure white is sharper and keeps the contrast this palette depends on.
Wearing it
How the palette works on a body
The rules are about placement and quantity, not about permission.
Clear, not muted
Choose the version of a color that looks like it has been washed rather than dusted. A clear royal blue flatters; a grayed denim blue does much less.
White is a real option
Pure white is one of the few neutrals that keeps up with this palette. Use it for shirts and knitwear instead of cream.
One strong color, one sharp neutral
True red with charcoal, royal blue with pure white. The pairing is what carries the outfit, not the number of colors.
Base and cheek
A cool pink or berry blush. Keep it sheer and cool; peach and bronze sit on the surface of the skin.
Eyes and lips
Silver, charcoal and sapphire on the eyes; true red, magenta or berry on the lips. A blue-red is the signature lip for this palette.
Questions
Cool Winter questions
What is the difference between cool winter and bright winter?
Bright winter needs more contrast and more saturation. Cool winter can wear a medium sapphire and a soft berry; bright winter looks better in electric blue and hot pink.
Can a cool winter wear black?
Yes. Charcoal and navy are slightly softer, but black is in the family.
Which white is best?
Pure, bright white. Cream and ivory mute the contrast.
Which hair colors suit cool winter?
Blue-black, cool dark brown and deep plum. Warm auburn and golden highlights work against the palette.