Autumn family, deep and warm
Deep Autumn color palette
Dark colors with warmth still in them.
Deep autumn is the darkest warm season. Hair is dark brown or black with a warm base, eyes are dark brown or deep hazel, and the skin has enough depth to carry mahogany and aubergine without being overwhelmed.
The palette keeps the autumn warmth but pushes the depth. It is the only family where a dark chocolate and a deep teal look softer than black, and where gold jewelry looks right at its heaviest.
Palette at a glance
autumn family · Antique gold, bronze and copper.
The palette
Twelve colors for Deep Autumn
- Mahogany#6B2F28
- Espresso#3C2A22
- Deep Rust#8F3A26
- Aubergine#4D2B3A
- Forest#2F4A35
- Bronze#8A6A2F
- Deep Teal#27504F
- Cognac#7A4A24
- Paprika#A34A27
- Gold#B98A2E
- Olive#55592C
- Cream#EFE3CD
Neutrals
- Espresso
- Cream
- Cognac
- Deep Olive
Antique gold, bronze and copper. Bright silver can look thin against deep warm coloring.
Colors to leave out
- Pastel Lilac. Too pale for deep coloring. It looks like a wash over the face rather than a color.
- Baby Blue. Light and cool, the opposite of what this palette needs.
- Bright Pink. It competes with deep features and pulls the eye to the clothes.
- Optic White. Cream softens the contrast with dark hair and skin, which is what flatters this coloring.
Wearing it
How the palette works on a body
The rules are about placement and quantity, not about permission.
Keep the depth, keep the warmth
Espresso, mahogany and forest give the strength a deep autumn needs. Black is strong too, but it loses the warmth that makes this palette work.
Cream is the light
Use cream rather than white for shirts, knitwear and anything close to the face. It keeps the contrast high without the glare.
Saturated, not neon
Paprika and deep teal are the bright end of this palette. Neon colors are a different season entirely.
Base and cheek
A bronze or brick blush, with gold rather than pearl highlighter. Deep skin carries pigment well, so do not sheer it out.
Eyes and lips
Bronze, espresso and deep olive on the eyes; mahogany, brick or a warm berry lip.
Questions
Deep Autumn questions
What is the difference between deep autumn and deep winter?
Temperature. Deep autumn's dark colors have a warm base (mahogany, espresso), deep winter's have a cool one (black, navy, burgundy). Gold versus silver is the quickest test.
Can a deep autumn wear black?
Yes, though espresso and deep teal are softer. Black works best when the fabric has texture rather than a flat shine.
Which hair colors suit deep autumn?
Dark chocolate, warm chestnut, mahogany and deep auburn. Avoid ash brown and cool black.
Is cream better than white?
For this palette, yes. Cream keeps the warmth and still gives a clean contrast against dark hair.