Winter family, deep and cool
Deep Winter color palette
Dark, cool and built for contrast.
Deep winter is the darkest cool season. Hair is black or very dark brown, eyes are dark, and the skin has enough depth to carry black, navy and burgundy together. The contrast between hair and skin is usually strong.
The palette is not just dark: it is dark and cool. True black, sapphire and emerald sit naturally here, while camel and mustard make the face look washed out even when the depth is right.
Palette at a glance
winter family · Silver, platinum and white gold.
The palette
Twelve colors for Deep Winter
- Black#141414
- Deep Navy#1D2A44
- Burgundy#5A1F2E
- Emerald#0F5A45
- Sapphire#1F3F7A
- Plum#4A2440
- Deep Teal#14494D
- Crimson#8F1F33
- Charcoal#2C2F33
- Icy White#F4F5F6
- Silver Gray#B9C0C8
- Fuchsia#A8246A
Neutrals
- Black
- Deep Navy
- Charcoal
- Icy White
Silver, platinum and white gold. Gold should be pale and small, or antique and dark rather than bright yellow.
Colors to leave out
- Warm Beige. It looks dusty next to deep cool coloring and softens the contrast that makes the palette work.
- Mustard. Warm yellow fights the blue base in the skin and hair.
- Peach. Too warm and too pale. It drains the face rather than lifting it.
- Camel. The classic warm neutral, and the one most likely to make deep winter look tired.
Wearing it
How the palette works on a body
The rules are about placement and quantity, not about permission.
High contrast, cool base
Black with icy white, navy with silver, burgundy with plum. The palette lives on the gap between dark and light, so avoid mid-tone outfits that sit in the middle.
Dark is the neutral
Black, navy and charcoal are the wardrobe. That is a real advantage: the basics are easy to find and they all work together.
Keep warm colors out of the neckline
A camel coat is a classic, but it will look better over a cool outfit than directly against a deep winter face.
Base and cheek
A berry or cool plum blush with a clear finish. Keep bronzer minimal; it pulls the face warm.
Eyes and lips
Charcoal, navy and silver on the eyes; a true red, berry or plum lip. This palette can carry a strong lip better than any other.
Questions
Deep Winter questions
How is deep winter different from cool winter?
Depth. Deep winter's colors are darker and the contrast between hair and skin is stronger. Cool winter sits a step lighter and can wear icy pastels more easily.
Can a deep winter wear cream?
Icy white is better. Cream reads yellow against this palette and softens the contrast.
Which hair colors suit deep winter?
Blue-black, cool dark brown and deep burgundy. Warm auburn and golden brown work against the palette.
Is all black too much?
Not on this coloring, but add one cool color or a metallic finish so the outfit has a light and a dark rather than a single block.