Deep Autumn outfits

Getting contrast right in dark autumn outfits

Contrast is simply the gap between your outfit's darkest and lightest pieces. Since Deep Autumn is the deepest warm season, that gap can be wide and still look right on you. In most cases a dark shade, a lighter shade and one rich color is all you need.

The 5 outfits for this season all use that formula:

• Office day: espresso and cream, lifted by bright rust
• Casual weekend: dark olive with dark camel, plus mustard
• Evening out: deep chocolate and bronze, finished with burgundy
• Summer day: deep teal with cream, plus tan
• Autumn walk: forest green and soft cinnamon, grounded by cognac

Your clarity falls somewhere in the middle, not ultra bright and not fully muted. That's what makes rich, earthy shades a better match for you than icy pastels or loud neon.

Starting with espresso as your base

Build your outfits on espresso, or on deep chocolate, which plays the same role. True black can read harsh against Deep Autumn skin, and dark chocolate softens that effect. A blazer, coat or pair of trousers in dark brown gives you black's depth without the severity.

For the light piece, pick cream rather than white. Where stark white drains you, cream sits naturally near your face. Other gentle light choices from this palette include tan, dusty butter yellow and dusty peach.

The accent is your one punchy color, the thing people notice first. Keep it high on your body whenever possible, in a top, scarf or collar, since terracotta, rust and olive green wake up your eyes and give your skin a smoother appearance. Bright Terracotta and Copper, plus Deep Emerald and Deep Turquoise, all work as accents here.

Building your deep autumn capsule wardrobe

A capsule wardrobe means working from just a handful of pieces in colors that pair well together, so nearly every top matches nearly every bottom. Each of these staples draws on the Deep Autumn palette:

• An espresso blazer with matching trousers
• A blouse in cream silk
• A jacket in dark olive
• A sweater in mustard or deep rust
• Chinos or jeans in dark camel
• A dress in burgundy
• A linen top in deep teal
• A wool coat in forest green
• A knit in soft cinnamon
• Cognac boots, plus tan leather sandals

Every outfit in the table can be built from these pieces, plus plenty more. Espresso, dark camel and cream carry most outfits, and the greens, rusts and burgundy supply the personality.

Prints and patterns

A print suits you best when all its colors belong to your palette. A design that blends cognac, forest green, mustard and burgundy over a dark brown or olive base keeps the depth your coloring wants.

Prints on a stark white base are tricky near your face for the same reason a plain white top is. Patterns containing icy tones like mint, cornflower or pale turquoise fight your warm skin too.

Shoes, bags and metals

Shoes and bags are simplest in warm browns. Cognac, tan, deep chocolate and dark cognac work with everything here, and a bright rust bag brings life to an all-espresso suit.

Jewelry in antique gold or bronze melts into your skin, while bright silver rests on top of it rather than blending. Copper counts among your accents, so copper rings, buttons and buckles belong here as well.

Working around clothes in skip colors

Nobody says you must toss your black, mint, bright blush, cornflower, magenta and pale turquoise pieces. They matter most where they touch your face. As trousers, skirts or shoes, they sit further away.

If a skip color does end up near your face, slide a palette color between them. A soft cinnamon, deep rust or forest green scarf, or an open dark bronze cardigan, brings warmth back to your complexion.

Testing this palette in daylight

Not sure Deep Autumn really is your season? A mirror beside a window beats a selfie, since phones and indoor bulbs distort skin color. Hold cream beneath your chin, then stark white, and compare dark chocolate with black. If you're a Deep Autumn, the cream and brown will look right at home. Icy shades like baby pink or mint turn Deep Autumn faces sallow. A draping session in person can also confirm your season.