Deep Winter color palette
This deep winter color palette holds 60 shades that are dark, cool and clear, made for people whose best look comes from rich, shadowy colors worn with strong contrast.
Deep Winter neutrals
- Pure White
- Dusty Chocolate
- Dusty Marine
- Dusty Pine
- Navy
- Charcoal
- Espresso
- Dusty Ink Blue
- Deep Charcoal
- Deep Espresso
- Dark Pine
- Black
Deep Winter main colors
Reds and pinks
- Rosewood
- Brick
- Deep Poppy
- Berry
- Crimson
- Deep True Red
- Wine
- Deep Rosewood
- Burgundy
- Deep Cherry
- Dark Raspberry
- Deep Burgundy
Greens
- Emerald
- Deep Jade
- Pine
- Deep Emerald
Blues and teals
- Soft Royal Blue
- Cobalt
- Sapphire
- Soft Sapphire
- Deep Royal Blue
- Peacock
- Bright Marine
- Dark Cobalt
- Bright Spruce
- Bright Ink Blue
Purples and berries
- Dark Orchid
- Deep Amethyst
- Deep Violet
- Bright Berry
- Plum
- Dark Amethyst
- Deep Magenta
- Dark Violet
- Dark Magenta
- Deep Plum
Deep Winter icy accent colors
- Pale Rose Pink
- Light Blush
- Light Mint
- Icy Mint
- Icy Aqua
- Icy Peacock
- Icy Steel Blue
- Icy Periwinkle
- Pale Lavender
- Pale Lilac
- Icy Orchid
- Icy Mauve
Free files: palette card (WebP), HEX list (CSV), Adobe swatches (ASE), Procreate part 1, Procreate part 2. Tap any HEX code to copy it.
Colors to avoid as a Deep Winter
- Aqua#65D2D2
- Bright Copper#D56400
- Pale Coral#FFC4B5
- Bright Periwinkle#989EF8
- Teal#00787D
- Soft Coral#DA8F7C
- Mahogany#742F25
- Dusty Apple Green#90B07F
You may also hear it called Dark Winter. It belongs to the winter group.
- Temperature: cool with a neutral lean
- Depth: dark
- Clarity: clear
- Best neutral: true black
- Best metals: platinum, gunmetal and silver
What ties the deep winter palette together?
Cool or neutral cool is the rule here, which is why the palette flatters skin with a cool undertone. That undertone is the base tone living beneath your skin's surface, and neither a tan nor a blush will change it.
The colors run dark as well, a good match for dark hair and dark eyes. And they are bright. Clarity, in this context, describes whether a color looks crisp or softened. Bright colors appear clean and pure rather than dusty or greyed.
Put together, these 3 traits flatter the strong contrast in your face. Contrast means how far apart your skin is from your hair and eyes in tone, and Deep Winters tend to have plenty of it.
These 5 signature shades show the blend clearly:
- Sapphire
- Deep Cherry
- Dark Violet
- Deep Emerald
- Deep Burgundy
Who suits the dark winter palette?
Deep Winter skin ranges widely, from very fair all the way to very deep. What ties it together is a cool or neutral cool undertone paired with dark hair and dark eyes.
| Feature | Typical Deep Winter looks |
|---|---|
| Skin | Fair beige or pale ivory over cool undertones; light to medium olive skin with neutral-cool undertones; medium tan with a cool bronze undertone; very deep brown skin showing cool red or blue undertones |
| Hair | Jet black hair with a blue or cool shine; black-brown shades like soft black or dark espresso; ash brown with no red tones; deep cool brown so dark it reads nearly black |
| Eyes | Black brown or true espresso shades; dark hazel with cool green or grey rings; deep olive green framed by a darker outline; cool dark brown blending into the pupil |
Most people in this season have eyes that are very dark and clear, framed by a dark circle at the edge of the iris. That circle adds to your natural depth.
A few mirror checks can tell you this is your season:
- Wearing black near your chin leaves your skin looking clear and smooth.
- Soft pastel shades drain the color from your face and leave it pale.
- Orange and golden brown tones turn your skin yellow or muddy.
- A deep berry lipstick wakes up your face without heavy makeup.
- Silver and dark gunmetal jewelry suit your skin better than yellow gold.
Neutrals for daily outfits in deep winter
True black and pure white both come easily to you, so they form a solid base for coats, trousers and shirts. Of everything, Black is your finest neutral.
When plain brown or grey feels tired, Deep Espresso, Dark Pine or Deep Charcoal can step in. You get more variety without losing the depth your face wants.
Here are your 12 neutral shades:
- Pure White
- Black
- Charcoal
- Espresso
- Deep Charcoal
- Deep Espresso
- Dusty Chocolate
- Dark Pine
- Dusty Pine
- Navy
- Dusty Marine
- Dusty Ink Blue
For daily basics, the blues and greens here behave like black. Navy or Dark Pine trousers will pair with nearly every shade in your main palette.
Picking your core shades and accent colors
Your core colors are saturated jewel tones spanning red, green, blue and purple. Wear these close to the face in tops, dresses, scarves and knitwear.
In the red family you'll find Crimson, Wine, Burgundy, Deep Cherry and Deep True Red. Emerald, Deep Emerald, Deep Jade and Pine cover the greens. Cobalt, Sapphire and Deep Royal Blue anchor the blues. For purples and pinks, look to Berry, Plum, Dark Violet, Deep Amethyst and Deep Magenta.
Your 12 accent shades are icy and very pale. Icy Steel Blue and Icy Mint lead the set, with Pale Lilac and Light Blush close behind. Because pastels can drain your color, keep the icy ones to small doses or match them with something dark. A Pale Lavender shirt layered under a Black jacket preserves the contrast your face wants.
Five shades to leave out, and why
These five shades clash with a Deep Winter palette:
- Mahogany
- Bright Copper
- Pale Coral
- Soft Coral
- Dusty Apple Green
Mahogany and Bright Copper both sit in warm orange and red brown territory. Warm orange and golden brown tend to give skin a yellow or muddy cast.
Both corals are light as well as warm, and pale pastels can leave your face washed out. Dusty Apple Green is muted and greyed, so it misses both the coolness and the clarity that flatter you.
Taking the dark winter palette into the store
Bulbs indoors and phone cameras both change how a color reads, so daylight shows it most honestly. Work through these steps before buying a piece.
- Pull up the palette on your phone and match the item to its nearest swatch.
- Carry the item to a window, or better yet outdoors, so daylight can show you its true color.
- Lay your phone screen against the fabric and view them together.
- In a mirror, hold the piece below your chin. Healthy, clear skin is what you want: not a pale or yellowish cast.
- Look at the buttons, zips and jewelry too: silver, platinum or gunmetal finishes will serve you better than yellow gold.
Questions people ask
Is it okay to combine dark winter neutrals?
Yes. Pairing Black with Pure White gives the sharpest contrast, which suits you well. If you'd rather keep things quiet, combine 2 of the darker neutrals (Deep Charcoal with Navy, say) then let an icy shade sit near your face.
What separates deep winter from true winter?
Every one of the 4 color families breaks into 3 seasons, each named for its strongest trait. Depth leads for Deep Winter, with coolness coming second. That makes your palette darker and slightly less icy than a season built around coolness.
Which lipstick shades suit my coloring best?
Start with dark berry shades: they lift your face without feeling heavy. Lipsticks near Berry, Deep Cherry, Wine or Plum are also good picks.
How do I confirm that I'm a Deep Winter?
Treat a quiz as a first clue rather than a verdict. Check colors on yourself in a mirror under daylight to confirm it. A draping session is another option: a trained consultant holds fabric swatches near your face and reads how your skin responds.
What downloads come with this palette?
Every palette downloads free as a PNG card, a CSV listing HEX codes, and swatch files for Adobe ASE and Procreate in 2 downloads. A HEX code is a 6 digit color value that design apps and many online shops use. A zip bundling all 12 seasons is available too.