Deep Winter Color Palette

What is a Deep Winter?

Deep Winter, also called Dark Winter, is the deepest of the Winters. Its main quality is depth, with a cool lean and enough clarity to carry strong color. Hair is often very dark brown, black-brown or black. Eyes are commonly dark brown, black-brown, deep hazel or deep green, and skin can range from fair to very deep, often with a neutral to cool clarity.

The overall impression is dramatic and striking, with medium to high contrast. Many Deep Winters notice that pale beige, peach and dusty pastels make them look washed out, while black, crisp white and deep jewel tones make them look polished and powerful.

The deep winter color palette, color by color

The core colors are dark, cool and rich. Deep Garnet is a black cherry red, and Velvet Mulberry is a deep, cool berry. Deep Plum and Velvet Aubergine bring rich purples. Deep Midnight and Velvet Navy are inky blues that work as both colors and neutrals. Deep Spruce is a deep, cool emerald, and Velvet Forest is a dark pine green.

These are jewel tones with depth. They combine beautifully in tonal outfits, like Velvet Navy with Deep Midnight, or in contrast with white, like Deep Garnet with Snow. The cool lean keeps them crisp rather than earthy.

Neutrals and accents for Deep Winter

Deep Winter neutrals are Snow, a cool Dove Gray, Charcoal and Ink. This is one of the seasons where true black and pure white usually look great, and Ink and Snow give you exactly that contrast. Charcoal and navy are softer everyday options.

The accents are Rich Red, Rich Azure, Rich Fuchsia and Rich Teal, brighter and more vivid than the core colors. A Rich Red lip with an Ink outfit, or a Rich Teal top under a Charcoal blazer, shows off Deep Winter contrast beautifully.

Makeup ideas for a Deep Winter

Deep Winters can carry bold, defined makeup with ease. Blush in cool berry, deep rose or plum, lips in black cherry, true red, deep berry, wine and cool plum, and eyeshadow in charcoal, deep plum, navy, emerald, cool taupe and silver all suit this season. Black liner and a defined brow usually look natural rather than heavy.

Warm oranges, golden bronzers and peachy nudes can look muddy on deep, cool coloring. A satin or soft-matte skin finish often looks polished. Foundation matching matters a lot for deeper skin, so test neutral and cool undertone shades on your jawline in daylight to find the best blend.

Hair color ideas for Deep Winter

Rich dark brown, espresso with a cool base, black-brown, soft black and cool mahogany or burgundy tones tend to flatter Deep Winters. Glossy, healthy shine makes deep hair look even richer. Golden blonde, copper and brassy highlights can clash with cool, deep coloring.

Some Deep Winters love a subtle cool gloss or a burgundy tint for an event. If you’re planning one before your wedding, use our wedding beauty timeline planner to place the appointment with time to adjust.

A deep winter color palette for your wedding

Deep Winter brides often look striking in bright white, soft white or gowns with silver detail. The palette suits dramatic, elegant weddings: bridesmaids in Deep Garnet, Velvet Navy or Deep Spruce, florals in deep red roses, burgundy calla lilies, dark plum ranunculus and white orchids, and silver, platinum or white gold jewelry.

For bridal makeup, a polished base, defined eyes in charcoal, plum or emerald, cool berry cheeks and a black cherry or true red lip all suit this season. Our bridal makeup service is tailored to your coloring, and your hair and makeup trial run is the place to test a bold lip.

A deep lip needs a little care on a long day. A lip liner in the same shade, a long-wearing formula and a quick touch-up after dinner keep the edges crisp, which matters even more in photos.

Colors to be careful with

For a Deep Winter, the colors to be careful with are light, warm and dusty: Icy Apricot, Buttercream, Apricot and Lemon. These lack the depth and coolness of your coloring, so they can make deep, cool skin look sallow or washed out near the face. If you love them, keep them away from your face and pair them with a deep or cool color.

Camel, beige and dusty pastels can also look flat. Charcoal, navy and crisp white usually look more like you.

Deep Winter or Deep Autumn?

Both seasons are deep, so the difference is temperature. Deep Winter leans cool, so black cherry, emerald, sapphire and black look sharp, and silver often suits. Deep Autumn leans warm, so forest, rust, bronze and chocolate look richer, and gold often suits.

Hold Deep Spruce next to a warm olive in daylight. If the cool emerald looks crisp and the olive looks muddy, Deep Winter is likely. If the olive looks rich and warm on you, compare the deep autumn color palette.

Building outfits with Deep Winter colors

Deep Winters shine in high contrast and tonal looks alike. Try Ink trousers with a Snow shirt and a Rich Red lip, or a Velvet Navy dress with Deep Midnight heels and silver jewelry. Sleek fabrics like satin, crepe and fine wool suit this season. Bold, graphic prints and black and white patterns often look great.

Jewelry, metals and finishing touches

Silver, white gold, platinum and gunmetal usually suit Deep Winters, along with sapphire, ruby, emerald, onyx and black diamond. Polished, sleek pieces tend to look better than very rustic ones. For glasses, black, deep navy, burgundy or dark tortoiseshell frames often look striking.