Winter · Shades

Winter is bold, clear and cool: the colors of contrast, depth and things that mean exactly what they say. Think fresh snow against a black branch, a cardinal on a gray day, deep water under ice. Winter colors are precise and powerful, and so is a Winter wearing them.

At a glance

• Undertone: cool, leaning blue
• Value: deep, with high contrast
• Chroma: high: clear jewel tones, never dusty
• Color theory: shades, color deepened with black (see Hues, Tints, Tones, and Shades)

You might be a Winter if…

• Silver and platinum look crisp on you
• Black and stark white wear well, not harsh
• Pastels and dusty colors make you look tired
• Jewel tones make people notice your eyes
• Orange and camel seem to drain the color from your face

Your color ecosystem

• Core: 110 Royal Blue · 065 New Emerald Green · 141 Magenta Galactica · 131 Imperial Purple
• Neutrals: 102 New Black · 099 Charcoal Gray · 120 Navy Blue
• Contrast pop: 149 Fuchsia Red
• Skip: orange, camel and muted earth tones

Wearing it

• Go for contrast: one dark, one vivid. Royal blue with black, emerald with charcoal.
• A single jewel tone against black is your signature.
• Keep lines clean. Sharp shapes and smooth fabrics echo your natural clarity.
• White is your friend. Unlike most seasons, you can wear stark white close to your face.

Dashing a Winter piece

Winter pieces want saturation. Use generous pigment and choose deep, clear colors: sapphire, emerald, magenta and violet. A splash of black or navy between jewel tones creates drama without muddying. Non-splitting colors like Fuchsia Red and Turquoise stay crisp and bold, which suits a Winter perfectly. Rayon makes jewel tones luminous.

The Winter palette

Not sure yet?

Your season is a starting point, not a rulebook. A Winter with softer coloring borrows from Summer. A Winter with a warmer lean borrows from Autumn. The fastest way to know is to hold the swatches against your skin.

Keep reading

• Spring · Hues
• Summer · Tints
• Autumn · Tones