Have you ever worn warm, muted tones like camel or burnt orange and felt they made you look dull? Or tried on a deep, rich jewel tone like burgundy or emerald and noticed how it made your features pop? If your natural coloring is cool, deep, and highly contrasted, you might be best suited to Dark Winter!
Dark Winter (also known in some systems as Deep Winter) belongs to the 16-season color analysis system and is one of the coolest and deepest seasons, sitting between True Winter and Dark Autumn. This guide will help you determine if the Dark Winter palette is your best, which colors suit you, and how to style them effortlessly.
How to Know If the Dark Winter Palette is for You
Dark Winter has cool undertones, deep intensity, and high contrast. If you resonate with the following characteristics, this may be your best season!
Key Characteristics
While characteristics don’t fully determine which of the 16-season color palettes may be your best, they can give clues that help narrow it down. If you have any of the following characteristics (you don’t have to have them all!), the Dark Winter palette may be the best for you:
Skin Tone |
Cool undertones with a blue or neutral tint Skin may range from medium to deep, but always leans cool Can tan easily but retains a cool or olive undertone |
Hair Color |
Dark brown, black, or very deep cool-toned brunette Hair naturally has cool or ashy undertones, with little to no warmth |
Eye Color |
Dark brown, black-brown, deep green, or cool hazel Eyes often have a sharp contrast against the whites, making them appear striking |
✅ Quick Color Analysis Quiz: Is Dark Winter Your Best Palette?
Answer YES if you…
✔ Glow in rich jewel tones like burgundy, deep emerald, or sapphire blue, but look washed out in warm earthy tones like rust or golden brown
✔ Look best in silver jewelry over gold
✔ Have a high contrast between your features, with deep, cool coloring
Want to take the full Seasonal Color Analysis Quiz? Get yours below:
Dark Winter Palette Characteristics
With seasonal color analysis, there are generally 12 seasons, while some use the 16-season color analysis system. Each season sits on a spectrum of color, and the palette will usually have characteristics to match. When looking at the seasons, we consider three main color dimensions: Hue, Chroma, and Value.
Hue
This is how warm or cool a color is—also known as its temperature. The Dark Winter palette leans cool, sitting towards the cool end of the spectrum. Most colors in this palette have a blue or neutral undertone, however some colours do have a slight bit of warmth to them as they bridge with sister season Dark Autumn.
The palette includes cool blues, deep purples, emerald greens, and intense reds.
Even traditionally warmer colors like red have a cool base, keeping them aligned with Dark Winter’s tone.
Chroma
This is how saturated or muted a color is. Dark Winter colors are medium saturation, meaning they are rich, but some shades are slightly softened by darkness (black being added to the hue).
The colors in this palette are deep and strong, with some softness
Compared to Deep Autumn, which also has deep colors but leans warm, Dark Winter’s shades are cooler and a touch more vibrant.
Value
This is how light or dark a color is. Dark Winter leans toward the dark end of the spectrum, meaning the colors are rich and deep.
While there are some icy pastels to create contrast, most of the colors are dark, dramatic hues.
This makes Dark Winter darker and more intense than its brighter sister palette, True Winter.
The Dark Winter Color Palette
The Dark Winter palette is cool, bold, and striking, inspired by a dark and cozy winter day.. This gives it a dramatic and sophisticated vibe, but you can control the intensity through styling choices.
|
Best Shades |
How to Wear Them |
|
Deep Burgundy |
A burgundy coat with charcoal trousers |
|
Sapphire Blue |
A sapphire dress for a bold statement |
|
Emerald Green |
A deep green blazer for a sophisticated look |
|
Cool Red |
A striking red top paired with black pants |
|
Pure Black |
A sleek black dress for a classic winter look |
These are just a few standout colors in the Dark Winter palette. The palette also includes icy pastels for contrast, deep jewel tones, and cool neutrals.
Colors to Avoid for Dark Winters
These are colors with opposing color dimensions to the Dark Winter palette. If this palette suits you best, wearing colors that are too warm, light, or earthy can make you look washed out or dull.
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Avoid These Colors |
Choose These Instead |
|
Warm Beige |
Cool Taupe |
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Mustard Yellow |
Icy Lemon |
|
Bright Green |
Emerald Green |
|
Rust Orange |
Cool Red |
Sister Palettes
For Dark Winter, which is cool, deep, and bold, its sister palettes are True Winter and Deep Autumn.
True Winter shares the same cool undertones but has brighter, clearer colors, whereas Dark Winter leans darker. Imagine taking the colors from the winter palette and adding a touch of black to darken them - without muddying the color.
Dark Autumn is also deep but leans warmer, making it a possible match for those who sit between the two.
If Dark Winter is your best palette, you may also be able to wear the cooler colors from Deep Autumn and the darker shades from True Winter, depending on the mix of your natural coloring.
Styling Your Dark Winter Palette
A Dark Winter wardrobe can feel bold, elegant, and powerful. The high contrast of this palette works well with structured silhouettes and sleek designs. That being said, you can definitely style this palette for any aesthetic by playing with silhouette, shapes and textures. This makes it versatile for different settings - casual, business or formal. Despite the vibe this palette gives off, you don’t have to tap into your inner Disney Villain. Try out the icy and lighter shades to embrace your inner Disney Princess :)
✅ Best Outfit Combinations
🌙 Casual: A deep burgundy sweater with charcoal gray jeans and silver accessories
💼 Workwear: A sapphire blue blouse paired with black trousers and an emerald green blazer
❄️ Evening: A cool red dress with silver jewelry and deep berry lipstick
Hair & Makeup for Dark Winters
When considering hair and makeup for Dark Winter, think of bold contrasts, cool undertones, and deep intensity. This doesn’t necessarily mean heavy makeup - while the palette for this season may scream vamp (or even goth), you can still get away with a natural look if Dark Winter is your best palette. If you already have high contrast between your features, you can play this up in a subtle way with a bit of black mascara or a subtle eyeliner look.
|
Feature |
Best Shades |
|
Lipstick |
Deep Berry, Cool Red, Wine |
|
Blush |
Cool Rose, Deep Plum, Soft Mauve |
|
Eyeshadow |
Charcoal, Deep Teal, Sapphire Blue |
|
Jewelry/Metals |
Silver, Platinum, White Gold |
Hair colors for Dark Winter should stay cool and dark. Natural deep shades or cool black are best. If coloring your hair opt for ash-based tones or blue-black shades for the most flattering result. If you have more of a neutral undertone and your main trait is depth, you may be able to play with temperature and opt for something warmer like caramel highlights.
FAQs: Everything You Need to Know About Dark Winter
Q: How do I know if Dark Winter is my best season or if I suit another winter season better? A: If you think you have cool undertones but feel like True Winter shades are too bright and Dark Autumn shades are too warm or don’t have enough punch or contrast, you’re likely best suited to Dark Winter.
Q: Can Dark Winters wear black? A: Yes! Black is one of the best colors for Dark Winters, as it enhances contrast and sharpens features.
Q: What’s the difference between Dark Winter and Dark Autumn? A: Dark Winter is cool and dark, while Deep Autumn is warm and dark with more earthy tones.
Q: If the palette is called Dark Winter, why are there light colors in it? A: Because Dark Winter is a high contrast season - and those that suit the season have high contrast in their features - they can get away with high contrast in color. This means pairing a light color with a dark one or wearing a high contrast pattern like black and white. The key is making sure the light colors are icy vs. pastel - as pastel colors may appear too light in comparison with your skin tone or too warm or muddying.
Embrace Your Dark Winter Beauty
Understanding your seasonal color palette allows you to build a wardrobe, makeup routine, and style that enhances your features naturally. If the Dark Winter palette resonates with you, start embracing cool, bold hues and high-contrast looks today!
