Is the True Winter Color Season Your Best?
Have you ever worn warm, earthy tones like mustard or rust and felt they made you look really blue? Or tried on a deep, rich jewel tone like royal blue or emerald green and noticed how it made your complexion glow? If your natural coloring is cool, deep, and clear, you might be best suited to True Winter!
True Winter belongs to the 16-season color analysis system and is one of the coolest and most vibrant seasons, sitting between Bright Winter and Deep Winter. This guide will help you determine if the True Winter palette is your best, which colors suit you best, and how to style your palette effortlessly.
How to Know If the True Winter Palette is for You
A True 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 True Winter palette may be the best for you:
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Skin Tone |
Cool undertones with a blue or pink tint Skin may range from fair to deep, but always leans cool Can sometimes burn before tanning, but tans to a cool beige or olive tone |
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Hair Color |
Usually deep brown, cool black, or very dark ash brown but can be deep blonde Hair naturally has cool or ashy undertones |
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Eye Color |
Bright blue, icy gray, deep cool brown, or intense green Eyes often have a clear and striking appearance with cool undertones |
✅ Quick Color Analysis Quiz: Is True Winter Your Best Palette?
Answer YES if you…
✔ Glow in jewel tones like sapphire, emerald, or icy pink, but look washed out in warm oranges or golden yellows
✔ Look best in silver jewelry over gold
✔ Have a high contrast between your features, with sharp, clear coloring
Want to take the full Seasonal Color Analysis Quiz? Get yours below:
True 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 True Winter palette is fully cool, sitting at the coolest end of the spectrum. Most colors in this palette have a blue undertone, with no warmth or yellow hues.The palette includes cool blues, icy pinks, pure whites, and vibrant jewel tones. Even traditionally warmer colors like red have a blue base to maintain their cool undertone.
Chroma
This is how saturated or soft a color is. True Winter colors are clear and highly saturated, meaning they are bright, bold, and vivid with no gray or muted undertones. The colors in this palette are intense and vibrant, perfect for those with sharp, high-contrast features. Compared to True Summer, which is also cool but more muted, True Winter is brighter and more vivid.
Value
This is how light or dark a color is. True Winter leans toward the dark end of the spectrum, meaning the colors tend to be deeper and richer. While there are some lighter shades, like icy pastels, the palette primarily consists of dark, dramatic hues. This makes True Winter deeper and more intense than its lighter sister palette, Cool Winter.
The True Winter Color Palette
The True Winter palette is cool, deep, and clear, inspired by crisp winter landscapes, icy reflections, and vivid jewel tones. This gives it a striking and powerful vibe, but you can control the intensity by how you style it (more on that later…)
Download the True Winter color palette here:
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Best Shades |
How to Wear Them |
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Sapphire Blue |
A sapphire blouse with charcoal trousers |
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Emerald Green |
An emerald dress for a bold statement |
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Icy Pink |
An icy pink scarf for a cool accent |
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Cool Red |
A deep red blazer for an eye-catching look |
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Pure White |
A white coat for a classic, sharp outfit |
These are just a few examples of the standout colors in the True Winter palette. The palette also includes icy pastels, deep purples, and cool grays.
Colors to Avoid for True Winters
These are colors with opposing color dimensions to the True Winter palette. If this palette suits you best, wearing colors that are too warm, muted, or earthy can make you look dull or washed out.
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Avoid These Colors |
Choose These Instead |
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Warm Beige |
Pure White |
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Mustard Yellow |
Icy Lemon |
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Lime Green |
Emerald Green |
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Rust Orange |
Cool Red |
Sister Palettes
You’ve probably heard the term Sister Palettes in seasonal color analysis but if not - it basically means the color palettes that share some of the similar color dimensions / characteristics. Because these palettes are not far off on the color spectrum, it makes sense in color theory that they could also suit you.
For True Winter which is cool, bright and deep - its sister palettes are Bright Winter and Deep Winter. Bright Winter leans cool but also contains some warm colors as it’s on the cusp of the temperature scale. It’s brighter and more vibrant than True Winter meaning that the colors appear a bit more striking or even neon. Its also slightly lighter, adding to the vibrancy of the color. Moving more towards the deep end of the spectrum is Deep Winter which also leans cool but contains some warmer colors. It is deeper or darker than True Winter meaning the colors are darker with black added. It also has a bit of softness as it leans closer towards the soft spectrum than True Winter, meaning more grey is added to give a less vibrant appearance.
If Winter is your best palette, usually you’ll suit the deeper colors from the Bright Winter palette and the lighter colors from the Deep Winter palette.
The only exception is if your main characteristic is coolness but you aren’t super deep or super bright - but somewhere in the middle. This is where the 16 season color analysis system comes in handy as there is a True Cool palette that sits in between True Summer and True Winter.
Styling Your True Winter Palette
A True Winter wardrobe can feel crisp, bold, and elegant. The vibe it gives off align with styles that are modern, minimalistic, and powerful. Think of bold contrasts and sharp lines that mirror the striking nature of a winter landscape. This palette is often associated with powerful workwear or a regal or elegant look but can be adapted to many different aesthetics - even more subdued or playful looks depending on the styling.
✅ Best Outfit Combinations
❄️ Casual: A sapphire blue sweater with charcoal gray jeans and silver accessories
💼 Workwear: A cool red blouse paired with black trousers and a pure white blazer
🌙 Evening: An emerald green dress with silver jewelry and icy pink lipstick
Hair & Makeup for True Winters
When considering hair and makeup for True Winter, think of bold contrasts, cool undertones, and high clarity. The True Winter palette conjures up the image of an old Hollywood starlet with clear skin, vibrant red lips and a dramatic cat eye. Even though those are key phrases associated with Winter, your makeup look can be played down and less bold. For a more natural look, consider simple black eyeliner and a glossy lip vs. a bold and smoky look.
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Feature |
Best Shades |
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Lipstick |
Cool Red, Berry, Deep Fuchsia |
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Blush |
Cool Rose, Icy Pink, Soft Plum |
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Eyeshadow |
Charcoal Gray, Sapphire Blue, Silver |
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Jewelry/Metals |
Silver, Platinum, White Gold |
Hair
When looking at hair color, your natural shade is usually your best! But I know we all crave change (and possibly highlights) sometimes. Those that suit the True Winter palette should lean towards shades that have an ash base to them which keeps the color cool. Many hair dyes tend to make hair warm - so purple shampoo is your best friend if you are dying your hair as a True Winter.
FAQs: Everything You Need to Know About True Winter
Q: How do I know if True Winter is my best season or if I suit another winter season better? A: If you think you have cool undertones but feel like Bright Winter shades are too neon or Deep Winter colors are too dark, you’re likely best suited to True Winter.
Q: Can True Winters wear black? A: Yes! Black is one of the best colors for True Winters, as it enhances the natural contrast and clarity in your features.
Q: What’s the difference between True Winter and True Summer? A: Both are cool seasons, but True Winter is more vibrant and deeper, with bold jewel tones, while True Summer is softer, lighter, and more muted.
Still not sure? Take the Color Analysis quiz to narrow down which sub season may be for you!
Embrace Your True Winter Beauty
Understanding your seasonal color palette allows you to build a wardrobe, makeup routine, and style that enhances your features naturally. If the True Winter palette resonates with you, start embracing cool, deep hues and bold contrasts today!
Book a Personal Virtual Color Analysis to Confirm Your Season
