Deep Winter Color Palette: Best Clothing, Accessories & Makeup

Dark, sophisticated, and collected, the Dark or Deep Winter color palette is full of deep tones fit for the winter season. Imagine walking through a forest on a chilly, foggy evening—this is the Deep Winter aesthetic. Chances are, if you’re a Deep Winter, you have an icy complexion and dark features. So, what can you wear to make your skin glow? Take a look at our comprehensive guide to learn everything about the Deep Winter color palette and how to style around it.

Best Colors for Deep Winter

Because a Deep Winter has a neutral-leaning, cool undertone, their best colors are deep, neutral, or cool hues, says color analysis expert Bethany Brenneman. Think deep jewel tones like midnight blue, evergreen, merlot, and dark purple.

Section 1 of 6:

Deep Winter Color Characteristics

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Cool hue The Deep Winter color palette has a slightly cool hue. It isn’t 100% cool on a sliding scale, but about 75%. This means there are more blue-toned colors than yellow-toned colors.^{[1]
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- Hue refers to the origin of a color you can see (for instance, if the color is primarily yellow, orange, red, violet, blue, or green.^{[2]
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  Research source} Deep Winters have a green or blue hue, as these are considered cool colors.
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Dark value You won’t see many light colors in this seasonal palette. The Deep Winter palette features icy colors rather than lighter ones to contrast the cool, light tone of the skin.^{[3]
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- Value is the lightness or darkness of a color.^{[5]
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Higher chroma A Deep Winter color palette has more saturated colors than other seasonal palettes. This means the colors are deep and full, making them darker rather than brighter.^{[6]
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- Chroma is the intensity of a color’s saturation or brightness. For instance, gray has a low chroma and fire-engine red has a high chroma.^{[7]
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Deep Winter Features

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If you’re a Deep Winter, you likely have dark eyes. Your eyes are so dark that you can barely see your pupils!
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Neutral or neutral-cool skin Deep Winters have a neutrally cool skin tone that can be fair or dark. Chances are if you’re a Deep Winter, silver jewelry and accessories look best on you. Although you can wear both, the cool tone in the silver makes your skin glow.
- Determine your skin tone by looking at the color of the veins inside your wrist. Deep Winters usually have blue or purple veins.
If you’re a Deep Winter, you probably have very dark hair. When looking at you, people may think you have black hair, even if it’s actually a deep brown—it’s just that dark.^{[8]
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High contrast between hair, eyes, and skin Deep Winters have a high contrast between all of their characteristics. This means that if you’re a Deep Winter, your skin is lighter when compared to your hair and eyes, which are very dark.
- If you're not sure whether you fit the Deep Winter description, find your seasonal color palette by talking with a stylist, professional color analyst, or fashion expert who can help you dress for your unique features.

Section 3 of 6:

Deep Winter Styling

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Wear cool tones and deep berry or jewel tones. Muted, cool tones look best on a Deep Winter’s frosty skin. Think about colors you’d see naturally in a foggy, damp Western forest. The landscaping is probably cool and dull, with dark brown, gray, and black. Meanwhile, the accents in flowers and wildlife are deep and coolly bright with greens, purples, and blues.^{[9]
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Research source} These are the colors that look best on you:
- Midnight blue
- Evergreen
- Darkest gray
- Dark mud brown
- Iron
- Espresso
- Pure/true white
- Black
- Cloudy gray
- Deep pink
- Merlot
- Lilac
- Dark purple
- Light blue
- Violet-blue
- Navy
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Avoid colors that are light and warm. If you’re a Deep Winter, you want to stay away from warm, summery tones that could wash out your natural glow. Basically, if a color is bright and reminds you of a summer day on the beach, you should avoid it. For example:
- Orange
- Yellow gold
- Peach
- Beige
- Camel
- Bright blue
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Wear contrasting colors to complement your high contrast features. When combining colors, aim to always pair a light tone with a dark tone or a dark tone with a bright accent.^{[10]
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Expert Interview} This draws the eye without pulling attention away from your wintery glow.
- For example, pair light gray with dark purple.
- Try a dark green dress with a bright pink heel.
Because of its cool temperature, true white is a part of the Deep Winter palette; however, it shouldn’t be worn on its own. Against your cool skin, true white can wash you out. To avoid this and look your absolute best, always pair white with a darker color, such as evergreen or dark brown.^{[11]
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Go for patterns featuring colors from your color palette. Any pattern or print can work for a Deep Winter (as long as it primarily features colors in their palette). For instance, a crimson floral print on a dark charcoal background would look fabulous.^{[12]
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- Opt for patterns with higher contrast, blended mid-tones, and repetitive designs.
- Move away from watercolors and abstract designs and gravitate toward crisp edges and gothic designs instead.
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Stick with silver metals and accessories. Golds and bronze can overpower your neutral, cool tones, so avoid them whenever you can. Instead, opt for silver jewelry and accessories to complement your natural iciness.^{[13]
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- Warm metals and accessories can still be worn by a Deep Winter; deep golds and brass should only be worn to avoid overpowering natural features.
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Avoid warm-toned makeup at all costs. Warm tones can wash you out and overpower your cool skin tone. To make your wintery features pop, stick with cool-toned makeup and stay away from oranges and bright pinks.^{[14]
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- For instance, swap a peach blush for a mauve.
- Ditch the bright pink lip for a dark berry or deep muted red.
- Use grays, burgundy, and taupes to enhance your eyes.
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Dye your hair black, plum, or dark brown. If you’re a Deep Winter, it’s best to stick to your roots when it comes to hair. Ditch the idea of being a honey blonde or brunette and embrace your icy, dark undertones! Try dying your hair black, deep plum, or dark brown to make your natural features pop.^{[15]
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- Avoid dying your hair with a warm undertone. For instance, caramel or strawberry blonde will wash out your features.

Section 4 of 6:

Deep Winter vs. Deep Autumn

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Dark Winter is cool, while Deep Autumn is warm. Although both of these color palettes feature dark colors, they have one distinguishing feature: tone. Dark Winters have a cooler undertone and look best in blues and greens. Meanwhile, Dark Autumns have a warmer undertone and shine in peaches and honeys.
- Think of it like this: Dark Winters are ice, and Dark Autumns are fire.

Section 5 of 6:

Deep Winter vs. True Winter

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Deep Winter has some warmer influences, while True Winter doesn’t. While both color palettes have cool undertones, some Deep Winter colors have a slightly warm tone (such as mauve and pale yellow). True Winters, on the other hand, have no warm tones whatsoever and only feature cool tones.
- Think of it like this: Deep Winter is about 75% toward cool on the hue sliding scale, whereas True Winter is 100% cool.

Section 6 of 6:

Deep Winter Celebrities

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These celebrities have a Deep Winter color palette. They have neutral or neutral-cool skin tones, dark hair, and dark eyes. They likely also look best in dark colors and bold, cool-toned accents. Chances are, if you look like one of these celebrities, you may be a Deep Winter.^{[16]
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- Adam Driver
- Anne Hathaway
- Ariana Grande
- Bingbing Li
- Jenna Coleman
- Jenna Ortega
- Jodie Turner-Smith
- Johnny Depp
- Kit Harington
- Lana Parrilla
- Lea Michele
- Lucy Liu
- Mindy Kaling
- Nina Dobrev
- Octavia Spencer
- Orlando Bloom
- Robert Downey Jr.
- Salma Hayek
- Sandra Bullock
- Shay Mitchell
- Taraji P. Henson
- Viola Davis
- Winona Ryder
- Zayn Malik

What Is a Good Winter Color Palette For Clothing?

Join the Discussion...

How do you choose what colors to wear in the winter?

Maja Koziara
Color Analysis Expert

Choosing winter colors is all about working within your color season. Rather than defaulting to dark basics or following the trends, you can wear deeper or more vibrant tones from your seasonal palette to stay both flattering and seasonally appropriate.

Winter types shine in cool, bold shades like icy blue, black, and jewel tones.

Autumn types glow in rich, earthy tones like olive, rust, and mustard.

Summer types suit soft, cool hues like dusty plum, muted navy, and grey.

Spring types look fresh in warm, bright shades like coral, camel, and turquoise.

You can also mix and match colors within your palette - pairing lighter and deeper tones - to add interest, contrast, and dimension to your winter wardrobe while staying true to what suits you best! :)

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Can you recommend a good winter color palette for my nails?

Melissa Young
Freelance Fashion Stylist
Melissa Young is a Freelance Fashion Stylist based in Atlanta, Georgia. With over 10 years of professional experience, Melissa's objective is to elevate people's confidence and comfort through the power of fashion. Her professional background is in commercial styling and she has extensive experience in styling for editorial, television, and film. She has styled for brands including Diageo Crown Royal, Hilton Hotels, IHG Hotels, and Getty Images, and has been featured in several publications, including PUMP Magazine, Moevir Magazine, and Upscale Magazine. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of South Carolina.

Melissa Young

Freelance Fashion Stylist

Expert Answer

I would recommend light, pink, or any neutral shade for winter. I adore a solid, pearl-white color palette. This could include a charming soft blue hue within the pearl-white spectrum. Visualize a winter wonderland with snow; any color with sheer quality, be it neutral, white, or blue, would be fitting. Even a delightful touch of purple works well for winter, adding a pop of color that's vibrant yet not too subdued. Additionally, red remains a wonderful choice for winter, just as it is in the fall. It carries a festive vibe, setting the tone for the holidays and the upcoming New Year. So, my advice for anyone seeking a good nail color palette would be to consider incorporating shades of red.

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