Color season ยท Winter family
Deep (Dark) Winter Color Palette
The deep winter color palette is a set of dark, cool-leaning, richly saturated colors: true red, emerald, plum, sapphire and deep navy, anchored by black, charcoal and pure white. Deep Winter is the darkest of the three winter seasons. Its main trait is depth, and coolness comes second, which is why a few colors here carry a slight warm edge.
Some analysts call this season Dark Winter, so if you have been reading about a dark winter color palette, you are in the right place. Below are all 30 colors with hex codes, plus makeup, nails, hair, outfits and the clearest ways to separate Deep Winter from Deep Autumn and Cool Winter.
- Undertone
- Neutral-cool
- Depth
- Deep
- Chroma
- Medium to bright
- Contrast
- High
The Deep Winter color palette, color by color
Tap any swatch to copy its hex code, or download the full palette as an image for your phone.
How to read this palette
Start with value, because it matters most here. Most of these colors sit in the lower half of the lightness scale, and the palette ends in true black. The few light shades, pure white, icy grey and icy violet, are there to give you contrast, not to be worn head to toe.
In hue, the palette leans cool but not icy. Reds are blue-based, such as cherry and black cherry, greens are bottle and pine rather than olive, and the purples run from amethyst to aubergine. True red and emerald sit near the neutral line, which is what separates you from the iciest winters.
Chroma is medium to high. These colors are clear and rich, like gemstones seen in shade, not neon. If a shade looks like velvet, ink or polished stone, it likely suits you; if it looks chalky, faded or sunlit, it likely does not.
What is Deep Winter?
Deep Winter is a dark, cool-leaning season with strong contrast. Your best colors are rich and saturated, like true red, emerald, plum and deep navy, set against black and crisp white. Pale, dusty or golden shades tend to wash you out.
- Skin: neutral-cool to cool, from fair porcelain to deep espresso. Olive skin with a cool cast is common in this season.
- Hair: dark brown, black-brown or blue-black, usually with no visible gold or red in daylight.
- Eyes: dark brown, black-brown, deep hazel or dark olive, often with a crisp edge between iris and white.
- Contrast: high. Your hair and eyes are noticeably darker than your skin, or your whole coloring is deep with bright eye whites.
- Black clothing looks natural on you, while beige, camel and pastel peach can make your face look tired or grey.
A quick self-test
In daylight with a bare face, hold a sheet of pure white paper under your chin, then a sheet of soft ivory. If the white makes your eyes look clearer and your skin smoother, you lean winter. Then try black against dark chocolate brown. If black still wins, Deep Winter is a strong candidate.
Best Deep Winter neutrals
Black is your most reliable dark, with charcoal and deep navy close behind. For a lighter base, pure white and icy grey beat cream every time. Black brown is the one brown that works, because it reads almost black. Cool taupe suits knitwear when black feels too formal.
Colors Deep Winter should avoid
- Pastel Peach#F7C8A8
- Butter Yellow#F9E08B
- Warm Beige#D8C3A5
- Dusty Mauve#B89AA0
- Sage#A3AE97
- Camel#C8995F
- Mustard#CF9A2E
- Pumpkin#D9772E
Light, soft and golden shades are the opposite of your coloring. Pastel peach, butter yellow and warm beige are too pale to hold their own next to dark hair, so your face looks flat. Dusty mauve and sage are too greyed. Camel, mustard and pumpkin bring a yellow cast that can make cool skin look sallow. Keep any of these to shoes or trousers.
Metals and jewelry
- Silver
- Platinum
- White gold
- Gunmetal
- Blackened silver
Cool metals look most natural on you. A polished finish suits your high contrast, so mirror-bright silver and platinum work well. Gunmetal and blackened silver echo your darkest colors. Yellow gold can work in a deep, rich tone, but rose gold usually looks too soft.
Deep Winter makeup
Choose a neutral or cool foundation that matches your neck, not your cheeks. Deep Winters with olive skin often need a neutral-olive formula; a pink-cool one can look ashy. Test it on the jaw in daylight.
- Berry Stain#8E2A4E
- Blue Red#A8152C
- Raspberry#A4245E
- Wine#6E1A30
- Cool Plum#5E2448
- Cool Rose#C2507A
- Deep Berry#9A3558
- Mulberry#7E2E50
- Graphite#26272B
- Deep Navy#1C2541
- Plum#5A1F4A
- Bottle Green#0B3D2C
- Gunmetal#4A4D52
- Icy Violet#D9D3EA
Deep Winter hair colors
Natural dark brown or black-brown
Your base color already suits you. A gloss treatment adds shine without shifting the tone.
Cool espresso
A very dark brown with no gold. Ask your colorist for an ash or neutral formula.
Soft black
Blue-black can look harsh, so a soft black with a touch of brown is the safer way to go darker.
Black cherry
A deep violet-red that shows mainly in sunlight. It suits fair-cool and deep-cool skin alike.
Silver or salt and pepper
As grey comes in, cool silver keeps your contrast. Avoid toning it yellow.
Hair colors to avoid
- Golden or honey highlights, which add warmth your skin does not share.
- Light ash blonde or beige blonde, which lowers your contrast and flattens your face.
- Copper or ginger tones, which clash with cool undertones.
Nail colors for Deep Winter
Dark winter nails should look like gemstones: oxblood, black cherry, deep plum and midnight navy are your everyday shades. A blue-based red is the classic. Emerald and gunmetal suit evenings and winter months. For a sheer option, skip beige nudes and use a cool, glossy sheer berry. Crisp white works on short nails in summer.
Deep Winter clothing and outfit tips
- Wear at least one dark color in every outfit. A black or navy anchor keeps your deep coloring in balance.
- Put contrast near your face: a white shirt under a charcoal jacket, or an emerald top with black trousers.
- If a bright shade feels too much, choose its darker version. Pick sapphire over sky blue and cherry over coral.
- Choose fabrics with a smooth or rich surface: wool crepe, silk, leather, velvet and crisp cotton poplin.
- Your denim should be dark rinse or black. Light, faded or acid-washed denim looks out of place next to you.
- For white T-shirts, pick optic or pure white rather than cream or ecru.
Outfit combinations
Gallery black
BlackPure WhiteTrue Red
Black tailored trousers, a white shirt and a true red lip or bag. Clean and graphic.
Emerald evening
EmeraldBlackIcy Grey
An emerald silk dress with black heels and an icy grey wrap for the walk home.
Navy office
Deep NavyPure WhiteRaspberry
A navy suit with a white shell and a raspberry scarf to bring color up to your face.
Plum knit
PlumCharcoalIcy Violet
A plum sweater with charcoal trousers and an icy violet shirt collar peeking out.
Forest weekend
Bottle GreenBlack BrownPure White
A bottle green jacket over a white tee, with black brown boots and dark jeans.
Sapphire contrast
SapphireGraphitePure White
A sapphire blouse, graphite skirt and white trainers for a sharp casual look.
Winter wine
BurgundyDeep NavyCool Taupe
A burgundy turtleneck with navy wide-leg trousers and a cool taupe coat.
Build a small capsule wardrobe
- Pick one dark base: black if you like a graphic look, deep navy or charcoal if black feels severe.
- Add pure white and icy grey as your light tops. Both pair with every dark base.
- Choose two jewel accents, such as emerald and raspberry, for knitwear, blouses and scarves.
- Invest in a black or charcoal coat. It works over every color in this palette and suits formal and casual wear.
- Keep one statement piece in true red or sapphire to lift the neutrals on days you need more color.
Patterns and prints
Leaf print
Deep Fuchsia and Charcoal on Pure White
Plaid
Spruce Blue and Ink Blue on Icy Violet
Geometric
Deep Fuchsia and Graphite on True Red
Small florals
Spruce Blue and Black on Emerald
- Go for medium to high contrast. Black-and-white stripes, polka dots and houndstooth suit you better than tone-on-tone prints.
- Bold motifs work: large florals on a black ground, graphic geometrics and abstract brushstrokes in jewel colors.
- Keep the background dark if the print is busy. A dark base stops the pattern from overwhelming your face.
- Skip faded, washed-out or vintage-effect prints, which lack the depth you need.
Accessories and natural materials
- Smooth black or burgundy leather for bags, belts and boots. Patent and high-shine finishes suit you too.
- Black, dark tortoiseshell with cool tones, or deep burgundy glasses frames.
- Stones in your colors: onyx, garnet, emerald, sapphire, amethyst, black pearl and clear crystal.
- Silk scarves in jewel tones on a black or navy ground, worn close to the face.
How to tell Deep Winter from Deep Autumn and Cool Winter
Deep Winter vs Deep Autumn
- What you share
- Both are dark, high-contrast seasons with deep hair and eyes. Burgundy, forest-type greens and deep teal suit both, and both can handle strong color.
- What differs
- Deep Autumn tips warm, so bronze, rust, olive and gold look rich on it. Deep Winter tips cool, so black, pure white, silver and blue-based reds look cleaner on you.
- How to tell which you are
- Hold pure black and dark chocolate brown under your chin in daylight. If black makes your face look sharper and brown looks muddy, you are Deep Winter. If brown looks warm and black looks harsh, try Deep Autumn.
- Colors to borrow from Deep Autumn
- Deep Autumn shares your darkness, so its coolest shades cross over well. Burgundy, pine and black cherry sit right on the border. Leave its bronze, rust and olive behind, as these carry too much gold for you.
- BurgundyPineBlack Cherry
Deep Winter vs Cool Winter
- What you share
- Both are winter seasons with cool-leaning undertones, high contrast, silver jewelry and a love of black and white.
- What differs
- Cool Winter is cool first, so it handles icy pastels and fully blue-based brights. Deep Winter is deep first, and those icy colors look thin unless paired with something dark.
- How to tell which you are
- Wear an icy pink top on its own. If it looks fresh and clear, Cool Winter fits. If your face looks pale until you add a black jacket, stay with Deep Winter.
- Colors to borrow from Cool Winter
- Cool Winter lends you its icier, bluer side. Royal blue, icy violet and deep fuchsia work on you as long as a darker color sits nearby. Its brightest pinks are usually a step too light.
- Royal BlueIcy VioletDeep Fuchsia
Deep Winter questions
Yes. Dark Winter and Deep Winter are two names for one season. Both describe someone whose coloring is deep first and cool second. The palette, makeup and hair advice on this page apply whichever name your analyst or quiz used.
We don't list celebrity examples for this season. Celebrity seasons are often guesses based on edited photos and stage lighting. A quiz followed by a daylight test with white and black fabric will tell you far more than comparing yourself to a picture.
Only the darkest browns. Black brown and a deep espresso with no gold work as alternatives to black. Mid browns, tan and camel bring too much warmth and sit too light against your hair, so wear them on shoes or bags, away from your face.
Olive Deep Winters look best in emerald, peacock, true red and pure white, which clear up any green cast. Deep skin with cool undertones carries saturated shades beautifully: raspberry, sapphire and amethyst. Both should be careful with icy grey on its own, which can look ashy without a dark partner.
Pick dark, glossy shades that still look tidy. Oxblood, deep plum and midnight navy read as polished rather than loud. If your workplace prefers lighter nails, choose a sheer cool berry over a beige nude, which can look grey against your skin.
Not sure you are Deep Winter? The quiz scores warmth, depth and clarity separately and also shows your runner-up season.
Take the color quiz