In this article, you will discover:
- ✓ The Dark Autumn palette, Dark Autumn Makeup, Hair and Jewellery
- ✓ Common characteristics of a Dark Autumn
- ✓ The benefits of using the Dark Autumn palette for your wardrobe
- ✓ The Dark Autumn outfit secrets to looking effortless
- ✓ If you should have a seasonal colour analysis for a professional confirmation
Our many years of styling thousands of clients in our London styling studio, and virtually online with clients all over the world, we completely understand that colour analysis is not always clear-cut and straightforward.
That being said, there is a way to ensure accuracy when conducting a seasonal colour analysis. The two aspects of your colouring that are essential to your analysis are your undertones and the contrast level between your hair, skin tone and eye colour.
Both of these factors will determine the temperature of the colours that are in harmony with you and the intensity of the colours that best flatter you.
The aim of colour analysis is to enhance your natural beauty, rather than making your outfit the main focus of your look. We do not want the clothes to be more noticeable than your eyes or your smile. In other words, The moment is not your outfit, it is you in the outfit.
For best results it’s crucial use natural light rather than artificial light when conducting your analysis.
5 common Characteristics of a Dark Autumn
Please note, that these characteristics are not strict guidelines to determine whether or not you fall into this season. Consider these as general qualities of what is typical of this season.
So, if you do not look the same as someone else who is also a Dark Autumn, don’t stress!
You may find that you have a Dark Autumn colour analysis result, yet you may have qualities that don't quite fit into the conventional Dark Autumn characteristics.
This is particularly true for people of colour as most seasonal colour analysis advice is centred around white skin tones.
As stylists from a mixed raced background ourselves, we can relate to this nuance on a personal level!
Whilst we must take into consideration room for individuality, here are 5 common characteristics of a Dark Autumn:
- Your natural appearance is neutral and slightly warm with either neutral, subtle greneish undertones or golden undertones.
- 2. Your eyes are dark and have a warm look to them, as opposed to cool or bright.
- There is a high contrast between your hair, skin and eye colour.
- Your lips have a natural pink appearance.
- Your hair is warm and rich rather than light and cool
Dark autumn celebrities that are great to reference for style inspiration include Natalie Portman, Lily James, Meghan Markle and Halle Berry.
Not sure if you are a Dark Autumn?
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The Dark Autumn Palette
The Dark Autumn colours have a warm, rich and intense feel to the palette.
The Dark Autumn palette reflects the colours you would see in nature at the very end of the autumnal season, right before winter begins.
Looking at the overall palette you will notice there are no cool or icy colours.
As a Dark Autumn, these colours neither overpower nor drain you, they will work in harmony with you.
Therefore you can expect to look radiant naturally and effortlessly when wearing these colours!
Dark Autumn Best Jewellery Metals
As your undertone is neutral leaning slightly warm, you are in harmony with both gold and silver, however, the property of the metal is very important. To best accentuate your dark features, choose metals that have an antique look to them rather than anything that is highly polished or light in colour. Gold, brass, bronze, copper and oxidised silver are the best metals to harmonise with your Dark Autumn undertones.
To look effortlessly coherent, we recommend using your best metals for all of your jewellery and hardware, such as zips, bag clasps, buttons, belt buckles etc.
Dark Autumn Makeup
When it comes to Dark Autumn makeup, it is best to choose colours that enhance your warm colouring. As you do not have blue undertones, stay away from cool-toned makeup, particularly black and ruby red. As a Dark Autumn, these colours will not enhance what is happening with you naturally, but rather, mask your natural colouring qualities.
Although it is tempting to gravitate towards colours we like, wearing colours that look in harmony with your warm golden undertones is far more effective.
Whilst warm-toned makeup has been on trend in recent years, stay away from very warm colours (such as highly yellow or orange-based colours) and opt for neutral, golden makeup that leans slightly warm.
Dark Autumn Nail Polish Colours
In order to look coherent, we must pay attention to the details that are often overlooked.
Nail polish is a good example of these details that can contribute to looking well put together. , It’s not surprising that the best way to complement your Dark Autumn look is by choosing nail polish colours from your palette.
It can be tempting to deviate from your palette and experiment with a cooler, lighter or brighter colour, however, this will either clash or look jarring against a head-to-toe Dark Autumn look. To create a look that flows from head to toe, stick to Dark Autumn colours for your next mani-pedi.
Best Dark Autumn Hair Colours
If you are considering changing your hair colour, we highly recommend that you opt for one of the recommend Dark Autumn hair colours to best enhance your natural beauty.
Ultimately, we all look our best when we are working with our natural features, rather than drastically changing ourselves to fit into a trend.
Flattering dark hair shades for you include warm brown, dark brown, dark chocolate, golden brown, caramel and dark auburn.
Be sure to avoid cool colours such as jet black or ash blonde as they can drain your colouring and they will not work with your striking features.
Be mindful that dying your hair slightly lighter or slightly darker can throw off your contrast levels, so, It's essential to seek professional advice when choosing a new hair colour.
The perfect shade for you depends on a combination of the surface colour of your skin (which varies across all Dark Autumn clients) as well as your undertone and contrast level.
Dark Autumn Colours to Avoid
Stay away from light and cool hues as these colours are the direct opposite of the warm and rich dark autumn colours that look best on you.
More specifically, avoid mint green, lavender and bright grey.
These cool colours will drain your warm and rich colouring rather than bring it to life.
Dark Autumn, True Autumn or Soft Autumn?
Each colour season is divided into three subcategories. For the three autumn seasons, the colour palettes are Dark Autumn, True Autumn, and Soft Autumn.
As a Dark Autumn, consider yourself as the end of the Autumnal season. At this time of year, the colours are not as warm as they are in the middle of autumn, and the season that follows you is Winter. The two additional Autumn palettes are True Autumn (think of the middle of autumn) and Soft Autumn (the very beginning of Autumn).
Dark Autumn is the darkest of the three palettes, whereas True Autumn can take colours with more yellow mixed into them, whereas Soft autumn colours are muted rather than rich.
Dark and Soft Autumns are not as warm in their undertones as True Autumns, as both of these neighbours have the cool winter and summer seasons.
Whilst you fit into the autumn season, it’s advised to stick to your Dark Autumn colours as these are the most in harmony with your natural beauty.
However, should you wish to wear more colours, then these two autumn types are your second-best options.
Can Dark Autumns wear black?
Black is a colour that is typically regarded as a classic staple in many wardrobes, and many believe the myth that black looks best on everyone.
Dark Autumns do not have black in their palette, however, you do have very similar options including charcoal and black coffee. If you are somebody who lives in black, do not fear. It’s not that black looks bad, but rather, Dark Autumn alternatives look best.
We encourage you to experiment with dark-coloured alternatives from your Dark Autumn palette to add dimension to your wardrobe.
If wearing alternative colours to black feels very daunting, we recommend taking baby steps and starting with dark-coloured accessories such as a bag, or a phone case to ease you into wearing new colours.
In time, you can move to colourful clothing when you have more confidence in different colours.
Otherwise, if letting go of black feels like too much of a step, we advise you to wear black on the bottom half of your look as this will not impact your complexion.
However, we must warn you that this will have an impact on how well put together your outfit will look, as your best option is to dress head to toe in Dark Autumn colours.
6 game-changing Benefits of a Dark Autumn Wardrobe
Having the correct colour palette as a guide for your wardrobe radically improve the way you shop and create Dark Autumn outfits whilst reducing the time it takes to do so.
Using a colour palette will also drastically change the way you shop - rather than buying clothes as an impulse decision (we’ve all been there!) only to find that it does not go with anything you own at home, you can confidently invest in items that will be versatile in your wardrobe.
Here are 6 main benefits of using the Dark Autumn colour palette as a wardrobe guide:
- Save time getting ready - quickly putting outfits together that look good is a huge time saver. When you choose colours from the Dark Autumn palette, you’ll be able to create a variety of looks without having to spend hours trying on different items.
- Save a staggering amount of money - say goodbye to the days of buying clothes that you never wear. When curating your wardrobe with warm Dark Autumn colours, you will eliminate buyer's remorse as your purchases will be highly flattering on you.
- Look effortless without trying hard- The secret to looking effortless is to find clothes that are harmonious with your colouring and your body shape. By dressing head to toe in your warm colours, your Dark Autumn outfits will look well-put-together, without looking try-hard.
- Less stress, more confidence - By using the Dark Autumn palette, you don’t have to second-guess your outfits. Knowing that all the items you’ve chosen are highly flattering on you and look great together will give you more confidence in your wardrobe.
- More outfits with fewer items - When you build a wardrobe based on your colour palette, everything will mix and match easily, meaning the versatility of each garment will increase.
- More sustainable - Knowing that your colour season will never change is reassuring. It means that you can invest in a wardrobe designed for longevity, therefore needing to by fewer items over time.
As a Dark Autumn, building your wardrobe using the Dark Autumn colour palette is the perfect solution to help you achieve a wardrobe that works with ease.
Dark Autumn Wardrobe Secrets To Successful Outfits
A good tip to enhance your Dark Autumn wardrobe is to experiment with these colours in a variety of fabrics, as this will change the way that you feel in your colours. You may feel that brown is a wonderful statement in silk, but perhaps not in cotton or linen. Similarly, you might love charcoal in leather, but not as knitwear.
You may find that you gravitate towards different colours at different times of the year. What you may enjoy wearing at the beach, you may find uninspiring in winter. Also, you may discover that you gravitate towards different colours for your workwear wardrobe vs your date night outfits. Allow yourself to experiment with as many colours as possible across different climates and environments.
Dark Autumn Wardrobe Neutral Colours
For many, light neutrals like white and grey and darker neutrals like black are the go-to options when it comes to neutral colours in their wardrobes.
However, as a Dark Autumn, these colours are not the most flattering against your skin tone.
Instead, Dark Autumn neutrals favour deep, dark brown, off-white and charcoal.
Dark Autumn Wardrobe Accent Colours
Our Dark Autumn clients find that they can easily create a statement look with their warm and rich color palette. The warm pinks, dark greens, deep peacock and rich browns are all excellent choices.
However, when it comes to finding the perfect accent colours for you, whether it is something different such as olive green or dark vanilla, choose a Dark Autumn colour that makes you feel most confident. make sure you feel like you at your best.
Dark Autumn Wardrobe Colour Combinations
Out of all the autumn palettes, you have a high contrast level, although, it’s not as intense as those who suit the Winter palette.
The good news is that all the colours you have in your palette can mix and match with each other, so when it comes to outfit building, Dark Autumns can expect easy and fast outfit building.
When using these colour combinations, think head-to-toe with your outfit, not just the colours worn closest to your face.
Whilst a cream and chocolate combination is considered a classic Dark Autumn combination, there are many options that will work for you.
Below are some of our favourite Dark Autumn colour combinations:
Dark Autumn Wardrobe Workwear Colors
As a Dark Autumn, your palette does not have the typical corporate colours, however, you can still dress in a formal fashion in a way that is appropriate for business settings.
Rather than opting for black, white, or grey, choose dark olive, dark brown, cream, or deep blue. You can add one of your favourite accent colours to your look with removable accessories (such as bags or scarves) to inject personality into your outfit.
If you’re looking for something slightly different, consider a dark green or a deep brown to help you stand out from a crowd that’s dressed in black.
Dark Autumn vs Dark Winter
It’s common for many clients of ours to initially find it difficult to tell the difference between Dark Autumn and Dark Winter colours when shopping. As both of these palettes are deep and dark, it can take a little time to train your eye.
The difference between the two is that Dark Autumn colours are warmer, richer and not as bright as Dark Winter colours, which include cool tones that are brighter.
Dark Autumn FAQs
WILL MY SEASON CHANGE IF I TAN, AGE OR DYE MY HAIR?
This is a question we get asked a lot, and The good news is that it will not – no matter if your overtone changes due to tanning or ageing.
This is because Dark Autumn colours are perfectly in harmony with your cool skin and the high contrast level between your hair, skin and eye colour.
So if you're a Dark Autumn, you can look forward to a lifetime of wearing flattering colours - no matter your age, or when you get grey hair! Therefore you can have the confidence to invest in classic pieces for a Dark Autumn wardrobe with longevity.
IS DARK AUTUMN THE SAME AS DEEP AUTUMN?
Yes, these are two different names for the same palette.
