In this article, you will discover:
- ✓ The Dark Winter palette, Dark Winter Makeup, Hair and Jewellery
- ✓ Common characteristics of a Dark Winter
- ✓ The benefits of using the Dark Winter palette for your wardrobe
- ✓ The Dark Winter outfit secrets to looking effortless
- ✓ If you should have a seasonal colour analysis for a professional confirmation
After many years of styling thousands of clients both in our London styling studio and virtually online, we fully understand that there is no "one size fits all" approach when it comes to colour analysis.
To ensure accuracy when conducting a seasonal colour analysis, it is important to look at both 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 best suit you, as well as the intensity and vibrancy of the colours too.
The purpose of colour analysis is to enhance your natural beauty, 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.
5 common Characteristics of a Dark Winter
Please note, that these characteristics are not strict guidelines to determine whether or not you fall into this season. Instead, these are 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 Winter, don’t panic!
Also, you may find that you have a Dark Winter colour analysis result, yet you may have qualities that don't quite fit into the conventional Dark Winter characteristics.
This is particularly true for people of colour as most seasonal colour analysis advice is centred around white skin tones.
As stylists with a mixed raced background, so we understand this nuance on a personal level!
Keeping in mind that we must take into consideration room for individuality, here are 5 common characteristics of a Dark Winter:
- Your natural appearance is neutral and slightly cool with either neutral or blue undertones. Please note, many people mistake having light skin to mean having cool undertones.
- 2. Your eyes are dark and have a cool look to them, as opposed to warm or soft.
- There is a high contrast between your hair, skin and eye colour.
- Your lips have a natural rosy red or rose pink appearance.
- Your hair is cool and very dark rather than warm and golden
Not sure if you are a Dark Winter?
Get your colour seasonal analysis results within 72 hours.
The Dark Winter Palette
The Dark Winter colours have a cool, deep and dark feel to the palette.
When thinking of The Dark Winter palette, think of this as the very beginning of winter, when we experience the shortest hours of daylight. This palette is deep and dark, like a beautiful night sky.
Looking at the overall palette you will notice there are no warm or light colours.
As a Dark Winter, these colours neither overpower nor drain you, they will work in harmony with you.
This means that you will look dazzling naturally and effortlessly when wearing these colours.
Dark Winter Best Jewellery Metals
Pewter, dark silver and dark gold are the best metals to harmonise with your Dark Winter cool blue undertones. Stay away from warm metals such as copper, bronze or very yellow gold metals as this will clash with your striking and cool look.
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 Winter Makeup
When it comes to Dark Winter makeup, it is best to choose colours that enhance your cool skin tone. As you do not have yellow undertones, stay away from warm-toned makeup, particularly orange colours like peach and apricot, or Barbie pink lipstick.
It is no secret that warm-toned makeup has been on trend in recent years, which has led to many of our cool-toned clients feeling that the only way to look glowing, is to do so in a way that looks bronzed or tanned.
As a Dark Winter, these colours will not enhance what is happening with you naturally, but rather, mask your natural colouring qualities.
However, those with a cool undertone can look just as glowing, but in a way that is cool rather than warm.
Although it is tempting to gravitate towards colours we like, wearing colours that look in harmony with your cool blue undertones is far more effective.
Dark Winter Nail Polish Colours
When it comes to looking effortlessly well-put-together, it is all in the details.
Therefore, the best way to complement your Dark Winter look is by choosing nail polish colours from your palette.
It can be tempting to deviate from your palette and experiment with a warmer, lighter or brighter colour. However, this will either clash or look jarring against a head-to-toe Dark Winter look, so we advise choosing a colour from your palette for your best look.
Dark Winter Best Hair Colours
If you are considering changing your hair colour, we strongly advise that you should opt for another Dark Winter hair colour for your best look. Ultimately, we all look our best when we are working with what is happening to us naturally, rather than drastically changing ourselves.
Flattering shades for you include cool dark ash brown or natural black, dark cherry or a cool-toned blonde.
Be sure to avoid warm colours such as caramel or strawberry 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 Winter clients) as well as your undertone and contrast level.
Dark Winter Colours to Avoid
Stay away from rich and warm hues as these colours are the direct opposite of the striking and cool winter colours that look best on you.
More specifically, avoid warm yellow golds, oranges, beige, camel and peach.
These warm colours will drain your cool colouring rather than bring it to life.
Dark Winter, True Winter or Bright Winter?
Each colour season is divided into three subcategories. For the cool winter family, the colour palettes are Dark Winter, True Winter, and Bright Winter.
If you’re a “Dark Winter”, then you’re at the beginning of the winter season, and the two following palettes are True Winter (think of the middle of winter) and Bright Winter (the end of winter) on the seasonal flow chart.
Dark Winter is the darkest of the three palettes, whereas Dark Winter can take slightly darker colours and less variety of light colours (this palette follows Dark Autumn), and Bright Winters' colours are much brighter as this palette neighbours Spring.
Dark and Bright Winters are not as cool in their undertones as True Winters, as both of these neighbour the warm spring and autumn seasons.
It’s advised to stick to your Dark Winter colours as these are the most in harmony with your natural beauty.
However, should you wish to wear more colours, then these two winter types are your second-best options.
Can Dark Winters wear black?
Black is a colour that is considered a classic staple in many wardrobes, especially for those who work in the corporate world. There is a myth that black looks fantastic on everyone, but this is not the case.
If you are somebody who lives in black, then you’re in luck - black does appear in the Dark Winter palette!
This colour looks in harmony with your natural colouring, as you already have darkness in your hair and eyebrows (or in some cases, eyes too).
With that being said, we do encourage you to expand your colour comfort zone and try dark-coloured alternatives from your Dark Winter palette to add variety and dimension to your look.
The Dark Winter palette is complete with many darker colours that will look just as beautiful on you as black. Dark cool blue, Dark Grey and Dark Green are great alternatives to black that will fit perfectly within the cool Dark Winter palette.
These colours are great to wear during the warmer spring/summer months, as typically, our Dark Winter clients find it easier to embrace their palette during the cooler autumn and winter months.
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.
6 game-changing Benefits of a Dark Winter Wardrobe
Having the correct colour palette as a guide for your wardrobe is a game changer when it comes to creating flattering outfits quickly and easily.
Using a colour palette will also radically change the way you shop - rather than buying the item as an impulse decision, only to find that it does not go with anything you own at home, you can confidently invest in items that will add variety to your wardrobe.
Here are 6 main benefits of using the Dark Winter 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 Winter 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 cool Dark Winter 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 cool Dark Winter colours, your outfits will look well-put-together, without looking try-hard.
- Less stress, more confidence - By using the Dark Winter 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 Winter, building your wardrobe using the Dark Winter color palette is the perfect solution to help you achieve a wardrobe that flows.
Dark Winter Wardrobe Secrets To Successful Outfits
Whilst Dark Winters can carry off a striking colour combination, such as black and white or navy and light blue, Dark Winter’s can look dramatic head to toe in one colour.
If your personal style is better suited to making a bold fashion choice - opt for deep ruby reds, deep purples, midnight blue or emerald green, which will look fantastic with a contrast of statement silver jewellery.
A good tip to enhance your Dark Winter 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 ruby red is a wonderful statement in silk, but perhaps not in cotton or linen. Similarly, you might love black in leather, but not as knitwear.
Dark Winter Wardrobe Neutral Colours
For many, light neutrals like beige and camel and darker neutrals like chocolate brown are the go-to options when it comes to neutral colours in their wardrobes.
However, as a Dark Winter, these colours are not the best option for you as these colours have too much yellow in them, making them very warm.
When wearing these colours, you can look washed out and your complexion can look dull.
Instead, Dark Winter neutrals favour black, true white, dark grey and midnight blue.
Dark Winter Wardrobe Accent Colours
Our Dark Winter clients find that they can easily a statement look with their cool and clear color palette. The cool reds, deep pinks and dark purples are all excellent choices.
However, when it comes to finding the perfect accent colours for you, whether it is something different such as icy cool blue or light grey, choose a Dark Winter colour that makes you feel most confident. make sure you feel like you at your best.
Dark Winter Wardrobe Colour Combinations
As you have a high contrast level, you look best in colour combinations that are also of a striking contrast level.
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 Winters 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 black and white combination is considered a classic Dark Winter combination, there are many options that will work for you.
Below are some of our favourite Dark Winter colour combinations:
Dark Winter Wardrobe Workwear Colors
As a Dark Winter, you have the most traditionally corporate colours out of all 12 seasons! There are plenty of colours in your palette that are considered universal colours to wear in business formal settings.
Let’s start with your Dark Winter neutrals. As a Dark Winter, you look great in grey, black, white and navy blue. These classic colours are also easy to mix and match, so you can create endless looks with just a few pieces.
If you’re looking for something slightly different, consider a dark green or a light grey to help you stand out from a crowd that’s dressed in black.
Dark Winter vs Dark Autumn
We have found that for many clients of ours, it can be hard to differentiate between Dark Winter and Dark Autumns colours when shopping. It’s not surprising as both of these palettes are deep and dark in their colouring, so it can be hard to train your eye at first.
The difference between the two is that Dark Winter colours are cooler and slightly brighter than Dark Autumn colours, which leans warmer and richer.
Dark Winter 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 cool skin tone changes due to tanning or ageing.
This is because Dark Winter 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 Winter, 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 Winter wardrobe with longevity.
CAN DARK WINTERS HAVE BROWN EYES?
Yes, many Dark Winters do have deep and dark cool brown eyes.
CAN I BE A DARK WINTER AND STILL GET A TAN?
Yes, you can. It is a misconception that skin with cool undertones cannot darken in the sun.
