Step into the Winter season with a vibrant and bold wardrobe to brighten and excite your style on chilly days. Don’t allow the gloom and greyness of Winter mornings dampen your spirits. Embrace the power of colour and let it take centre stage in your wardrobe. Notably, the Winter colour season palette offers a delightful mix of rich jewel tones and splashes of bright, icy hues.
Imagine yourself wrapped in a cosy, deep Emerald Green jumper or wearing a vibrant Red-Blue or Sapphire Blue woollen coat. These colours will not only make you stand out in a sea of neutrals, but convey an image of confidence and vitality. Let’s consider how you can incorporate these colours into your wardrobe (whether you’re a “Winter” or not) and watch your style bloom.
So, whether you’re drawn to monochromatic ensembles or mixing and matching colours within your outfits, let your imagination run wild. The result? An outfit that is as unique as you and your personal brand.
Say goodbye to boring and hello to a vibrant, fresh Winter wardrobe that will turn heads wherever you go…
Contents:
How Do We Visualise the Winter Colour Season?
So let’s step into a world of vibrant beauty as you embrace the Winter colour season. From dazzling frosty landscapes to cosy fireside moments, Winter’s unique palette of bright, dark and cool hues are wardrobe inspiration.
Make this a perfect opportunity to experiment with the rich tones of the Winter colour season. Incorporate Deep Burgundy, Emerald Green and Royal Blue into your outfits for a bolder statement. These colours exclude a level of sophistication and vibrancy that will set you apart from the crowd. Don’t be afraid to combine different colours from the Winter colour palette in your outfits that fit your style preferences.
Try colour combinations like Red-Blue and Merlot Purple or Emerald Green, Sapphire Blue and Amethyst for a more vivid look.
Understanding the Psychology of Winter Colours:
The colours we choose to surround ourselves with can have a profound impact on our moods and emotions. In Winter, when days are shorter and temperatures drop, it’s important to choose colours that evoke richness, warmth and comfort. Colours like Mulberry Purple and Rumba Red help create a cosy atmosphere, alongside a touch of elegance to your closet. These colours have been associated with feelings of opulence, passion and tranquillity (pastels anyone); making them perfect for the Winter season.
When it comes to fashion, incorporating Winter colours into your wardrobe can be a great way to make a statement. For example, Deep Burgundy, reminiscent of a rich glass of red wine, adds a touch of sophistication to any outfit. You could try pairing Burgundy with classic, Winter neutrals like French Grey or Midnight Navy, for a softer look.
Alternatively, you could wear jewel tones for a more vibrant, eye-popping ensemble. Think how Emerald Green, with its deep, luxurious hue, is perfect for adding a splash of colour to your Winter outfits. Whether it’s a knit jumper, coat or even a pair of boots, this shade will immediately elevate your style.
Plus, let’s not forget about a classic winter colour – royal blue. This colour in particular (similar to purple) exudes classiness, trust and confidence. Try incorporating it into your wardrobe with a tailored blazer or statement dress for a chic and timeless look.
How Do I Know If I’m a Winter?
With all this talk on the Winter colour season palette, you may be wondering whether you’re a Winter yourself.
The seasonal colour analysis concept is based on four colour harmonies. Each harmony corresponds with one of the annual seasons – Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter.
Individuals who are Winters have cool or neutral-cool undertones - i.e. the colour underneath your skin’s surface. Their skin tones range from fair, light and medium; all the way to tan, dark and deep. Their eyes are usually medium to dark in value with blueish, cool (sometimes icy) undertones [see sub-seasons]. Likewise, their hair also has cooler undertones; usually dark brown or black (with the exception of some Cool Winters).
Our dazzling Winters are best known for is their stark, high levels of contrast between their features. Think dark, bitter chocolate hair; deep brown eyes and a light, cool complexion, for example.
Our Winters best suit cool toned (blue-based), bright and dark colours.
Which Winter Colour Season Palette Is Your Favourite?
Cool
Bright
Dark
The Winter Sub-Seasons (Our Tonal Harmonies):
Like Spring, Summer and Autumn, Winter also has three sub-seasons: Cool Winter, Bright Winter and Dark Winter.
In Style Coaching™, we look deeper than seasons and analyse individual’s tonal harmonies – light, dark, cool, warm, bright and muted. Based on personal colouring, we would look at whether they best suit the Winter palette’s cooler, brighter or darker colours.
When the Winter colour season is organised into sub-seasons – you can see the subtle differences between each palette.
Whether you suspect you’re a Winter or not, the only way to know is to book your own Colour Analysis!
Cool Winter:
Cool Winters are the coolest Winter season and lack any warmth in their features. Their skin undertone will always be cool with pink or blue undertones. Whilst, their skin tones range from fair, milky white; pale rosy beige and medium beige to cool olive or cocoa. Since they have cool undertones, their veins will have a blueish-purple colour to them. Thus, they best suit silver or platinum jewellery, clear diamonds, as well as pure white clothing.
Unlike Bright and Dark Winter’s (where hair and eye colours aren’t necessarily described as cool), Cool Winter’s hair and eyes will have cool undertones. Consider hair shades like: platinum blonde; silver, light ash grey; ash brown; cool brown or bitter chocolate.
Whereas, common eye colours include: cool blue, icy hazel, steel grey and rosy brown.
As the name would suggest, the Cool Winter season has the iciest colour palette out of the three Winter sub-seasons. This palette is slightly brighter than the Dark Winter one, but darker than the Bright Winter colours.
Here’s a selection of wow colours from the Cool Winter palette for you to incorporate into your wardrobe:
Blue Red
Cerise Pink
Icy Blue
Chinese Blue
Violet
Dark Emerald
Silver Grey
French Grey
Victoria Blue
Blue Violet
Bright Winter:
Bright (or Clear) Winters are known for having bright jewel-like eyes and high contrast levels between their skin tone and hair colour. Their skin tones can range from fair to deep with cool, pinkish; cool-neutral or red undertones (if they’re darker skinned). However, what makes the brightness in their skin so apparent is their little “glow.” In fairer skin this appears clear, almost translucent, whereas darker skin tones have a glowing, radiant quality to them.
Common hair shades amongst Bright Winters include: neutral brown; medium cool brown; bitter chocolate; dark golden brown; ebony or black.
Whilst, eye colours have a brightness to them that dazzles and looks jewel like. Typical examples include: bright cyan; emerald green; dazzling blue-grey or deep rosy brown.
Bright Winters tend to have blueish-purple coloured veins (with cooler undertones) and therefore look best in silver and platinum jewellery.
Although brightness is predominant on the Bright Winter palette; the colours generally have blue-based, cool undertones. The Bright Winter colours are neither light nor dark in value and are the lightest of the three Winter sub-seasons.
Let’s add a splash of opulence to your wardrobe! Here’s a selection of Bright Winter colours for you to experiment with:
Amethyst
Purple
Azure Blue
Merlot
Ice Pink
Bright Emerald
Hot Pink
Sapphire
Vivid Red
Cobalt
Dark Winter:
Dark (or Deep) Winters typically have dark eyes and hair and either very light or very dark skin. However, despite this conceived image, Dark Winters are the most diverse out of the three tonal Winter colour season palettes. Their skin tones can range from light cool ivory to deep cool ebony (with blueish undertones). A Dark Winter’s skin undertone can either be olive, neutral or neutral-cool with beige or pinkish undertones.
A distinct feature of our Dark Winters is the high level of contrast between their skin tone and hair colour. Their hair is dark – think: bitter chocolate; medium cool brown; cool and darkest mahogany; plum black; ebony or pure black.
Whereas, common eye colours include: deep brown, deep ebony, deep hazel and dark olive.
Deep Winters tend to have blueish-purple coloured veins (with cooler undertones) and look best in silver and platinum jewellery.
The Dark Winter palette is the darkest Winter colour season, but is equal in coolness to the Bright Winter colours. Although the colours of the Dark Winter season are the least bright out of all three Winter sub-seasons.
Here are some personal favourites to try from the Dark Winter season:
Rumba Red
Deep Claret
Mulberry
Blackberry
Rich Navy
True Blue
Arapawa Blue
Midnight Grey
Elm Green
Deep Forest
Incorporating Winter Colours Into Your Wardrobe (Even If You’re Not a Winter):
If you’re a Winter, feel free to experiment with wearing these dazzling, intense colours near your face. Think tops, shirts, jumpers, scarves and jewellery, notably necklaces and earrings.
For example, a statement scarf is a versatile accessory that can instantly elevate any Winter, smart outfit. Choose one in a vibrant colour like Sapphire Blue or Cerise Pink, depending on your personal style preferences. Pair it with a neutral coat or jumper to allow the scarf to take centre stage in your outfit. Not only will it keep you warm, but it will add a pop of colour to your Winter ensemble.
Additionally, silver or platinum jewellery with jewel-like gemstones or statement necklaces in bold, cool colours would be good choices too.
You may be thinking now that unless you’re a Winter, you can’t wear any of these colours? Well that’s not strictly speaking true though…
You can still enjoy experimenting with Winter colours, even if you’re a Summer, Spring or Autumn. Instead of wearing these colours near your face, incorporate them into the lower half of your outfits. Consider items like an Emerald Green skirt, Vivid Red handbag and shoes and Merlot trousers, to name a few.
Winter Colour Combinations In Fashion:
To create a cohesive and polished look, it’s important to know how to combine Winter colours effectively within your outfits. One such way is a monochromatic colour scheme, whereby you choose different tints, tones and shades of the same colour. This creates a harmonious, sophisticated look that is easy to pull off and perfect for those with natural or classic styles. For example, you could pair different tints, tones and shades of blues – think Chinese Blue, True Blue and Icy Blue.
Alternatively for a bolder look, try combining contrasting colours within your outfits. Picture Purple with Icy Lemon Yellow or Blue Red paired with Emerald Green.
To Finish…
Although we usually see these colours when the Winter collection is released; feel free to wear them all year round. Consider wearing colours like Icy Lemon Yellow in the Summer months or Azure Blue to brighten your Spring wardrobe. The possibilities are endless!
Remember, even if you don’t have the typical “Winter look”, you can still have fun with the Winter colour season palette. For instance, you could wear Vivid Red or Sapphire Blue on your lower half. Or even as a pair of shoes or handbag!
Have fun experimenting with the intense, rich and vibrant Winter colours. Consider which selection of colours would best highlight you and your personal brand. Which colours best represent you, your personality and desired style? Food for thought?
If you’d love to discover whether your colour season, book yourself a colour analysis. In-person near Winchester, UK or online.
Credit: Style Coaching Institute®. (2024) Online Stylist and & Fashion Diploma Course. Available at: https://www.stylecoachinginstitute.com (Accessed: 10 January 2024).