Aug 20, 2023

Guide to the Winter Color Palette | Seasonal Color Analysis

Compared to the other seasons within seasonal color analysis, the winter palette stands out for its elegant, bold, and high-contrast tones.

The winter season has three distinct sub-seasons: cool winter, deep winter, and bright winter. Let's explore each one in more detail.

Cool winter: calm and serene

The cool winter palette is characterized by colors that are primarily cool, but also medium to high in depth and brightness - tones such as icy blues, magenta, and soft purple.

Cool winter is bordered by cool summer, its sister season. While cool summer tones are softer and more muted than those in the cool winter palette, cool winter individuals can wear cool summer colors very well - think of colors such as lavender, powdery blue, and dusty pink.

Overall, cool winter colors are reminiscent of calm frozen landscapes and elegant twilight evenings.

Cool winter color palette

Cool winter colors

Deep winter: mysterious and rich

The deep winter color palette contains colors that are dark, deep, and cool - think of midnight blue, deep green, and of course, black.

While all winter sub-seasons wear black well, black suits deep winter individuals exceptionally well, as it perfectly matches the depth and intensity of their features (on the other hand, it can look too stark and overpowering on a summer with soft features).

The deep winter season falls between cool winter (cool and dark) and deep autumn (dark and warm). The colors are characterized by their depth and richness, combining the coolness of winter tones with the dark and warm hues of deep autumn - reminiscent of an evergreen forest on a cold winter day.

Deep winter color palette

Deep winter colors

Bright winter: vibrant and lively

The bright winter color palette consists of colors that are clear, high contrast, and cool - think of cobalt blues, emerald greens, and vivid purples.

Characterized by high chroma, bright winter colors are exceptionally vibrant, standing out with their intensity and brilliance.

The bright winter season falls between cool winter (cool and dark) and bright spring (bright and warm) - although the colors are not quite as icy as the cool winter palette, borrowing a touch of warmth from the bright spring palette.

Overall, bright winter colors are reminiscent of the sparkling snow under the bright winter sun.

Bright winter color palette

Bright winter colors