True Winter at a glance
- Also called
- Cool Winter
- Family
- Winter: cool, clear and medium to deep
- Strongest trait
- Cool
- Hue
- Cool
- Value
- Medium to deep
- Chroma
- Bright
- Best neutrals
- Pure white, icy grey, cool grey and charcoal
- Black?
- Yes
What makes True Winter different
True Winter is defined by coolness first. Every colour in it has a blue base, so golden, orange and earthy shades make the skin look sallow. As a Winter season it also shares the family traits: cool, clear and medium to deep. Put together, the best colours for a True Winter are blue red, hot pink, fuchsia and magenta.
Are you a True Winter?
Often dark ash-brown to black hair, or striking grey, cool blue, grey or dark brown eyes, and cool-toned skin from porcelain to deep. Strong contrast between hair, skin and eyes.
Colouring alone does not decide your season, because many people share the same hair and eye colour. What you see when colours sit next to your face matters more. You are likely a True Winter if most of these are true:
- Pure white looks fresh on you; cream looks dingy.
- Silver beats gold.
- Orange, camel and olive make you look sallow.
- Blue-red and fuchsia look natural on you.
Not sure? Take the quiz, then compare this palette with your neighbours in the drape mirror.
The True Winter color palette
Neutrals first: these are the base of a wardrobe, for coats, trousers, knits and bags.
Then the colours, for tops, dresses, scarves and anything near your face.
Tap a colour to copy its hex code. Screens show colour differently, so treat these as a guide and compare real fabric in daylight.
Colors a True Winter should avoid
These fight True Winter colouring most. They are not banned: keep them away from your face, in trousers, skirts, shoes and bags.
Can a True Winter wear black?
Yes. Black and pure white are signature colours for you.
Best metals and jewelry
Silver, platinum, white gold and polished steel. Your metal is the easiest colour decision you will make, because jewellery sits right at your face. If you are choosing gold, our guide to 14k vs 18k gold explains which one to buy for every day.
True Winter makeup
- Lips: Blue-red, fuchsia, berry and cool pink.
- Cheeks: Cool pink and berry.
- Eyes: Charcoal, black, navy, cool grey and plum, with black mascara and liner.
Your season guides the colour of lipstick, blush and eyeshadow. Foundation is different: it should match your skin's depth and undertone exactly, whatever your season. See how to match your foundation shade.
True Winter nail colors
Nails are the easiest place to wear your palette, since they sit near your face whenever you talk with your hands.
Hair color for a True Winter
Cool dark brown, black, blue-black, or silver and salt-and-pepper grown out. Golden, copper and caramel tones fight your colouring.
Outfits, contrast and prints
High contrast: black and white, navy and icy pink, cobalt with white. Graphic prints, stripes and colour-blocking.
Three outfit formulas in True Winter colours:
- Black tailored coat, pure white tee, fuchsia lipstick.
- Royal blue knit, charcoal trousers, silver jewellery.
- Icy pink shirt, navy trousers, black loafers.
True Winter vs similar seasons
- True Winter or Bright Winter? Bright Winter is even more vivid. If electric blue and hot pink look better than navy and burgundy, compare it.
- True Winter or Deep Winter? Deep Winter is darker. If wine, pine and charcoal beat icy pastels, look there.
- True Winter or True Summer? True Summer is softer. If pure white and black look harsh but navy and raspberry look lovely, compare it.
Your True Winter palette card
Save the palette as an image for your camera roll, to check colours while you shop.
A 1080 by 1350 image, the size of a portrait phone post. It is drawn on your screen; nothing is uploaded.
