Cool Winter: Color Palette, Capsule Wardrobe, and Ultimate Guide

Cool Winter is cool, leaning dark and shares characteristics with winter and summer in the 12 season system of color analysis.

The cool winter season is characterized by deep, intense colors that complement fair but striking features. From crisp whites and blacks to bold jewel tones like sapphire blue and emerald green, these colors can create sophisticated and cohesive outfits.

Are ALL your features cool with an icy quality? Are you drawn to dark primary colors like cobalt blue and ruby red? Do you love the colors of a snowy winter day?

If this sounds like you, you might be a Cool Winter!

The is a comprehensive guide to cool winter in the 12 season system of color analysis. Keep reading to learn the physical characteristics, the best makeup, a beautiful color palette to wear, wardrobe staples, and how to create your own custom palette.

The 12 Seasons of Color Analysis

Seasonal color analysis is a fantastic way to discover the colors that naturally enhance your appearance and boost your confidence. By looking at the specific tones in your skin, eyes, and hair, this method helps pinpoint which of the twelve color families you belong to.

The result? A custom color palette that highlights your best features and makes you feel amazing.

In this system, six key color components serve as the guiding pillars: warm, cool, deep, light, soft, and bright. Within the cool spectrum, the Winter color family stands out for its medium to dark, bright tones.

The winter color family includes deep winter, cool winter, and clear winter.

• Deep Winter
• Cool Winter (you are here)
• Clear Winter

Today, we’re diving into the depths of Cool Winter—a palette that displays dominant coolness mixed with high contrast and medium value.

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Cool Winter is Cool, Leaning Dark

Cool Winter is classified in the following ways: cool hue, dark value, bright chroma.

• Cool hue – the undertone is always blue, and the overtone is typically also cool, as violet or pink from the summer influence. Occasionally these individuals will have some yellow overtone, giving them a slightly olive appearance.
• Dark value – cool winter usually is darker in nature, but closer to the middle range. They get a bit of lightness from the secondary summer influence and can wear more icy tones than their other winter sisters.
• Bright chroma – cool winter finds its contrast on the clear end of the spectrum, sitting next to one of the brightest seasons. 

Cool winter is one of the pure seasons, and as such all the features are cool. It is distinguished from the other true cool season of summer in value only, with cool winter leaning dark.

Cool Winter types typically have porcelain or medium beige skin tones. These complexions provide a striking backdrop that enhances the vibrant and cool colors of the winter palette.

Cool winter eyes are often striking, with shades of brown, blue, or gray that appear deep and luminous. These eyes tend to have a vibrant intensity, characterized by a contrast between the dark outer ring and the bright iris. A distinctive feature is the pattern of white spokes radiating outward from the pupil, adding to their piercing and captivating look.

Cool winter hair typically falls within the brown color family, ranging from medium brown to very dark brown, without any hints of red or warm tones. Silver-gray hair also fits well within this category, maintaining the cool, ashy undertones that complement the cool winter palette.

The features offer a high degree of contrast, typical with all winters. Cool winters are striking with dark hair, piercing eyes, and clear skin, and look amazing in bold cool colors.

Makeup for the Cool Winter Woman

To emphasize the features of cool winter, makeup colors should be cool and clear as well.

For the eyes, choose light neutrals such as silver, icy pink, and dusky blue, or dark colors like charcoal, pewter, and navy. Accent colors could be purple and teal.

For the cheeks, cool shades of soft pink, rose, and deep pink are wonderful to bring out a rosy glow for cool winter.

Winters should avoid nude as a lip color, because it downplays their natural contrast. A natural lip could be mauve or pink, while rose and sangria are a bit deeper. For a bold lip choose deep red or plum.

Avoid warm tones like coral or orange-red lipstick, brown and orange, and bronze cheek colors. Cool winter should also stay away from light lip colors.

Inspiration: The Natural Beauty of Cool Winter

Cool winter palettes draw their essence from nature’s vivid contrasts and cool tones. Unlike the typical 6-color rainbow that showcases the purest and most neutral spectrum of colors, the cool winter rainbow shifts these hues into a cooler and slightly darker register. Imagine a rainbow where each color is infused with a touch of frost, lending a subtle, sophisticated edge to the vibrant arcs.

Visual Inspirations

• Auroras over Icy Landscapes: The ethereal glow of the aurora borealis against the stark, icy backdrop of a snow-covered mountain perfectly illustrates the key colors of cool winter. The deep, mesmerizing blues and rich purples of the northern lights reflect the cool and intense shades that define this palette.
• Bright Flowers Against Snowy Mountains: Picture bright pink flowers standing out against the crisp white of a snowy mountain. This scene captures the dramatic contrast inherent in the cool winter palette. The vibrant pinks juxtaposed with the pure whites echo the sharp and striking contrasts that cool winters can pull off beautifully.
• Frozen Tundra under a Pastel Sunset: Envision a frozen tundra bathed in the soft glow of a baby pink sunset. This serene and delicate scene showcases the softer side of the cool winter palette, highlighting how gentle pastels can seamlessly blend with the cooler, more subdued tones of this season.
• Christmas Ornaments: The deep, rich reds and gleaming silvers found in classic Christmas ornaments are emblematic of the cool winter color family. These festive hues capture the essence of the season, reflecting the depth and brilliance of the cool winter palette with their sharp contrasts and cool undertones.

These natural and seasonal inspirations provide a vibrant and cohesive guide to understanding the cool winter palette. Each element, from the frosty blues and purples of auroras to the striking reds and silvers of holiday decorations, encapsulates the cool, intense, and contrasting qualities that define this beautiful season.

Cool Winter Color Palette

In creating a palette for cool winter we start with neutrals, and work through the major color families.

Black and white find their home in the winter seasons, and go well with dark and light shades of gray. Navy and soft white are also staples in the cool winter wardrobe.

Reds and pinks for cool winter are typically along the bold spectrum, with the exception of icy pink. Yellows can be worn carefully as lemon and chiffon. Many greens can be worn along the medium to light spectrum, all with a hint of blue. Blues and purples are some of the best colors for cool winter and this type can wear most of them.

There is usually a version of every color that can be worn by any season, but some may be more difficult to match and find. Pinks can easily become coral, yellows can be too orange, and gray can be underwhelming if medium in value.

There are some colors that cool winter should always avoid. Orange is one of the worst colors for a cool winter. Muted colors with gray overtones are unforgiving on a cool winter woman. Bright bold colors, specifically cobalt and eggplant, are some of the best colors.

Choosing Prints for Cool Winter

Choosing the right patterns is crucial in accentuating your Cool Winter style. Your patterns should not only match your cool-toned color palette but also harmonize with your natural scale and contrast levels to most effectively enhance your look. Here’s how to master this:

• Color Consistency: Ensure that less than 10% of the colors in your print fall outside your Cool Winter palette. This maintains a cohesive and harmonious appearance.
• Scale: Opt for prints with a medium to large scale. Winter types can handle a lot of contrast and larger prints display this well.
• Contrast Level: Stick with medium to high-contrast prints. Choose bold and bright pairings like black and white or blue and pink.

Following these guidelines will enhance your Cool Winter wardrobe and boost your confidence in selecting patterns. Below, you’ll find a selection of curated images that perfectly demonstrate these principles.

Wardrobe Essentials for Cool, Medium, Bright Coloring

No matter your style or personal aesthetic, there are a few items that every woman should have in their wardrobe.

The basics of any wardrobe should be neutrals, and you could certainly choose only neutrals. Layering similar shades of the same color will create a rich luxe look.

For those that enjoy a more colorful look, the basics are still appropriate, but fun and funky accessories in the pink, purple, blue, and green families will add interest.

Click here to shop the Cool Winter wardrobe essentials.

Frequently Asked Questions about Cool Winter

How does the Cool Winter palette differ from the Bright and True Winter palettes?

The Cool Winter palette is distinctly cool and clear, whereas Bright Winter includes more intense, almost neon shades mixed in with some warm tones. True Winter is closely interchangeable but has more deep and muted variations compared to the stark clarity of the Cool Winter palette.

What are the key characteristics of a Cool Winter color palette?

A Cool Winter palette features colors that are cool, clear, and bright. These hues have blue undertones and are entirely free of warmth. Shades include bright white, pure black, true red, icy blues, and cool emerald greens.

Which colors should Cool Winter individuals select for their wardrobe?

Cool Winter individuals should choose colors that enhance their cool undertones. Ideal options include navy, cobalt blue, turquoise, sapphire, bright white, and black. These colors help highlight your natural skin tone, eyes, and hair.

How can Cool Winter skin tones identify the most flattering hair colors?

With Cool Winter skin tones, look for hair colors that maintain the cool and bright characteristics. Suitable shades include black, cool dark brown, and cool ash blonde. Avoid warm tones like honey blonde or golden brown, which can clash with your cool undertones.

What are some common mistakes to avoid when choosing Cool Winter colors?

One common mistake is choosing colors with warm undertones, such as oranges, yellows, or warm browns. These colors can make cool skin tones appear sallow. Stick to the palette’s cool and vivid shades to ensure a harmonious look.

Can cool winter wear gold?

Gold metals are a classic choice, and you can certainly continue wearing them, but silver-toned metals will work with your overall cool coloring much better.

Can cool winter wear brown?

Cool winter types should avoid brown, except for a rich chocolate brown, which is considered a universally flattering color. Brown is a deep version of orange, which is always warm and doesn’t flatter the cool tones of winter types.

Can cool winter wear beige?

As beige is a variation of brown, this warm neutral should also be avoided by cool winter types. Choose gray or blue-based midrange neutrals instead.

Can cool winter wear yellow? 

Every season has a perfect yellow, for cool winter stick with medium, medium contrast, blue-based yellows for the best yellow option.

Can cool winter wear cream?

Cream is a wonderful neutral, but with its yellowish-brown base it should be avoided by cool winter in favor of blue-based off-white shades.

Can cool winter wear orange?

No, don’t do it!! Orange is an always warm color, and clashes with the always cool undertones and overtones of a cool winter.

Can I still wear black?

Of COURSE you can still wear black. I personally believe that black is a staple in any wardrobe. Black is going to be a great core color in your closet, although some cool winter types may prefer the slightly lower contrast of navy.

I hate these colors, could my season be wrong?

Yes absolutely, it could be true. But I want to challenge you, what is it that you hate? Is it the neutrals that you don’t like? Perhaps you don’t like gray or white? Is it one of the color families, yellow or pink perhaps? Don’t wear them! Just because a palette includes all these colors doesn’t mean you should wear them all. I dare you to look at your closet and see if you naturally gravitate to any of these colors. If the answer is no, and you still feel this is completely wrong, let me know! I can help!

How Do I Build a Cool Winter Capsule Wardrobe? Building a Cool Winter capsule wardrobe is a streamlined process when you focus on your season’s best colors. Start with your neutrals like black, navy and white which will serve as the foundation of your wardrobe. Then, add in your main color and 2-3 accent colors from the Cool Winter palette. Colors like red, cobalt, or jungle work well.

Here’s a simple guide to create a color palette including:

1. Base Colors: Charcoal or silver
2. Dark Neutral: Black or navy
3. Light Neutral: White or soft white
4. Main Color: Choose one from blue or pink
5. Accent Colors: Pick 2-3 from your palette, like violet, teal, or peacock

Can I only wear these colors?

No way! You should wear what you love! If you want to wear bright orange then go for it! You may find, however, that learning your season affects how other colors make you feel. If you feel confident rocking a color, then it’s yours to own. But if you don’t, feel free to leave it to the seasons that wear it well. If you’re looking to expand your palette, you can also consider sister seasons.

The following are sister seasons for cool winter:

Cool Winter Colors for the Whole Year

When borrowing from other seasons, it’s helpful to consider those which share attributes. Many women like to choose colors that help them feel in touch with the calendar season, like mustard in autumn. For Cool Winter, the following borrowing recommendations work across the whole year.

In Spring, borrow colors from clear winter to embody the brightness of spring.

In Summer, borrow carefully from cool summer for slightly softer colors of the cold season.

In Fall, borrow colors from deep winter to pull a bit of that muted fireside feel.

In Winter, stick with any colors in the three winter seasons.

Action Steps for Embracing Your Cool Winter Palette

1. Identify Your Colors: Start by familiarizing yourself with the Cool Winter color palette. Keep it handy on your phone or print it out for quick reference when shopping. Buy the Cool Winter guide here to go deeper. 
2. Purge Your Closet: Remove items that are far from your Cool Winter colors or don’t make you feel good. Consider donating or reselling them.
3. Invest in Neutrals: Buy wardrobe staples in your best neutral colors like black, navy, and white. These will be the backbone of your wardrobe.
4. Choose Your Best Colors: Pick 2-3 signature colors from your Cool Winter palette that you love the most. These will give your capsule wardrobe some variety.
5. Plan Your Capsule: Following the 100 Piece Wardrobe Framework, build a capsule wardrobe around your neutrals and accent colors. Aim for versatility and cohesiveness.
6. Shop Smart: When shopping for new items, always have your palette in mind. This will save you both time and money in the long run.
7. Trial and Adjust: Don’t be afraid to experiment a bit. Wear your new colors and pay attention to the compliments you receive and how you feel in them. Make adjustments as needed.
8. Seek Guidance: If you’re struggling to implement your Cool Winter palette, consider seeking professional help. A color analysis session can be a transformative experience.
9. Celebrate You: Remember, God made you beautiful in your unique way. Embrace your Cool Winter attributes as a reflection of His creativity.

By following these steps, you’ll be well on your way to simplifying your wardrobe while looking your best, feeling confident, and honoring your uniqueness.

Final Thoughts on Cool Winter

Embracing the Cool Winter color palette means stepping into a world where deep, vibrant hues and cool, icy tones enhance your natural beauty. This palette celebrates the striking contrasts and sophisticated shades that define the Cool Winter season.

From crisp whites and rich jewel tones to intense reds and gleaming silvers, Cool Winter colors are designed to highlight your best features. Incorporating these colors into your wardrobe and makeup choices allows you to create a cohesive and stunning look that truly reflects your unique attributes.

Whether you’re curating a capsule wardrobe or selecting the perfect makeup, the goal is to align your style with the cool, clear essence of this season. As you explore and integrate these colors, you’ll celebrate your individuality and express your natural elegance with confidence.

Are you a Cool Winter? If so, say hello in the comments!

Related Color Analysis Articles:

• Guide to Soft Summer
• Best Online Color Analysis
• Declutter Your Clothes with Color
• Cool Summer vs Cool Winter

Embracing the cool winter color palette can transform your wardrobe, makeup, and overall style, ensuring you always look your best.