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Deep Autumn: Color Palette and Wardrobe Guide for 2025

deep autumn

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42 Comments

  1. Dee Homer says:

    I had my colours done 22 years ago and am fascinated by colour theory and analysis but have to say it can be confusing at times . Have to say this is by far the best article I have ever read on deep autumn . Thank-you x

    1. Wow Dee that’s an amazing compliment. Thank you so much! I’m so happy it was useful for you!

  2. I am sixty-four years old and had my colors “done” way back in the eighties. My daughter, a deep winter, suggested I might be a deep autumn. And, I am. I have always loved and looked great in olive green and finally it makes sense. I look forward to buying new makeup colors and finally giving away that cool candy pink top I always hated. Now I know why.
    This is a great article. The list of worst colors clinched it.
    I feel a bit silly being mistaken for so long but I am ready to embrace my true colors.
    Thank you!
    Amy

    1. Hey Amy! I’m glad you finally found a perfect fit! There is a lot of overlap between the deep winter and autumn seasons, and so confusion is completely normal!

      1. Gail Davis says:

        Hello Stacey I’m also 64 years old and had my colours done a long time ago and I’m deep Autumn I love the colours but wondered if you could suggest a capsule wardrobe for deep Autumn thank you Gai

        1. Hey Gail! If you’re looking for a capsule wardrobe palette, there are 12 additional options in the Deep Autumn seasonal guide! If you want to build your own, I suggest choosing a signature color that looks best on you from the palette, and adding 4-6 coordinating colors! I just did a post on best neutral colors for each season as well!

          1. Monalisha says:

            a capsule wardrobe for dark autumn which includes some suggestions on bottom and top combination and shoes and accessories like bag and hair ….that will be so awesome….i have a overloaded wardrobe but none suits….so i m now doing all i can to create a capsule…self assessed to dark autumn

          2. The recent update includes a capsule wardrobe with bags, shoes, and accessories.

  3. Thank you for this post! I was trying to find out what colour clothes and makeup i should buy on my next shopping spree and this is very helpful! I always knew i looked fabulous in yellow and vinotinto (wine colour).

    Much love x

    1. I self proclaimed that I am warm/deep autum. I started building a capsule wardrobe. This article covers a lot and gave me a broader perspective on what to add to my wardrobe. Thanks

  4. I had my colours done over ten years ago and was told I was a “Snow White” or cool Winter, however on the past year or so I have realised that I’m actually more neutral than cool toned and believe I am a deep Autumn. I’ve started wearing Autumn colours, which I had previously avoided (such as chocolate and olive) and have been amazed at how good they look on me. Your website and this article has confirmed to me that I am actually an Autumn and I’m a little frustrated that I’ve spent so many years avoiding colours that really suit me!

    1. Hi Maria!

      That’s quite interesting! I’m glad you found colors that feel more in tune with who you are!!1

  5. You are very thorough. I read you, screenshotted you & took note of you. Thank you for a very comprehensive explanation. I am cleaning my closet now. The funny part though is that all the color pallete for deep autumn has always been my favorites. The color theory fully explains why some colors I pick just don’t look good on me—another wasted money. I love you. You’re an amazing teacher.

    1. Lorda!!!

      What an amazing compliment, thank you so much! The right colors make a huge difference and cleaning out closets has never been easier when you can identify the “not good” colors! Thanks for being here!

  6. I’ve been really confused about exactly this – am I a deep autumn or a deep winter?! And now I’m sure, absolutely deep autumn! Thank you, thank you, thank you! This article was exactly what I needed, so very good written with loads of knowledge! The best I’ve read on this topic! Now I feel sure about what (colors) to look for when shopping for new clothes.

    1. Elin, thank you!!!! There’s a really fine distinction between deep autumn and deep winter and loads of people get stuck here! I’m glad this helped you figure it out! Happy you’re here!

  7. Hi! All the surface criteria say I’m a deep autumn but I feel more like a warm autumn person. But no worries, I love the color palette. I’m 20, and just starting out towards building a wardrobe that would work for me for the years to come. Your article was very very helpful, I read it thoroughly and I appreciate your effort. Thank you.

    1. Hey Kritika!

      Thanks for the feedback! An autumn can theoretically wear the entire range from soft through deep. Deep Autumn typically has some cool crossover whereas a Warm Autumn will have warmth in all the features!

  8. This is the best, clearest, and most comprehensive article on color theory I have ever read! Thank you. I am one of those Deep Autums who can sneak in periwinkle.

  9. Thank you so enjoyed reading the analysis so true for me I’m actually grey havnt coloured my hair for ages and still these colours for deep autumn are still a great choice
    Look forward to pics of combo outfits suitable to my colours happy day thanks Pearl

  10. This is the best article I came across about deep autumn. I am 42 years old living in NYC. Most of my wardrobe is black, grey and white :/
    I have learnt about this theory a year ago trying to find best color to wear at the wedding party and my skin was glowing like never before when I picked the boysenberry for the event. So now I’m more conscious what to buy and am building up my deep autumn wardrobe. Thank you so much 🙂

    1. Thanks so much for the great feedback! Glad you found a stunner color for such an important event!

  11. Thanks for this info, I had been trying to figured out my season for years…but every test I did there was always someting out.
    I have dark brown hair with a red undertone, my eyes are dark brown…again there is some red in them, my skin is white with a yellow undertone, that my family used to called “the fake hepatitis”, because in the city I used to look very pale in winter and people used to thought I got it. Now I live in the mountains and wanted or not I’m always tanned. I’ll try to follow this tips but I had always thought earth we not my colors and yellows will bring that yellow sikcness tone on my face. Quite scared, but I’m tired of looking washed out and plain. ????

    1. Hey Romina,

      If you have white skin with yellow that could be a manifestation of olive skin, in which case winter is almost definitely a better choice!

  12. I’ve enjoyed reading your blog on color analysis ad have learned a lot. I am still confused about one thing — years ago, when my hair was still brown my “season” was determined to be deep autumn bordering on deep winter, and those colors worked very well for me. So did the colors you’ve classified as true/warm autumn. They still work well for me even though my hair is now rooted dark blonde. I would have thought lightening my hair would necessitate a change in my wardrobe’s color palette, but it hasn’t.

  13. This was the most concise, comprehensive, and educational article I’ve ever read on Deep Autumn. It answered so many questions I’ve had. And the idea of sister seasons was inspired!!! I’m a little of both Deep Autumn and Deep Winter, so I’m vacillating between the two. Seriously, thank you for this obvious labor of love. My favorite is the part where you put the deep autumn colors into the other seasons. Absolutely sensational. I’ve already sent my friends their corresponding color articles.

  14. Hello, I am constantly stuck between dark autumn and dark winter. What are colors I can try so it shows me I am one or the other. I am African American, more leaning towards the lighter complexion side (vague I know). Dark brown almost black eye and dark brown natural hair color. Thanks. I will also happily do a consult because I struggle to shop for myself now. Thanks again

    1. Hey Keonda,

      Light complexion makes me suspect that you might also consider clear winter/spring if you have higher contrast. As far as the definitive between those two, I would check a warm orange-rust versus a blue based magenta. A true dark cobalt would also say winter more than autumn. Hope that helps, and happy to do an analysis for you if you choose!

  15. Really interesting article. I am mostly a deep autumn: very dark brown hair with red/ golden highlights in the sun, hazel eyes but I’m relatively pale unless I get a lot of sun during the summer so I do have a lot of contrast between my dark hair and skin. That’s where I get a bit confused and think I toe the line between deep autumn and winter. I definitely gravitate toward autumn colors like pumpkin, rust, olive green, etc BUT I love wearing (and find it flattering) my basic bright white T shirts which is considered a no no for a true deep autumn so can I be both? Winter and autumn?

    1. Hey Rachel

      I find this pretty common actually, lots of deep autumns really like a bright white. I would suspect that you are more neutral-warm versus neutral-cool based on the colors you like, but always wear what you love.

  16. Thank you for your article! I am struggling with colour as I age but after reading your article I believe I am a dark autumn. I have fair skin that freckles. Dark brown almost chocolate eyes and black hair that now has lots of silver. When I was young I had very rich dark brown hair with warm highlights. But since my grey has started coming in my hair looks black and no more highlights. Unless you count the silver. I struggled between knowing if I was autumn or winter but dark brown is probably my best colour. Where I am struggling is the silver and black hair. Can a dark autumn go silver? And still be a dark autumn? I am working on rebuilding my wardrobe with better colours for me. Thank you for your help!

    1. Hi Colleen! Absolutely it can be silver! You may find that silver and black increases you contrast so you can wear some of the brighter colors in warm autumn.

      1. Thank you so much for responding! Your article is so informative. It’s my favourite that I keep coming back to. I have read other suggestions about holding different colours up to your face and taking a picture to compare. Would you suggest doing that in a window area where there is natural light? I admit I still struggle to see which colours work better . Part of the problem is I’m so pale but I definitely have a yellow undertone but can also look red in some areas. If it is possible to send you a picture let me know. I would love to nail this down so I buy the best colours moving forward!

  17. This is very helpful information. My eyes are brown and olive green and my natural hair color is a light brown with warm streaks. My skin is very fair and undertone is difficult to choose.
    I was typed (twice!) as a winter, but both were puzzled by how soft I needed the colors to be. But they said I had to be a winter because I could carry black and navy. One did give me a dark dusty teal as my navy.
    Then someone else said she thought I was actually an autumn instead and it all clicked. Reading your information here I can understand how I was mistyped and see that I’m actually a deep autumn. Thank you!

  18. Love this page. I have it bookmarked and keep coming back to it. Thank you!!

  19. Hi ! Great article, very complete and a lot of very cool images. But I don’t know, color theories kind of made me unconfortable. I have deep, almost dark eyes that people usually say are scary because really dark, but it lighten up in the sun, long dark brown hair that turn to red/auburn in the sun and a yellow/red undertone skin that used to be really darker that it is now, it’s quit epale now, but I really looked like indian or amerindian growing up. I believe I belong to deep autumn, however, as long as I love kaki, canard blue, and all kind of brown, I always feel like I belong to rich, bright, indian colors. I feel like turquoise blue, fuschia pink, yellow, bright red really suit me. Especially turquoise blue, and I look great with any shade of yellow, bright, intense, indian sun yellow being the best, but people always told me my pastel yellow sweater and free people magnolia light yellow dress both look good on me, they react easily to me wearing those colors, and I personally feel very very good in peach too. I feel like too dark red, as long as I love it, can easily ” unlit ” me, in opposition to bright, “true”, fairy tall or typical vintage red. I believe I wear a lot of spring color palette, in fact, and I really think that really suit me. My wardrobe looks like a rainbow, and sometimes, it come close to a sunset. I don’t know ? Most of indian woman could be identify as deep autumn and, as me, they look way better in bright and intense, sunfull colors. I don’t say I don’t like the deep autumn palette but, clearly, that’s not the main focus on my wardrobe. I do really like green, however. Kaki, yes, but also brighter green, all type of green, as I really love nature.

  20. Anita Toliver says:

    I would love to see a post on how to work with dark autumn colors after one goes white/silver or gray. At 65, my hair is now a creamy white and I’m having a very difficult time landing on colors that work for me.

  21. I know that I am a deep autumn, I have been personally draped three times and always come out as deep autumn, but my colouring is changing a bit with age. I am dyeing my hair a slightly lighter mid gold brown and my eyes have gone from darkest olive green to brighter, lighter olive green. The brown has gone from them and been replaced by grey spots. I have been redraped three times and come out as three different groups, which is totally confusing. Soft autumn, bright spring and warm spring. My skin has always been very light ivory, very neutral, not golden as often with dark autumns, so I have never looked good in the autumn mustards, camels and browns. I have gone slightly sharper with leopard brights mixing very light ivory tones with black and browns, deep greens and slightly warm, dark red shades. Now my hair is necessarily a bit lighter than darkest brown, I am totally confused as to if I am deep autumn still or not, and if not, what am I?Any help would be most welcome.

    1. Hey Trisha,

      If you’re suiting brighter rich warm tones you might need to start dressing in the Warm Autumn colors. As a three time confirmed autumn you shouldn’t leave that overall big 4 season.

      Stacey

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