Envision a moonlit winter night filled with black cherries, dark evergreens, and richly colored jewel tones. The dominant characteristic is darkness or depth. The secondary characteristic is coolness, creating a blue-based richness rather than an earthy warmth. The tertiary characteristic is brightness, which keeps the colors clear and jewel-like instead of muted.
Think of burgundy, black cherry, deep violet, royal purple, emerald, deep teal, ink navy, charcoal, and black. Individuals in this season often have dark hair or eyes and an overall sense of depth and contrast.
WINTER
Cool Winter
MagentaTrue RedTrue VioletCobalt BlueIcy BluePure WhiteCharcoalCool Navy
Cool. Crisp. Confident.
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Imagine a crisp winter landscape: icy light, vivid berries, blue-green foliage, and sharp shadows against snow. The dominant characteristic is coolness; every color has a distinctly blue, violet, or pink undertone. The secondary characteristic is brightness, giving the palette its clear, vivid intensity. Its third characteristic is darkness, which supplies contrast and depth.
Think of fuchsia, magenta, true red, true violet, cobalt blue, icy blue, pure white, charcoal, and cool navy. These individuals often have distinctly cool coloring and noticeable contrast between their hair, skin, and eyes.
WINTER
Bright Winter
Hot FuchsiaClear Cool RedElectric VioletRoyal BlueBright TealEmeraldPure WhiteTrue Black
Clear. Bold. Electric.
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Picture brilliant ice reflecting intensely colored winter light. The dominant characteristic is brightness; the colors are exceptionally clear, luminous, and nearly electric. The secondary characteristic is coolness, seen in blue-based reds, vivid pinks, and icy accents. The last characteristic is darkness, creating the dramatic contrast that keeps the palette powerful.
Think of hot fuchsia, clear cool red, electric violet, royal blue, bright teal, emerald, pure white, and true black. People in this season often have sparkling or sharply defined eyes and very high contrast.
SPRING
Bright Spring
Hot CoralPoppy RedSunny YellowLimeTurquoiseClear BlueHot PinkClear Navy
Fresh. Clear. Full of color.
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Picture the energetic arrival of spring: vivid flowers, sparkling water, and the brilliant green of new growth. The dominant characteristic is brightness; the colors are clear, radiant, and full of energy. The secondary characteristic is lightness, keeping the palette fresh rather than heavy. This unique season, although mostly neutral gives way to a bit of warmth, expressed through sunny yellows, yellow-greens, and lively corals.
Think of hot coral, poppy red, sunny yellow, lime, turquoise, clear blue, hot pink, and clear navy. People in this season often have bright, sparkling eyes and a fresh, high-energy appearance.
Imagine golden spring sunshine falling across peach blossoms and fresh green leaves. The dominant characteristic is warmth; the colors have clear yellow, golden, peach, or orange undertones. The secondary characteristic is brightness, giving them a lively, sunlit quality. The tertiary characteristic is lightness, preventing the palette from becoming too deep or earthy.
Think of apricot, coral, marigold, Fresh Leaf green, warm aqua, peacock blue, camel, and cream. Individuals in this season often have golden warmth in their skin, hair, or eyes and look especially harmonious in clear, sun-warmed colors.
Envision a bright late-spring morning filled with delicate blossoms, clear skies, and tender green leaves. The dominant characteristic is lightness; the colors are airy, delicate, and uplifting. The secondary characteristic is warmth, expressed through peach, apricot, cream, and yellow-green. The tertiary characteristic is brightness, which keeps the palette fresh and clear rather than dusty or muted.
Think of peach, apricot, buttercup yellow, Fresh Leaf green, light aqua, sky blue, warm pink, and ivory. People in this season often have naturally light coloring with gentle warmth and relatively low-to-medium contrast.
SUMMER
Light Summer
BlushDusty RoseLavenderPowder BlueSeafoamSoft TealBlue-GraySoft White
Light. Cool. Airy.
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Picture the pale colors of early summer: softly illuminated skies, delicate flowers, sea glass, and light reflecting across water. The dominant characteristic is lightness, the colors are airy and delicate. The secondary characteristic is coolness, visible in blue, lavender, and rose undertones. The tertiary characteristic is softness, which gently mutes the colors without making them dull.
Think of blush, dusty rose, lavender, powder blue, seafoam, soft teal, blue-gray, and soft white. Individuals in this season often have light, cool-neutral coloring and an overall gentle appearance.
SUMMER
Cool Summer
Cool RoseRaspberryMauvePeriwinkleCool BlueBlue-TealCharcoalSoft Navy
Cool. Soft. Refined.
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Imagine a calm summer day filled with blue skies, cool water, rose-colored flowers, and softly shaded greenery. The dominant characteristic is coolness, with distinctly blue, rose, violet, or gray undertones. The secondary characteristic is softness, keeping the colors refined rather than vivid. The tertiary characteristic is lightness, preventing the palette from becoming overly deep.
Think of cool rose, raspberry, mauve, periwinkle, cool blue, blue-teal, charcoal, and soft navy. People in this season often have visibly cool undertones and look especially elegant in blue-based, gently muted colors.
Envision the atmospheric colors of late summer: hazy skies, weathered stone, eucalyptus leaves, and faded berry-colored flowers. The dominant characteristic is softness; the colors are blended, subtle, and low in contrast. The secondary characteristic is coolness, although the palette can lean slightly neutral because of its proximity to Soft Autumn. The tertiary characteristic is lightness, keeping most colors within a light-to-medium depth range rather than becoming heavily dark.
Think of dusty rose, muted berry, mauve, slate blue, dusty aqua, sage, eucalyptus, stone, cool taupe, and soft charcoal. Individuals in this season often have blended coloring without strong contrast between their skin, hair, and eyes.
Picture early autumn under softened golden light: dried grasses, dusty leaves, weathered earth, and muted late-season flowers. The dominant characteristic is softness; the colors are blended, earthy, and understated. The secondary characteristic is warmth, expressed through golden, peach, olive, and warm brown undertones. The tertiary characteristic is darkness, although the overall palette is generally medium in depth rather than extremely dark.
Think of dusty olive, sage, mushroom brown, warm taupe, muted terracotta, soft teal, muted gold, and warm rose-brown. People in this season often have softly blended coloring with neutral-warm or golden undertones.
AUTUMN
Warm Autumn
RustBurnt OrangeMustardWarm OliveMoss GreenTealCaramelChocolate Brown
Warm. Rich. Golden.
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Think of peak autumn foliage, warm spices, burnished metals, and sunlit earth. The dominant characteristic is warm; the colors have strong golden, yellow, orange, or red-brown undertones. The secondary characteristic is darkness or depth, giving the palette richness and substance. The tertiary characteristic is softness, preventing the colors from looking overly sharp or artificial.
Think of rust, burnt orange, terracotta, mustard, warm olive, moss green, teal, caramel, camel, and chocolate brown. Individuals in this season often have noticeably warm, golden coloring and look especially harmonious in rich, earthy shades.
AUTUMN
Dark Autumn
Deep MahoganyEspressoDark OliveHunter GreenDeep Warm TealAubergineOxbloodBurnt Orange
Deep. Warm. Rich.
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Envision the final days of autumn: dark tree trunks, deep evergreen foliage, rich earth, dried red leaves, and the glow of late-afternoon light. The dominant characteristic is darkness or depth. The secondary characteristic is warmth, expressed through golden browns, warm greens, and red-based earth tones. The tertiary characteristic is softness, making the colors rich and complex rather than clear or electric.
Think of deep mahogany, chocolate brown, espresso, dark olive, hunter green, deep warm teal, aubergine, oxblood, and burnt orange. People in this season often have naturally deep coloring with warm or neutral-warm undertones.
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