Ten Things to Know About Dark Winter

 

Soft Summer and Dark Winter are considered close, but the value contrast level of Dark Winter is much higher and Soft Summer is very low contrast. Also, the color saturation of Dark Winter is much higher. The advice? Neither can truly borrow from one another with any degree of success. 

Dark Winters may have felt comfortable wearing black all their life, but a very dark brown may be more of an enhancement. 

Add in some of Autumn’s texture when wearing fabrics, while sticking closely to your palette. 

Tumbled gemstones of garnet, amethyst, jade and malachite-polished to a smooth shine-can be worn successfully. 

Dark Winter does not equal jet black eye liner. Deep brown, charcoal or espresso are better choices. 

Polished pewter is a metal worth trying in jewelry, belts and handbag hardware. 

Three lipsticks to try: Burgundy, plum and cranberry red.

Don’t overlook pine green as a color to wear. 

Hammered finishes may be better than solid, polished shine. 

Marcasites are beautiful on your coloring. 

Hair Color and Eye Color

 If you have difficulty accepting being draped into a seasonal category because you don’t look like the stereotype, I understand how you feel. As a dark blonde Bright Winter, I’ve lived it. Here’s a list of what we’ve all read and heard from color analysis systems: 

Winters are brunette.

Autumns have warm hair. 

Summers are soft and blended in their coloring. 

Most Springs are blonde or have shiny red hair. 

If your hair is mousy (can we STOP with that descriptor?) you are Summer. 

Tan skin always means Autumn. 

I can add a whole lot more to this list. 

You can end up going home and doubt the results, especially if you do a search on Pinterest and start examining your seasonal category. There is a chance that, yes….you DO fit the “typical”. But-what if you don’t? What if you are a red headed Light Summer or a brunette Soft Autumn? Should you question the results? 

First, push that thought aside. It can cause unnecessary confusion. 

Here’s how to start out. 

Look at the 12blueprints or Sci/ART consultants pages and pay attention to client photos. You will discover a plethora of people who don’t fit into any stereotype that are in seasonal categories no one would imagine. Hopefully, this will help you feel more settled. 

Then, take a deep breath. Look at your color palette and choose 3 shade ranges you like. (E.g., you like the purples, pinks and blues.) I recommend purchasing 3 t shirts in solid colors and two lipsticks, preferably in the mid range of your palette, because that shade range is flattering for anyone in your seasonal home. See how you feel, and wait for the compliments that have nothing to do with the garment or cosmetics themselves. You can be sure, at that point, you are on the right track. 

With a correctly done draping session, especially during the final steps, you will see how your hair, skin tone and eyes work together. One feature should never be isolated. A color palette that looks great with your hair or your eyes might not do your skin tone any favors. If your skin looks at its luminous best, then everything else will fall into place as a whole picture. This is one reason why hair is covered. It minimizes distractions and places focus on the most important thing-skin reaction. 

One really interesting fact I learned from Christine Scaman: you can put together two people, side by side with the same outward appearance, and one person will have relatively brighter eyes and more richly colored hair than the other. One could appear lighter, the other slightly darker or warmer. These people appear the same in coloration, but are in completely different seasonal categories.

I’ll share much more I’ve learned from Christine’s book “Return to Your Natural Colors.” Until then, don’t stress and be open minded in giving your palette a try. 

Sincerely, 

Tina

True Winter vs Bright Winter

Fans from NDU Colors

 I’ve heard it said, if you’re going to cheat on your seasonal category, the best place to go is the True season next door. If you are in a neutral category, borrowing from your neighbor neutral season might prove problematic, because it will either be too light and warm, or too dark and cool.

Can a Bright Winter borrow from True Winter and still look in harmony? I think it depends where you borrow colors from. The dark end of True Winter may prove to be a bit dull and heavy, so it may be best avoided. True Winter yellows and reds should work great, since they are the relatively “warmer” colors in the palette. The medium to lighter end, especially since Bright Winter is the lightest of the Winters, may be a nice place to explore. 

True Winter has some blues and blue greens that remind me of fresh spearmint. Medium pinks, cool fuchsia and the more intense purples are good for Bright Winters to explore. The neutral colors in both of these seasons are quite close. In a perfect world, we would stick to our seasonal category as a rule-but sometimes borrowing is a necessity. 

For Bright Winter, I don’t think the darkest True Winter colors will work unless the fabric is shiny. The coolest of blues may indeed read as too chilly. Some of the “lipstick” red violet colors in True Winter lack the vitality that Bright Winter needs and may appear heavy and dull. 

Conversely, True Winter can borrow freely from Bright Winter’s darker colors and use the neutrals. The cooler icy colors, the deeper “lipstick” tones and especially the darker purples, greens and blues are nice areas to consider. 

I’m not loving the brighter reds, coral pinks or the acid lemon yellows and lime colors in Bright Winter for a True Winter to use with success. The warmer icy tones won’t be good choices. Still, it’s very interesting to compare the similarities and not so much the differences between the two seasonal categories. 

Here comes a couple of questions: 

Should True Winter borrow from True Summer? 

What about Bright Winter wearing Light Summer? 

The problem is NOT the hue. True Winter and True Summer are cool. Bright Winter and Light Summer are neutral cool.The problem is: lack of chroma or saturation. If either True or Bright Winter attempt to wear an outfit from their “sister” seasons, the garments will look faded and dull. Furthermore, the face will dominate, giving the wearer a look that seems as if the colors can’t hold up the head. 

The eye color may appear uninteresting and lackluster. The facial features could give the illusion of losing symmetry. In the case of Bright Winters wearing Light Summer, the face may expand and cause the chin and neck to melt together. True Winter wearing True Summer may have a skin tone that looks as if it’s sprinkled with concrete dust, and a complete lack of harmony and balance is the result. 

Sometimes, sticking to our best palette when shopping for garments, handbags, shoes or accessories may not be a possibility. The key is knowing where you can bend the rules and still look your best.

Sincerely, 

Tina