Deep Autumn vs Deep Winter
If you've narrowed your colour season down to deep and intense hues but can’t decide between Deep Autumn and Deep Winter, don’t worry—we’ll go over the differences in this article! As sister seasons, they have plenty in common, so if "deep" or "dark" is your primary feature, you might find colours from both palettes work well for you. But, there will always be a season that is just a tiny bit better!
Both seasons share depth (or darkness) as their primary characteristic, coming to life in rich, dark and intense colors and being washed out by colors that are too light, airy or pastel-like. However, Deep Autumn belongs to the Autumn family and Deep Winter to the Winter family. One is neutral warm and the other is neutral cool. If we go back to the colour wheel, we can see that:
The autumn seasons are warm, deep, and rich.
The winter seasons are cool, deep, and crisp.
Aside from the difference in temperature, there is also a subtle difference in brightness. Autumns are slightly softer, and Winters are slightly brighter. Although, Deep Autumn is the brightest of the Autumn family, and Deep Winter is the softest of the Winter family.
The Palettes
Deep Autumn feels earthy, warm, cosy, and grounded, like a rich forest floor or the fading warmth of a sunset. Colors have warm, golden, or brown undertones. Think of the styles of "Dark Academia".
Deep Winter feels cool, intense, vivid and sharp, like a shadowy winter landscape or a starlit night. The colours have cool, blue or icy undertones. Think of dark and regal jewel tones.
How to Determine If You’re a Deep Autumn or Deep Winter
The key difference between these two seasons is temperature. Deep Autumn leans warm, while Deep Winter leans cool. If you’re deciding between the two, focus on temperature and contrast to find your best fit.
1. Assess Your Skin’s Undertone
As with any neutral-to-warm or neutral-to-cool season, determining your skin tone can sometimes be tricky. Here are some tips to help you figure it out:
Jewellery test: Try both silver and gold jewellery. Which one brightens your complexion and makes you look more vibrant? If gold jewellery makes you glow, you might be Deep Autumn; if silver suits you better, you could be Deep Winter.
Neutral tones: Consider how you look in warm browns, mustard yellows, and olive greens versus cool charcoal, black, and navy. Deep Autumns will look harmonious in earthy tones, while Deep Winters shine in cooler, starker colours.
Overall contrast: Deep Winter typically has higher contrast between their features (such as dark hair and light eyes or fair skin with dark features), whereas Deep Autumn may have slightly softer contrast.
Can you wear black or do you prefer dark browns or dark navy? Winters are the only season that really suit black and for Deep Winter, black is one of their best colors. If black is not your go-to color, and you prefer a softer dark brown, then you might lean towards Deep Autumn.
Take note of your answers to each of these questions and see if you lean more towards one or the other.
2. Eye and Hair Color
Deep Autumn: Deep Autumns often have warm brown, chocolate brown, hazel, or dark green eyes with a golden or earthy hue. Hair is usually dark with warm undertones, like dark brown or chestnut, though some Deep Autumns have warm black hair and some have deep auburn or mahogany hair.
Deep Winter: Deep Winters typically have cool-toned, dark features—think jet black or dark brown hair with little to no warmth. The eyes may be dark brown, dark gray, or even cool hazel with a more intense, stark contrast to the skin. Deep Winters often display an overall cool, crisp and intense quality in their features.
3. The Color Test
Compare specific colors from the Deep Autumn and Deep Winter palettes to see which makes your skin look vibrant versus which ones make you look tired or washed out:
Warm Chocolate vs. Cool Black: A deep, warm brown (Deep Autumn) vs. a rich black (Deep Winter). Which one makes you look more radiant and alive?
Burnt Orange vs. Dark Emerald Green: Burnt orange (warm, earthy) vs. a cool burgundy (deep, cool green). Which enhances your complexion?
Dark Olive vs. Navy: Dark olive (warm and earthy) vs. navy (cool and crisp). Which harmonizes better with your natural coloring?
Experimenting with these colors should help you decide if you lean more toward the warmth of Deep Autumn or the cool sharpness of Deep Winter. Signs that you’re on the right track include:
people commenting on how refreshed or vibrant you look
needing less makeup to look polished
feeling more confident in your palette.
Tips for Each Season
For Deep Autumns
The Deep Autumn palette is filled with rich, earthy colours that evoke a cosy, grounded feel. Key colours for Deep Autumns include:
Burnt Orange: A warm, earthy orange that complements warm undertones beautifully.
Deep Olive Green: A deep, warm green that feels natural and earthy.
Warm Burgundy: A rich, deep red with a warm base.
Golden Brown: A warm, golden-brown shade that feels luxurious and grounding.
Mahogany: A deep, warm red-brown that adds warmth and sophistication.
Wardrobe Staples: Opt for deep browns, warm greens, mahogany, burgundy, mustards, and rich oranges. Look for cosy textures, earth-toned fabrics, and natural materials that highlight the warm tones in your palette. Think “Dark Academia”.
Makeup: Go for warm, earthy tones like deep browns, rich terracottas, and golden bronzes. Avoid icy shades or colours that are too cool, as they can clash with your warm undertones.
Hair Color: Embrace the warmth with golden highlights, rich chestnuts, or deep warm browns. Avoid blonde hair colors and overly ashy tones that might wash you out.
Read more about Deep Autumns.
For Deep Winters
The Deep Winter palette has a rich, cool intensity that creates a dramatic and crisp look. Key colours for Deep Winters include:
Cool Black: A true black that brings out the depth and intensity of this season.
Burgundy: A cool, deep red that feels luxurious and intense.
Midnight Blue: A rich, dark blue that is cool and sophisticated.
Charcoal Gray: A deep grey that’s intense without being overpowering.
Cranberry Red: A cool, deep red with a hint of purple, perfect for adding a pop of colour.
Deep Emerald Green: A cool, deep and regal green color with a hint of blue.
Wardrobe Staples: Go for high-contrast colours like black, navy, cool reds, and dark purples. Think structured silhouettes and crisp fabrics to match the intensity of your palette.
Makeup: Cool-toned makeup works best—try deep berry lip colours and dark red, charcoal or navy eyeliner, and cool, icy highlighters. Avoid warm tones that can clash with your cool undertones.
Hair Color: Stick to cool-toned shades like raven black, dark ash brown, or cool-toned highlights. Stay away from blonde and warm or golden tones that may feel out of place with your overall depth and coolness.
Read more about Deep Winters.
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