I’ve always loved monochromatic and simple color palettes because you get a chance to play with texture that never goes out of style. When the warm spring tones and breezy summer palates move into the cool winter blues, there’s a comfort in toning down the looks with neutral shades of winter. The high contrast of smooth, textured, knits, leather and silk can be a perfect way to layer neutrals.
If you found yourself here trying to figure out your winter colors, not how to mix neutral colors during the winter, check out my article here, where I recommend a colour analysis tool you can use for free. After weighing carefully, I’ve determined my winter colors are most closely matched to a “bright winter.” Curious why the below colors look so good without those blue undertones? I’m using shades of blue in my lipstick. 😉 Ok, back to our neutral winter seasonal colors.
When you have a lot of color or patterns, the texture would make an outfit too busy. But here, we can add a sensual silk, with suede, wool, and leather in one outfit without any one garment overpowering the other.
Neutral doesn’t have to mean black and white or dark brown. Even in deep winter, the cool deep can be traded for cool pale. I prefer light, tonal, natural hues like camel, beige and blush to pick up the windy or rainy days. Cozy, long cardigan sweaters, jackets and pullovers in the colors of nature, sky blue, sand, mauve, taupe can warm up any winter day from the inside, out. However even emerald green and hot pink can be used as a neutral when worn head to toe.
The muted, soft grays can work for all coloring in providing a neutral base no matter what your season color analysis (according to Carole Jackson’s famous “Color Me Beautiful”) may be. Which was more recently updated to a 12 season model of the color quiz.
With my dark hair and eyes and skin tone, the subtle tint of a mauve or taupe give me just enough color to feel bright even on a cloudy day. One key to keeping it neutral is the tone on tone blend with just the slightest variation on shades. Create a calming treat for the eyes by layering earth tones such as pearl, mushroom, coffee, butter and add a hint of color like a light blue. A great way to bring in the natural colors of winter without going too dark.
Ready to play with texture?
Coat: Ralph Lauren (similar style here) | Shirt: Vince (similar style here) | Shorts: Alice and Olivia | Boots: (similar style Stuart Weitzman) | Bag: Ted Baker (similar style here) | Hair: JustBraidz
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