The Seasonal Color Palette

Palettes / Winter

Bright Winter color palette

Maximum clarity with a cool lean. Electric, saturated hues and stark contrast.

Undertone Cool-neutralValue MediumChroma BrightDominant Bright

Is Bright Winter your palette?

  • Undertone: Leans cool without being icy. Silver usually wins, and the harshest warm shades like orange and mustard are the ones to skip.
  • Value: Coloring sits in the middle range. Neither the palest pastels nor the darkest shades are ideal.
  • Chroma: High contrast and vivid features. Saturated, electric colors look right, while muted shades wash out.

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All 16 Bright Winter colors

Tap a swatch to copy its hex code

Best neutrals

  • Pure White #FFFFFF
  • Icy Yellow #FFF9D6
  • Icy Mint #D8F5EA
  • Charcoal #36383C
  • Black #000000

Colors to avoid

Muted, dusty, and earthy shades. The opposite palette on the seasonal wheel, Soft Summer, is usually the least flattering overall.

Clothing in Bright Winter colors

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Editor's pickBright Emerald

Emerald green sweater

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Editor's pickBright Turquoise

Bright turquoise scarf

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Bright Turquoise

Bright Turquoise wrap dress

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Sister palettes

These sit next to Bright Winter on the seasonal wheel and share one of its characteristics. If you're between palettes, the colors they share with Bright Winter are the safest choices.

Bright Spring

Both share the same value (medium) and chroma (bright). Bright Winter is cool-neutral in undertone where Bright Spring is warm-neutral. Bright Winter is a Winter palette and Bright Spring is a Spring palette, so they sit on either side of the warm–cool divide.

True Winter

Bright Winter is cool-neutral in undertone where True Winter is cool; Bright Winter is medium in value where True Winter is medium-deep; Bright Winter is bright in chroma where True Winter is clear. Both belong to the Winter family.

Bright Winter FAQ

What colors are in the Bright Winter palette?

The Bright Winter palette includes pure white, icy yellow, icy mint, lemon yellow, hot pink, shocking magenta, cerise, true red, bright violet and cobalt, among others. It is cool-neutral in undertone, medium in value and bright in chroma, and its dominant characteristic is bright.

What colors should a Bright Winter avoid?

Muted, dusty, and earthy shades. The palette on the opposite side of the seasonal wheel, Soft Summer, is usually the least flattering overall.

Can a Bright Winter wear black?

Yes. Black is part of the Bright Winter palette and works well close to the face.

What are the best neutrals for a Bright Winter?

The most versatile neutrals in the Bright Winter palette are pure white (#FFFFFF), icy yellow (#FFF9D6), icy mint (#D8F5EA), charcoal (#36383C) and black (#000000).

What is the difference between Bright Winter and Bright Spring?

Both share the same value (medium) and chroma (bright). Bright Winter is cool-neutral in undertone where Bright Spring is warm-neutral. Bright Winter is a Winter palette and Bright Spring is a Spring palette, so they sit on either side of the warm–cool divide.

What is the difference between Bright Winter and True Winter?

Bright Winter is cool-neutral in undertone where True Winter is cool; Bright Winter is medium in value where True Winter is medium-deep; Bright Winter is bright in chroma where True Winter is clear. Both belong to the Winter family.