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Winter family, bright and cool

Bright Winter (clear winter) color palette

The highest contrast the wheel allows.

· By the Hue & Shape team

Not sure you are a Bright Winter?

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Bright winter, also called clear winter, is about contrast and sparkle. Typically the hair is dark brown or black, the skin anywhere from very fair to very deep with a cool or neutral-cool base, and the eyes are the feature people notice first: bright blue, clear green, icy gray or a dark brown so glossy it looks lit from inside.

Clarity is the strongest trait. The coloring looks crisp, as if someone turned up the saturation, and anything grayed or dusty looks like the faded version of the right color. Temperature matters second: bright winter is cool, but less icy than cool winter, which is why a clear lemon or a lime can work here and nowhere else in the winter family.

The palette is the most saturated set of colors on the site, from hot pink and electric blue to emerald and violet, anchored by bright white and ink.

Palette at a glance

Winter family · Polished silver, platinum and chrome.

Also called clear winter.

The palette

Bright Winter color palette: 36 colors with hex codes

36 colors in six groups. Hex codes are for screens; fabric and print will vary.

Neutrals

  • Bright White#FFFFFF
  • Silver#C4C9CF
  • Graphite#33363D
  • Ink#1A1F2B
  • Black#0D0D0D
  • Clear Navy#142A8C

Lights

  • Icy Lavender#E7DEF7
  • Ice Pink#FBD3E9
  • Ice Blue#CFE3FF
  • Icy Mint#C8F5E3
  • Bubblegum#FF9CCF
  • Clear Sky#7AB8FF

Mid-tones

  • Turquoise#00B8C9
  • Bright Cobalt#2B5BD7
  • Clear Blue#3D7BFF
  • Orchid#C04AD6
  • Bright Jade#00B38A
  • Hyacinth#6A5CFF

Deeps

  • Royal Purple#4B0FA8
  • Bright Sapphire#0F3FB3
  • Deep Emerald#007A55
  • Deep Magenta#9A0F6B
  • Deep Teal Blue#005F7F
  • Midnight Violet#2A0F6E

Accents

  • Electric Blue#1863FF
  • Emerald#00A878
  • Lemon#FFE14D
  • Lime#B6E01F
  • Violet#7A2FF2
  • Cyan#00C2E0

Reds and pinks

  • Hot Pink#E8177F
  • Fuchsia#D61F9C
  • Shocking Pink#FF1F8F
  • True Red#E01B2F
  • Cherry#D2003C
  • Raspberry Red#C4004E

On the map

Where bright winter sits among the 12 seasons

Bright winter sits at the clear edge of the map: clarity 1.0, the maximum, with warmth -0.35 and depth 0.52, the mildest cool reading among the winters. By the free test's weighted distance its closest anchor is deep winter, which shares the cool base and much of the clarity but sits much deeper. Light summer comes next, because its warmth is almost the same; what separates them is that light summer is far lighter and only half as clear. Cool winter is further away than you might expect, since it is so much colder. Bright spring has the same clarity and depth but sits on the warm side of the line, which the tool counts most.

The twelve color seasons by warmth, depth and clarityLight Spring: warmth 0.55, depth 0.18, clarity 0.62. Warm Spring: warmth 0.95, depth 0.45, clarity 0.72. Bright Spring: warmth 0.5, depth 0.5, clarity 1. Light Summer: warmth -0.45, depth 0.22, clarity 0.5. Cool Summer: warmth -0.9, depth 0.45, clarity 0.58. Soft Summer: warmth -0.35, depth 0.5, clarity 0.22. Soft Autumn: warmth 0.4, depth 0.55, clarity 0.18. Warm Autumn: warmth 0.95, depth 0.62, clarity 0.45. Deep Autumn: warmth 0.6, depth 0.9, clarity 0.5. Deep Winter: warmth -0.5, depth 0.9, clarity 0.72. Cool Winter: warmth -0.95, depth 0.6, clarity 0.88. Bright Winter: warmth -0.35, depth 0.52, clarity 1CoolWarmWarmthLightDeepBright SpringCool WinterBright Winter
Plotted from the anchors the free color test matches against. Larger dots are clearer, brighter seasons; smaller dots are softer. How the anchors are used

Recognize it

How to tell if you are a bright winter

  • People comment on your eyes first; they look bright and clear against the whites and the skin.
  • Black and bright white together look sharp on you rather than severe.
  • Grayed colors such as stone, sage and dusty rose make you look tired, even when they are cool.
  • Your hair is dark, often with a cool or neutral sheen, and it contrasts clearly with your skin.
  • A vivid lipstick looks natural on you, while a nude lip can make the face look unfinished.
  • Both silver and very pale gold can work, but bright polished silver usually wins.

A three-step drape check at home

  1. 1

    Take Hot Pink and a dusty rose to a window. Hold each under your chin with your hair back. The hot pink should make your eyes look brighter; the dusty rose should make the skin look slightly gray.

  2. 2

    Then compare Bright White and Ink together against a soft gray and beige pair. If the black and white pair looks calm and the soft pair looks flat, clarity is your strongest trait.

  3. 3

    For temperature, hold Electric Blue and then a clear warm coral. Bright winter brightens in the blue; a bright spring brightens in the coral.

Not sure? The free test reads your season from a photo and seven questions, and the photo never leaves your device.

Find my season

Side by side

Bright winter vs bright spring (clear winter vs clear spring)

These are the two clearest seasons, and both look wrong in anything muted. The split is temperature. A bright winter's clarity comes with a cool base: hot pink rather than coral, electric blue rather than warm turquoise, true red with a blue edge rather than poppy. A bright spring's clarity comes with a golden base, and the same cool brights make its skin look a little pink or gray.

From the winter side, look at your dark colors. Ink, black and clear navy suit a bright winter; a bright spring usually prefers dark warm brown or a warm navy. The lights help too: a bright winter wants icy pastels such as Ice Pink and Icy Mint, where a bright spring looks fresher in warm pastels like peach.

The Bright Spring palette
Bright Winter
  • Hot Pink #e8177f
  • Electric Blue #1863ff
  • True Red #e01b2f
  • Icy Lavender #e7def7
  • Ink #1a1f2b
  • Emerald #00a878

Hot Pink, Electric Blue, True Red, Icy Lavender, Ink, Emerald

Bright Spring
  • Hot Coral #ff5a4e
  • Sunflower #ffc61a
  • Grass #6dbb3c
  • Tangerine #ff8a2a
  • Papaya #ffb37a
  • Warm White #fff8ec

Hot Coral, Sunflower, Grass, Tangerine, Papaya, Warm White

The test that separates them

Hold Hot Pink and then a clear coral at your face in daylight. If the hot pink looks lively and the coral looks orange, you are bright winter. If the coral glows and the hot pink looks harsh, read the bright spring page.

Side by side

Bright winter vs cool winter

Cool winter and bright winter share black, white and saturated blue-based color, so many people sit between them. Cool winter is the colder of the two and wears color that is strong but steady: royal blue, true red, pine. Bright winter is less cold and more electric, and its best colors look almost lit up.

The clearest sign is how you handle the yellow-green end. A bright winter can wear Lemon and Lime as accents and look vivid. A cool winter in the same colors looks sallow. A bright winter, on the other hand, can look a little heavy in the deep, quiet cool winter shades unless something bright sits next to them.

The Cool Winter palette
Bright Winter
  • Lemon #ffe14d
  • Lime #b6e01f
  • Turquoise #00b8c9
  • Shocking Pink #ff1f8f
  • Violet #7a2ff2
  • Bright White #ffffff

Lemon, Lime, Turquoise, Shocking Pink, Violet, Bright White

Cool Winter
  • Sapphire #213a7a
  • Royal Blue #1f4fbf
  • Raspberry #b0174f
  • Icy Blue #d6e4f5
  • Cool Gray #8d939b
  • Pine #14452f

Sapphire, Royal Blue, Raspberry, Icy Blue, Cool Gray, Pine

The test that separates them

Put Lemon next to your face, then a cool icy blue. If the lemon looks clean and bright on you, bright winter is likely. If the icy blue looks better and the lemon yellows the skin, cool winter fits better.

Leave out

Bright Winter colors to avoid

Each one with the reason it fights this coloring and a color from the palette that does the same job.

  • Muted Sage

    A grayed green reads as faded next to this much contrast and dulls the eyes.

    Wear instead: Bright Jade

  • Camel

    Warm and soft, it makes the face look pale instead of bright and blurs the line between hair and skin.

    Wear instead: Graphite

  • Dusty Rose

    The gray in it flattens high-contrast coloring; the pink is right but the clarity is gone.

    Wear instead: Hot Pink

  • Mustard

    Warm and muted at once, the two things this palette cannot use.

    Wear instead: Lemon

  • Warm Taupe

    A soft brown-gray that turns into a shadow next to vivid eyes.

    Wear instead: Silver

  • Khaki

    Yellowed and low in chroma, it makes cool skin look sallow and the outfit look washed out.

    Wear instead: Clear Navy

  • Burnt Orange

    Earthy orange is too warm and too muted, and it fights the blue base in pinks and reds.

    Wear instead: True Red

  • Dusty Lavender

    Cool enough, but so grayed that it reads as tired beside clear features.

    Wear instead: Icy Lavender

Wearing it

Bright winter outfits: six combinations

  • Work

    Ink, Bright White, Electric Blue

    An ink suit with a white shirt, and electric blue as a single strong piece such as a blouse or tie.

  • Evening

    Black, Fuchsia, Silver

    A fuchsia top or dress with black, and silver jewelry; the color takes about half the outfit.

  • Casual

    Clear Navy, Bright White, Cherry

    Navy jeans, a white tee and a cherry red sneaker or bag: two neutrals and one vivid note.

  • Summer

    Turquoise, Bright White

    A turquoise dress or shirt with white; keep the pairing to two colors so both stay crisp in strong light.

  • Winter

    Royal Purple, Ink, Ice Pink

    A royal purple coat over ink knitwear, with ice pink at the collar to bring light back to the face.

  • Accessories

    Silver, Hot Pink

    Polished silver with one hot pink accessory, such as a scarf, bag or lipstick.

Contrast over harmony

Pair a vivid color with bright white or ink. Two colors that sit close in value look flat on this coloring, even when both are correct for the palette.

One electric piece

A hot pink coat or an electric blue dress is enough. Build the rest from white, ink and silver so the color has room.

Avoid grayed basics

A gray T-shirt and stone chinos will always look tired next to bright winter features. White and ink do the same job and keep the contrast.

Hair

Bright Winter hair color

Shades that suit

  • Jet black. Keeps the maximum contrast with light skin and bright eyes.
  • Blue-black. Repeats the cool sheen many bright winters already have.
  • Cool dark brown. A softer option that still contrasts clearly with the skin.
  • Vivid plum or violet. A clear, saturated color is in keeping with the palette for anyone who wants a bold change.
  • Bright burgundy. A blue-based red that adds color without warmth.

Shades that fight it

  • Warm caramel. It softens the contrast too much and adds warmth the skin does not have.
  • Golden blonde. A large field of yellow at the face mutes the eyes and makes the skin look less clear.
  • Mousy ash brown. A grayed mid-tone flattens the contrast that defines bright winter.

Makeup

Bright Winter makeup: base, cheek, eyes and lips

Base and foundation

Choose a cool or neutral undertone shade and match it on the jaw in daylight. Bright winters often look best with a thin, even base that lets the skin's clarity show; heavy matte coverage can dull it. Check the match again after a few minutes in case the formula oxidizes warmer.

Cheek

Clear pink or fuchsia on the upper cheek. Build it in thin layers: the color can be strong, but a crisp edge suits this coloring better than a wide, hazy wash.

  • Clear pink blush #E85A93
  • Fuchsia blush #D61F9C

Eyes

A sharp black liner on its own often does the most. For color, a line of electric blue or a wash of violet; skip smoky browns, which look muddy beside bright eyes.

  • Black liner #0D0D0D
  • Electric blue liner #1863FF
  • Violet shadow #7A2FF2

Lips

Hot pink, fuchsia or true red. A bright lip is often the single detail that makes the whole palette make sense on the face.

  • Hot pink lipstick #E8177F
  • Clear true red #E01B2F
  • Cherry #D2003C

The base

Metals, jewelry and wardrobe neutrals

Polished silver, platinum and chrome. Yellow gold is too warm unless it is very pale.

Polished silver, platinum and chrome are the easiest metals for bright winter because they reflect light the way the palette does. Mirror finishes look better than brushed or antiqued ones.

Very pale, bright gold can work, but deep yellow gold is too warm. For stones, choose clear ones: sapphire, emerald, ruby, amethyst and diamond-like crystal rather than opaque or milky stones.

  • Bright White
  • Silver
  • Graphite
  • Ink
  • Black
  • Clear Navy

Every depth

Bright Winter on fair, medium and deep skin

Fair skin

Fair skin with dark hair makes the most dramatic bright winter. Lights such as Ice Blue and Icy Lavender work as shirts and tees, and the reds and pinks group gives the face color. Deeps work best paired with white.

Medium skin

Medium skin with dark hair and clear eyes carries the mid-tones and accents well: Turquoise, Bright Cobalt, Emerald. Ink makes a better everyday neutral than gray here, which can look flat.

Deep skin

Deep skin with a cool base and bright eye whites can wear the most electric colors in the palette, from Cyan and Lime to Shocking Pink. Bright White near the face is especially strong; the darkest neutrals work best with a vivid accent.

Questions

Bright Winter questions

Is bright winter the same as clear winter?

Yes. Both names describe cool coloring with high contrast and the most saturated colors in the winter family.

Can a bright winter wear pastels?

Icy pastels with a cool base, such as icy lavender, ice pink and icy mint, work well. Warm or grayed pastels look dusty on this coloring.

Can a bright winter wear black and white together?

Yes. It is one of the few palettes where the hardest contrast in the wardrobe is also the most flattering.

What is the difference between bright winter and bright spring?

Both are as clear as a season gets. Bright winter is cool and looks best in hot pink, electric blue and ink; bright spring is warm and looks best in coral, warm turquoise and golden yellow.

Which hair colors suit bright winter?

Jet black, blue-black, cool dark brown, bright burgundy and vivid plum. Warm caramel, golden blonde and grayed ash brown soften the contrast too much.

Can a bright winter wear yellow?

A clear, cool-leaning lemon, yes, as an accent. Mustard, gold and other warm or muted yellows do not suit.

Can a bright winter wear gray?

Dark graphite and bright silver, yes. Mid grays and warm grays tend to look flat, so pair any gray with white or a vivid color.

How we measure. The seasons on this site come from fixed positions for warmth, depth and clarity, and the free test matches you to the nearest one. Read the method

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