All Seasons | Winter Color Type

27 Pieces // 81 Outfits

Hey everyone! Today I have a winter color palette example for you! Plus, some tips on what to do if you like wearing dark colors but have light or gray hair; and I’ll be talking about how to blend classic and creative style elements to create a classic capsule wardrobe with a twist.

Today, I’ll be sharing a color palette and capsule wardrobe example for the winter color type. This example is inspired by Julie who left a lovely comment on my video on how to build the perfect color palette.

What kinds of color palette examples would you like to see next? Tell me a little bit about your style and which colors you like to wear in the comments down below, I’d love to make a video for you too!

The final capsule includes 27 items and can create at least 81 outfits. The color palette is cool, deep, and bright, great for the winter color type.

Building Julie’s Color Palette

Julie has a cool undertone and she enjoys wearing dark and bright colors. She would like her base colors to include navy, pink, and green, and she has identified cobalt blue and fuchsia as potential supporting colors since she tends to receive a lot of compliments when she wears these colors. This is an amazing start and Julie is doing everything right when it comes to identifying her perfect color palette.

Her only concern is that her hair is becoming lighter over time and is often perceived as light brown or dark blonde, so she wonders if she should continue wearing the dark colors that she loves or if she should lighten up her color palette due to her lighter hair color. My advice is that she should continue wearing all of the colors she loves, regardless of her lighter hair color. All of the compliments she receives when she wears dark and bright colors are a sure sign that these colors are still flattering on her, plus wearing what you love should always trump conventional color season guidance (although it is important not to avoid trying something new)!

However, I do have one quick tip when it comes to wearing dark colors with light hair. When choosing neutrals, stark black may create a heavier contrast than the contrast that exists in your natural coloring if you have light skin and medium-to-light hair. Choosing charcoal gray or navy as alternatives to black will bring more harmony with your natural beauty, especially for tops, jackets, or any items that are worn close to the face.

Since Julie already did a great job of identifying some beautiful deep and bright colors for her color palette, there isn’t much work we need to do to complete it. Since she has a cool undertone, I’ve included an emerald green, navy, cobalt blue, and various shades of fuchsia which are colors we already know she loves to wear. For an extra pop of color and to bring some lightness and brightness into the palette, I added cornflower blue as an additional accent color.

Finally, let’s select neutrals. Since Julie’s color palette already includes navy blue, let's also add various shades of gray and some crisp white to shake up the neutrals.

The final color palette is a vibrant combination of emerald green, fuschia, gray, white, and blue - perfect for the winter color type.

A Classic & Creative Capsule Wardrobe

Now let’s put this color palette into action. Julie mentioned that she has a very classic and simple style consisting of button-down shirts, dark wash jeans, sweaters, and tees with nice details. She likes comfortable, but well-structured pieces. For her, I thought it would be interesting to search out some elevated basics and take her “classic with a twist” style to the next level by mixing in some creative style elements.

I made sure to start with a base of basics that align with Julie’s existing wardrobe. Two pairs of dark wash denim, a silk button-down shirt, a cotton button-down shirt, a crisp short-sleeve button-down, two elevated tees with interesting details, and a simple v-neck sweater.

To bring some personality and interest to Julie’s wardrobe, I added some creative pieces to her classic base. A great way to introduce some funky items into a classic wardrobe is to choose pieces that are either colorful with a classic shape, or neutral if they have a unique shape. Some pieces that accomplished this balance of classic with a twist include an emerald hoodie for a comfortable athleisure option, a dark emerald wrap skirt in a comfortable fabric and a classic pencil shape, a pair of silky navy joggers which adds an interesting shape while remaining understated in color, and some bright fuschia trousers for a twist on a classic wardrobe staple. Then, I brought in a bit more pink with a simple collarless shirt dress and a beautiful asymmetric cocktail dress which can be dressed up for parties or worn to work with a blazer. And of course, a couple pairs of fun heels and this super cool Mulberry Softie bag to punch up Julie’s accessories.

For a more classic or workwear inspired wardrobe, you could even swap out two of the outerwear pieces for a blazer and a trench coat and add a pair of pointed toe pumps to create more business-casual workplace appropriate outfits.

The final capsule includes 9 tops, 6 bottoms, 3 dresses, 3 jackets, 4 shoes, and 2 bags for 27 items which can create at least 81 interchangeable outfits.