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SPICEMARKET COLOUR

Dark Winter
Dark Winter is sumptuous and evocative, wild and
mysterious.

The most earthy of the Winters, this palette is

reminiscent of sharply scented pine forests, berry
coulis, ivy-covered Gothic ruins at twilight and
meadows tipped with frost.

Overview

Dark Winter is cool-neutral, with a ton of darkness

and some high-chroma brightness.

Autumn’s influence adds a little warmth and

softens the colours ever so slightly.

Hue

cOOl warm

Chroma
•
soft bright

Value

light dark

Depth and richness are central to this luxurious

palette.

The extreme low value also makes it lead-heavy.

These are splendid, serious colours; cavernous

and chthonic - like the dim, bejewelled
magnificence of an underworld palace.

Black and white are important influences but there

are a range of far more fascinating neutrals
including deep navy-slate, battleship grey, silver
gull, granite, carob, asphalt, gunmetal and
Prussian blue.

Dark Winter is the fruit of the forest season, so

crimson red is an essential presence in how pinks
and purples are expressed.

Revel in shades of black cherry, sloe, boysenberry,

plum, mulberry, cranberry, blackberry, blueberry,
currant and deep grape.

Accents include bottle green, petrol, blackened

blue-teal, wasabi, purpled burgundy and frosted
versions of sage, blush, spruce and clouded sky.

Jewellery

Being a neutral season, both warm and cool

metals will suit a Dark Winter.

In reality, your warm metals are mostly limited to

deep yellow gold and some brass.

Bronze is too brown, rose gold too light and

copper too warm.

Team gold with cooler-toned stones or use as an

accent in a predominantly cool outfit. That touch
of warmth is all you need.

Dark Winter is interesting because it is

simultaneously high chroma and low value.

The combination of bright and dark means both

shiny or matte finishes will suit you.

However on the dimension scale, value presents

as more extreme than chroma for this season.

This means that metallics with depth are

particularly well suited so do consider tarnished,
oxidised, antique or textured finishes.

No one can wear marcasite like a Dark Winter.

This blackened metal composite is like dull bling -
a most perfect concept for this season.

Silver and pewter are amazing.

Titanium, white gold and platinum are premium

options.

Paua - or abalone shell - with its oil slick blues and

greens, was made for Dark Winters.

Fall in love with hematite.

You can choose from both faceted or raw cut

gemstones, just match up colours with the palette.

Pebbled or clustered gems add texture and look

interesting on this season.

Swarovski crystal and stones with dim sparkle are

lovely - just be careful you don’t go too vivid and
translucent or you risk losing your all-powerful
darkness.

Eyewear

Black is great. It doesn’t look boring by itself on a

Dark Winter.

Navy, bitter chocolate, blackened slate or dark

grey will look natural and balanced. Also consider
burgundy or dark purple.

Cooler metals with a heavy, matte or powdered

finish work well. Some shine is ok too for this
season.

If you like gold, avoid really bright yellow versions

and balance it with something cool and dark. Plain
gold frames are likely too warm.

Patterned or print effects can look terrific,

provided there aren’t too many colours at once
which can become distracting on a Dark Winter.

Beware of rimless or even some partially framed

styles. Depending on the face they can be ok but
more than any other season, Dark Winters do well
with density.

Wardrobe basics

The right black is particularly magical on a Dark

Winter.

Although a core neutral for all Winters, only Dark

Winter can wear all-over black and still look
finished - especially when building a mix of
textures into the outfit.

However, a touch of warmth is key to your beauty

so think about the quality of the black you’ve
chosen.

To be very precise, Dark Winter’s ultimate version

is molasses - black with a drop of dark brown -
and very opaque but most commercial blacks are
fine.

Watch out for how some black dyes change over

time. Many turn brownish, greyish or greenish with
wash and wear. If the black is even a little faded it
will look shabby on you.

Keep white clear and vivid. It will make your eyes

and teeth look bright and clean.

Your blue denim is a very dark navy without fade.

Suiting is a breeze with black, navy and steel or

oily greys as a base. Burgundy, plum and forest
green also make terrific corporate colours.

Dark Winters were born to wear classic

houndstooth.

Along with black in leather goods, watch out for

pine, silver grey, petrol blue and midnight slate
which make for unexpected but equally flattering
neutrals.

Because these colours are both bright and dark,

most leather finishes from patent to suede will
work.

Like all Winters, this season needs contrast, even

if kept contained to a tie, lipstick or accessory.

An accent in a warmer colour from your palette or

some gold detailing is a sophisticated way to
balance an outfit.

Despite your “black is good to go” reality, do try to

step outside its safe zone and explore the other
neutrals in your palette.

Hair

Dark Winter is an extremely low value season. This

translates into deep, rich hair colours and no high
value light ones.

Natural red and blonde are unlikely. Don’t even

bother trying to manufacture the look.

Apart from naturally occuring grey, any fairer

colours will destroy you.

Instead, respect the beauty of lush black or deep

chocolate.

Lowlights are particularly flattering.

There is already something otherwordly about

Winters so fake hair colours can actually look
pretty great.

There are plenty of palette-friendly fashion colours

available - they won’t look natural but they’ll suit
you.

Try cool red-violet, black-violet, blue-black or

burgundy as an all-over cast, accent or feature in
ombre and balayage styles.

Beauty

You can handle the weight and the darkness of

black on your face.

Black mascara and eyeliner are accessible basics.

You have a touch of warmth in your colouring so

experiment with very dark black-brown or bitter
chocolate liners.

Charcoal, navy, cool teal or any of the other darker

neutrals from your palette make great liners if you
want a change.

Low value seasons love shadows which means a

little contouring will suit you.

Be careful with bronzer. You have a touch of

Autumn so don’t rule it out but use sparingly, it can
get too warm very quickly.

Sparkly or glittery effects are particularly nice if

they’re dulled or heavily shadowed.

Matte is spectacular but you can also carry a little

shine, just don’t go overboard.

As a Winter, contrast is important so try teaming

black with a touch of silver eyeshadow in the inner
corner of your eye, some white liner or a sweep of
lighter taupe across the lid.

Lip and cheek colours are taken from the deep

berries and plums in the palette.

Keep reds crimson or carmine.

You might find you look quite changed with

makeup on. This is because the right colours add
weight and definition to your face.

You can load up on heavy looks without

compromising the structure of your face and still
look perfectly normal. Others would be swallowed
by darkness.

These are colours that make everyone else look

Gothic. Not so a Dark Winter. This palette is your
natural habitat.