Do black and crisp white make you look polished rather than harsh? Does gold jewellery leave your skin looking a little sallow, while silver makes it glow? Then there is a good chance you are a True Winter – one of the most striking colour seasons there is. And we have made you a free guide to prove it.
Below, you will find a quick introduction to the True Winter season, a look inside our new 15-page True Winter Colour Guide, and a link to download it for free. No catch.
What is a True Winter?
In seasonal colour analysis, every colour season has one dominant characteristic – the quality of colour that matters most for you. For True Winter, that characteristic is temperature. True Winters are cool. Purely, unmistakably cool.
Their secondary qualities are clarity (they need clean, unclouded colours) and depth (they can carry dark, saturated shades with ease). Picture a snowy landscape at night: white snow, a black sky, and a few jewel-like lights glowing in between. That is the True Winter world.
You might be a True Winter if…
- your natural hair is a cool dark brown, black-brown or black – or has turned a beautiful silver
- your eyes are deep cool brown, cool grey, or a clear icy blue or green
- your skin has a cool undertone – anywhere from porcelain to the deepest ebony
- there is a striking contrast between your hair, skin and eyes
- orange, camel and mustard make you look tired – or simply “off”
Your True Winter colour palette at a glance
True Winters look their best in pure white, true black, charcoal and navy, combined with jewel tones such as true red, fuchsia, royal purple, cobalt and emerald – plus a family of icy colours that are almost white with just a breath of colour.
What should a True Winter avoid? Anything warm, muted or earthy: orange, camel, mustard, olive, rust, cream and chocolate brown. The good news is that almost every one of these has a True Winter alternative – the guide shows you exactly which colour to wear instead.
What’s inside the free True Winter guide
This is not just a colour chart. It is designed to be used – on your phone while you shop, or printed and kept in your wardrobe. Inside, you will find:
- Are you a True Winter? How to recognise your season, and how it differs from Dark Winter, Bright Winter and True Summer
- Your full palette: 29 colours with names and colour codes
- Your neutrals and the simple 60 / 30 / 10 rule for balanced outfits
- Colours to avoid – and what to wear instead
- 8 ready-made colour combinations
- A 15-piece True Winter capsule wardrobe with six outfit formulas
- Metals, jewellery, eyewear and prints
- Make-up and hair shades from lips to nails
- A shopping checklist, a printable pocket card and a notes page
The chapter you won’t find anywhere else: “Underneath it all”
Most colour guides stop at the outfit. But here at Her Style Code, we care just as much about what you wear underneath. The wrong “nude” bra showing through a white shirt, or tan tights with a black dress, can undo an otherwise perfect look.
So the guide includes a full chapter on lingerie, base layers and hosiery for True Winters, built around two simple rules: if it shouldn’t be seen, match your skin. If it can be seen, match your palette.
Download your free True Winter Colour Guide
The guide is completely free. Click the button below to download the PDF (15 pages, about 100 KB) – it works on any phone, tablet or computer.
A quick note on colour accuracy: every screen shows colour slightly differently. Use the colour codes as a reference, and always judge a real garment in daylight, held close to your face.
Want more free guides? Subscribe to Her Style Code
This True Winter guide is the first in a series. We are creating a free guide for every colour season – so whether you are a Winter, a Summer, a Spring or an Autumn, there will be one for you.
Subscribe for free and you will receive:
- new colour season guides as soon as they are released
- outfit ideas – and what to wear underneath them
- subscriber-only checklists and printables
Frequently asked questions
Can a True Winter wear gold jewellery?
Silver, white gold and platinum are your best choices. Yellow gold tends to make True Winter skin look sallow. If you love gold, wear it away from your face – on a watch or a ring, for example.
What is the best lipstick for a True Winter?
A blue-based red is the True Winter signature. Berry, fuchsia and rosy nudes also work beautifully. Avoid coral, orange-reds and warm brown nudes.
What colour bra should a True Winter wear under a white shirt?
Never white – it shows through. Choose a nude that matches the depth of your own skin, ideally in a rosy, cool or neutral shade rather than a peachy one.
How do I know if I am a True Winter or a Dark Winter?
Both seasons are cool and deep, but for Dark Winter, depth comes first and the palette can borrow a little warmth. For True Winter, coolness comes first. The guide includes a side-by-side comparison to help you decide.
Download the free guide above, try it for a week, and let us know in the comments: which True Winter colour is your favourite?
