Deep Autumn Color Palette (Dark Autumn)

Deep Autumn is one of the three Autumn types in 12-season color analysis. Its leading trait is depth and its second is warmth. The palette looks like a forest in late October: deep greens, spice and wood tones, and a few rich jewel colors. It is the Autumn type closest to Winter, so it handles more contrast and a few deeper, clearer shades than the other Autumns.

Deep Autumns usually have deep coloring with medium to high contrast. Typical signs:

• hair in dark chestnut, deep auburn or rich dark brown;
• eyes in dark brown or deep hazel;
• skin with a warm or neutral-warm base, from light to deep;
• pastel colors make you look tired, while deep warm colors make your eyes stand out.

A quick test: compare a forest green top with a baby blue one. If forest green brings your face to life and baby blue makes it look flat, you are likely a Deep Autumn.

Use dark, warm neutrals as your base: espresso, dark chocolate, charcoal brown, olive brown and warm navy. Cream is your white. For color, rotate through forest green, deep teal, tomato red, brick, mustard and burnt orange, and use oxblood or aubergine for evening. Rich textures such as leather, velvet, corduroy and heavy knits suit your depth, and gold hardware finishes the look.

Pastel pink, icy blue, lavender, baby blue, pure white, dusty pastel rose, cool silver and neon pink are your colors to avoid. They are too light, too cool or too artificial for your warm depth. Keep them away from your face and choose cream, camel or a deep warm color near it instead.

Rust, deep terracotta, brick red and burgundy-brown lipsticks look natural on you, with bronze-peach or warm berry blush. For eyes, espresso, copper, olive and deep teal create depth without harshness. Hair looks best in dark chestnut, deep auburn or rich dark brown; ashy and platinum shades drain you. Antique gold, bronze and copper are your metals, with amber, garnet and tortoiseshell.

Deep Autumn is often confused with Deep Winter. Both wear dark colors well, but Deep Autumn looks better in olive, rust and espresso than in black, icy pink and royal blue. Its other neighbor is True Autumn, which is lighter and more golden; if you need more depth than camel and apricot give you, Deep Autumn is your type.

See the palettes side by side: Deep Winter and True Autumn.

If you are torn between Deep Autumn and Deep Winter or True Autumn, compare two colors from each palette under your chin in daylight; the one that makes your skin look smoother and your eyes clearer wins. A photo is a second opinion: the free selfie analysis reads your skin, hair and eye colors, and the color analysis quiz works without a photo. If it says Autumn, the paid report tells you whether you are this type or a neighbor, with a printable Deep Autumn color card. See pricing.

Many Deep Autumns can wear black in small doses or away from the face. Espresso, dark chocolate and charcoal brown are usually more flattering near the face.

Neutral-warm. Depth comes first and warmth second, so the palette is warm but includes some deep, slightly cooler colors such as deep teal and aubergine.

Dark chestnut, deep auburn, rich dark brown and warm mahogany. Avoid ash tones and platinum.