Dark Winter vs Dark Autumn
Dark Winter and Dark Autumn sit next to each other on the flow wheel, which is why they are so easy to confuse: they share a dimension. The table below shows exactly where they part company, and the test underneath it is the fastest way to settle which one you are.
Last updated August 2026 ยท Michael Machatschek
| Dark Winter | Dark Autumn | |
|---|---|---|
| Palette | ||
| Undertone | neutral cool | neutral warm |
| Depth | deep | deep |
| Clarity | medium bright | medium |
| Defined by | dark | dark |
| Best metal | silver | gold |
| Signature color | Blue-Red / True Red | Deep Rust |
Where each one sits
Dark Winter
Dark Autumn
How to tell which you are
What the Dark Winter guide says
The two Dark seasons split on temperature. Dark Autumn is warm: rust, mustard, deep forest. Dark Winter is cool: true red, deep magenta, royal blue. Hold a deep rust against a cool burgundy in daylight; the one that makes your skin look clear rather than sallow is your side.
What the Dark Autumn guide says
The two Dark seasons share their dominant dimension and split on temperature. Dark Winter is cool: true red, deep magenta, royal blue. Dark Autumn is warm: rust, mustard, deep forest. The test is a deep warm rust against a deep cool burgundy in daylight, or gold against silver.
Colors that are right either way
Both palettes contain these. If you are genuinely stuck between the two, this is what to buy first: you cannot get it wrong, whichever way the answer eventually falls.
Still not sure?
The test measures all three dimensions and tells you which one decides your season, with the confidence behind it. When two seasons are close it says so and names both.
Take the 60 second testQuestions people ask
- What is the difference between Dark Winter and Dark Autumn?
- Dark Winter is neutral cool, deep and medium bright. Dark Autumn is neutral warm, deep and medium. In practice that means Dark Winter wears blue-red / true red where Dark Autumn wears deep rust.
- How do I tell if I am Dark Winter or Dark Autumn?
- The two Dark seasons split on temperature. Dark Autumn is warm: rust, mustard, deep forest. Dark Winter is cool: true red, deep magenta, royal blue. Hold a deep rust against a cool burgundy in daylight; the one that makes your skin look clear rather than sallow is your side.
- Can I be both Dark Winter and Dark Autumn?
- Not officially, but you can sit on the border, and if these two are your candidates you probably do. The practical answer is to shop the colors both palettes contain, which are listed on this page, and to be careful only with the shades where they diverge.