12-season color analysis · Autumn family
Deep Autumn color palette
Also called Dark Autumn
Espresso, mahogany and firelight: deep, warm coloring with rich contrast and a golden glow.
Deep Autumn, also called Dark Autumn, is the richest and darkest of the autumn seasons. In 12-season color analysis, depth is its dominant trait and warmth its secondary one, so the hue reads warm-neutral with a golden lean. Value is deep, chroma is rich rather than dusty, and contrast runs medium-high. The deep autumn color palette borders Deep Winter as well as Warm Autumn, so it can borrow a few darker, cooler shades that other autumns can't.
- Undertone
- Warm-neutral, leaning golden
- Value
- Deep
- Chroma
- Rich, medium to clear
- Contrast
- Medium-high to high
The palette
The Deep Autumn color palette
Twenty-four shades that flatter deep autumn coloring: neutrals to build a wardrobe on, core colors for everyday pieces, and accents for statement moments. Wear the core and accent colors closest to your face.
Neutrals
- Cream#F2E6CC
- Caramel#AD7848
- Coffee#6B4A35
- Espresso#3A2A20
- Warm Charcoal#45403C
- Dark Olive#43432A
Core colors
- Burgundy#6E2431
- Evergreen#264D38
- Rust#913E20
- Deep Teal#1E5250
- Ochre#B07D22
- Aubergine#4E2C3F
- Terracotta#C46F57
- Mahogany#6B2E1F
- Petrol#1D4A5A
- Jade#2F7F6A
Accents
- Chili Red#B3372A
- Burnt Orange#B8541A
- Saffron#D59A28
- Golden Olive#867726
- Bottle Green#1E6B4A
- Deep Turquoise#00767A
- Plum#783950
- Moss#5D622B
Is it you?
How to tell if you're a Deep Autumn
Deep autumns usually have dark hair and dark eyes, and the season spans the full range of skin tones, from fair skin with espresso hair to deep brown skin with a warm glow. Many darker skin tones land here. The dark autumn color palette, to use its other name, is built on espresso, evergreen, burgundy, rust and deep teal. Those shades match your natural depth, so your features look defined and your skin looks warm instead of ashy.
- Dark hair: deep brown, espresso, black-brown or deep auburn, often with red or golden glints in sunlight.
- Dark, warm eyes: rich brown, deep hazel, dark olive green, topaz or near-black brown.
- Skin from fair ivory to deep brown with a warm, golden, olive or bronze cast and an even, glowing depth.
- Visible depth: in a black-and-white photo, your hair and eyes read dark even if your skin is light.
- Pastels and dusty light colors wash you out, while deep, rich colors make your features look sharp.
Keep away from your face
Colors a Deep Autumn should avoid
- Baby Blue#BCD8F2
- Powder Pink#F2CAD8
- Lilac#C8B6E2
- Ash Gray#B4B8BC
- Mint#BFE8D4
- Hot Pink#F0368F
If you love a pastel, wear it as trousers, a skirt or sneakers, and give the spot near your face to espresso, burgundy or evergreen.
Finishing touches
Makeup, hair and jewelry
Makeup
- Lips
- Brick red, rust, terracotta, chocolate-plum, oxblood and warm berry with a brown base. For a classic red, choose a deep brick or chili red.
- Blush
- Deep terracotta, warm brick-rose, bronze or rich apricot, depending on your depth.
- Eyes
- Bronze, copper, deep olive, espresso, gold and aubergine shadows, with black-brown or deep teal liner.
Hair color
Keep the depth: espresso, dark chocolate, deep chestnut, auburn and warm mahogany all work. Pale, ashy or silvery shades drain your warmth and shrink your contrast.
Metals and jewelry
Yellow gold, antique gold, bronze, copper and brass suit your depth. Burnished, oil-rubbed or hammered finishes look richer on you than bright, polished silver.
Put it together
Deep Autumn outfit color combinations
Fireside Weekend
A burgundy knit with caramel trousers or a skirt and a cream shirt looks rich but relaxed.
Boardroom
An espresso suit with a deep teal shirt, plus a saffron tie, scarf or bag for a warm spark.
Fall Commute
A terracotta sweater with evergreen trousers and a warm charcoal coat works from the office to the weekend.
Velvet Evening
Aubergine velvet or satin with an ochre silk scarf or tie and coffee brown shoes is made for evening.
Building a deep autumn wardrobe
- Base your wardrobe on espresso, coffee, dark olive and warm charcoal. They carry the weight of black and navy while keeping warmth near your face.
- Wear cream rather than optic white; it gives a shirt the same crispness without looking chalky against warm skin.
- Dress in tonal depth: an espresso suit with a chocolate knit, or evergreen with dark olive, looks rich and intentional without any black.
- Choose prints with depth and contrast: rich paisley, dark florals, leopard, tortoiseshell and plaids in burgundy, evergreen and ochre. Faded, washed-out prints look weak on you.
- Go for dark rinse denim and chocolate or cognac leather. Velvet, suede, corduroy and chunky knits suit your depth.
Close neighbors
Deep Autumn or a neighboring season?
Deep Autumn vs. Deep Winter
Deep Winter shares your depth and contrast but leans cool, so its best colors are black, icy white, sapphire, true red and emerald. Yours are warmer and earthier: espresso, rust, olive and ochre. Test gold against silver, and cream against pure white, near your face. If the warm version makes you glow, you're Deep Autumn.
Deep Autumn vs. Warm Autumn
Warm Autumn is lighter and more golden, with medium shades like camel, pumpkin and mustard. On a deep autumn, those can look a little washed out. If espresso, burgundy and deep teal make your eyes and hair look richer than lighter spice colors, you're Deep Autumn.
Deep Autumn vs. Soft Autumn
Soft Autumn is lighter, grayer and lower in contrast, with shades like oatmeal, sage and soft teal. Those muted tones can make a deep autumn look dull and sleepy. If you need rich, saturated depth to look awake, you're Deep Autumn.
Neighboring seasons share one trait and differ in another, which is why they are easy to mix up in a mirror. A drape test settles it: the same face, the same light, and two colors side by side. Avarobe's color report includes one made from your own selfie.
Questions
Deep Autumn FAQ
Is deep autumn the same as dark autumn?
They are the same season. Some analysts say Dark Autumn and others Deep Autumn, but both describe the autumn whose main trait is depth and whose secondary trait is warmth. Expect any dark autumn color palette to overlap almost entirely with a deep autumn color palette: espresso, burgundy, rust, evergreen, deep teal and ochre.
Can a deep autumn wear black?
Yes. Among the autumns, you carry black best, because your natural depth keeps it from swallowing your face, especially in suits, coats and evening wear. Espresso, dark chocolate and warm charcoal still look richer near your face, since they hold warmth. When you do wear black, add gold jewelry or a burgundy, rust or caramel layer so the look stays warm.
What is the difference between deep autumn and deep winter?
Deep Autumn is warm and Deep Winter is cool, though both are dark and high in contrast. Deep autumns glow in espresso, rust, olive, ochre and gold jewelry. Deep winters look best in black, pure white, sapphire, emerald and silver. Hold a brick red next to a blue-red near your face: the one that clears your skin and brightens your eyes points to your season.
What hair color is best for a deep autumn?
Espresso, dark chocolate, deep chestnut and auburn are the most flattering hair colors for a deep autumn, since they keep the depth your coloring needs. For dimension, try caramel, bronze or copper balayage on a dark base rather than lightening all over. Avoid ash blonde, platinum and silvery or pastel tones, which clash with warm skin and lower your contrast.
What colors should a dark autumn avoid?
Pastels, icy shades and cool, dusty colors are the ones to skip. Baby blue, powder pink, lilac, mint and light ash gray are too light and too cool, so they make deep, warm coloring look sallow or washed out. Cool neon brights like hot pink and electric blue clash too. If a pastel is a favorite, use it in small doses, like a pocket square or bag, rather than a top.
All 12 seasons
Explore the other seasons
Avarobe
Are you a Deep Autumn? Find out from one selfie.
Avarobe reads your undertone, hair and eyes to find your season, then shows your best colors in complete outfits on your own avatar.
3 looks free · No credit card