The Toasted Soft Winter

The Toasted Soft Winter is a season full of contrasts and subtle sophistication. This sub-season blends the cool, crisp qualities of Winter with a softened warmth, creating a palette that is unique in its depth and versatility. It’s the perfect fit for individuals whose coloring thrives in Winter's cool shades with a touch of gentle warmth.

Here are the basics of the Toasted Soft Winter

Temperature: Cool, primarily
Value: Deep
Chroma: Mostly clear but with a definite need for some softness
Sister Season: Smokey Soft Autumn

Best colors: Charcoal blue, soft fuchsia, black cherry, warm burgundy, pine green, deep charcoal blue, mahogany, boysenberry, black

Worst Colors: Avoid warm, pale colors like light brown, soft peach, sage green.

The Toasted Soft Winter is a Winter that, unlike other Winters, has a muted quality to it. Colors are a mix of 'traditional' winter colors like black, true red, and emerald, but are worn in a way that creates lower contrast than most Winters.

In addition to the traditional winter colors, this season has deep, rich colors like black cherry and toned raspberry. They have a visible warmth to their coloring, usually found in their skin or eyes, but sometimes hair as well.

In the palette are a mix of some lighter soft colors, not usually associated with winter. But paired with the much deeper traditional colors of the palette, this creates a slightly toned down effect.

Wearing colors that are too pale will not be strong enough for your coloring and will wash you out.

TIP: The Toasted Soft Winter will often get mistaken for an Autumn, because analysts are confused when they see so much warmth, mostly on the client's skin's surface, or overtone. Her undertones, though, all mainly cool.

A Look at the Smokey Soft Winter Palette

Sunset in winter park typifies the Toasted Soft Winter

The Toasted Soft Winter palette is an beautiful blend of both traditional winter colors and of rich, muted colors that feel cool yet earthy. It combines Winter’s deep and bright tones with a slight infusion of warmth, making it stand out from other Winter palettes. Imagine the soft glow of twilight reflecting on freshly fallen snow—that’s the essence of Toasted Soft Winter.

Cool Neutrals: Deep charcoal, navy, and black are foundational neutrals in this palette, great for creating a capsule wardrobe of which all the other palette colors can mix and match beautifully. Yes, black is a staple color for this season, as it is for all Winters. Wearing them in a slightly lower contrast way is ideal.

Softened Cool Tones: Colors like eggplant, pine green, soft fuchsia and mulberry, blend in with the brighter colors of the palette.

Hints of Warmth: While predominantly cool, Toasted Soft Winter’s "toasty" element shines in shades like rich warm grey, dark cocoa brown, and even rich olive green. These colors add a unique warmth without veering too far from the season’s overall cool vibe.

Here's some more examples of The Toasted Soft Winter

If you haven't noticed yet, many images I use on this site are marked "ColorBreeze Art". This is part of my new artwork and visuals I have created with the help of AI, among other digital photo software. I will be slowly adding more images over time. Here are some for this season. Please share on Pinterest if you like them!