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DEEP COOL : THE RULES OF WEARING COLORS

2/12/2014

4 Comments

 
DEEP COOL
If you suit silver best, but gold is fine. Blueish red, pure pink, ink black and pure white, icy colors, jewel tones, deep, and vibrant primary colors are fantastic on you. Your natural coloring is vibrant, deep and distinctive. The overall coloring of your eyes and hair, is dark, rich and intense. Your best colors are high in contrast to your dark hues, and always bold, fully saturated and pure. Some Deep Cool can flow into Deep Warm, and wear some Deep Warm colors. Dusty, warm and muted tones, and wishy washy pastels, such as dirty browns and soft peachy tones, does not do you justice. Try to keep your look rich, and remember, a true DEEP COOL, can wear dark red lipstick, black eyeliner and a dark blue dress without looking goth.
Oprah Winfrey, Kelly Rowland, Naomi Campbell, Eva Longoria, Kim Kardashian, America Ferrera, Penelope Cruz, 
Lucy Liu, Anne Hathaway, Sandra Bullock, Demi Moore, and Ginnifer Goodwin.
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IF YOU ARE A DEEP COOL, YOU MAY HAVE
Eyes: Usually very dark, but can be any color. Normally, black, black-brown, dark hazel, and in some instances medium brown eyes, which is a sign that you're flowing into Deep Autumn. 
Hair: Usually very dark, and you natural color is most likely deep brown, black, or black-brown. But it also may be medium brown, steel gray, or salt & pepper.
Skin: Can be quite pale, very dark, or anywhere in between. 
Black, black-brown, olive, beige, very pale beige, golden, light skin with a blue or pink undertone, or even fair skin with a yellow undertone. Cool skin tones usually have a blue, red, pure golden or pink undertone, but your skin may also have some warmth which is a sign that you are flowing into DEEP WARM.

Don't be too concerned with whether or not the people in the photos match your identical color combination, such as tan, hair color and eyes. The most important thing is that you have the right contrast level, and look good in the colors on the chart. If you do feel the need to identify with the DEEP COOL "poster girls", best to google the names above without makeup, natural hair color and in daylight. Makeup, lighting, spray-tans, and photoshop can change the overall appearance a lot. 

A typical DEEP COOL, are those whose overall coloring is rather dark, deep, mostly cool, and vivid. 
Some of them may have a slight warmth to a few or all of their features, such as warm brown, green or hazel eyes, brown hair, or a tan skin. 
All DEEP COOL's are a mix between earthy warm and cold and dark. In other words, a mix between CLEAR COOL and MUTED WARM (in classical terms a winter with a dash of autumn), as they are equally dark an deep. 
Being right in the middle between warm and cold (DEEP COOL and DEEP WARM) makes it possible for both of these types to look good in some of the same colors, such as gold, true red, deep blue and flame orange. The difference is that a DEEP COOL looks better in cool shades and has a cool undertone to their overall look. You can tell by the fact that they look great in black (even without makeup), deep and dark blue, deep blue-reds, deep blue-greens, icy colors, and cold greenish yellow. Silver and platinum are the metallics that compliment a DEEP COOL best, because it has the right shine for their intense chilled look. 
The difference between the other high contrast group; the much brighter, icier CLEAR COOL, is that the DEEP COOL is a little darker, deeper and has a hint of earth tones in the mix.

A DEEP COOL's most flattering look is high in contrasts combined with intense colors. Prints without contrast and hues that are dirty or faded, does absolutely nothing for you. If you're pale, black gives you the best contrast, and white won't work as well by it self without another intense color to "help" the look (e.g. black and white patterns). If your skin is very dark, an all black outfit might diminish you. So, also here the trick would be to create contrast, with the help of other light or strong colors. 
Being the deepest and darkest of all the groups, a DEEP COOL looks best in pure, rich, and dark colors. 
DEEP COOL features are brought to life by deep and dark colors that echo their own natural depth and contrast level. This means that you can wear dark red lipstick, black eyeliner and a dark blue dress without looking goth. Truly soft and pale colors make you look blend or unbalanced. Lighter shades are best when complimented by darker and deeper colors. In other words, always use dark or deep colors together with lighter colors to create that contrast and depth, and to balance your own dark features.
Dark hair is really the only look for a DEEP COOL, and mousy softer shades, light red and all shades of blond are not hair colors for this dark shading. Most DEEP COOL's look "wishy  washy" and fake with blond hair, as it drains color from the face. Whilst, dark hair makes the features appear more defined and fresher. Red hair can also run the risk of look unbecoming, especially if it's too warm. 

WORST COLORS ARE Dusty and muted tones, and wishy washy pastels, such as dirty browns and soft peachy tones. Remember that your biggest "no" colors are the ones that will clash with either your eye, skin or hair color, no matter if everything else tells you it should be great. A Deep Cool needs pure, deep and icy colors, as well as high contrast. So if there is not enough contrast to your natural coloring, it wont compliment you as well. 

Now that you know which "season" you belong to, and what type of colors that suits your chilled intensity, you might feel that you sometimes also fit into some colors that aren't that pure or only cool. This might mean you have a "soft" or "neutral" tendency, and that you look better in , or can get away with more colors that are either softer or warmer. But never go too soft and muted, or all warm and earthy. You can still run the risk of looking faded and dull, because you are above all DEEP, and need pure hues. These colors are based on your natural coloring, and might vary a little from one DEEP COOL to another, but that's what the "add on" is for. 

For example, you can be a 
DEEP COOL true, or should I say simply deep and cool (Sandra Bullock). This is a classic DEEP COOL, and Sandra Bullock is a perfect example of how not all a DEEP COOL's with a tan flow into DEEP WARM). If you are a DEEP COOL true, the rules above should apply to you more or less perfectly.

DEEP COOL dark, (Oprah Winfrey) has the darkest and deepest overall coloring of all the DEEP COOL's, and usually especially dark eyes and hair. Therefore, they need a little more drama to achieve the flattering contrast look, and the most vibrant and pure colors would be the best on this sub-group. Because of their (normally) deep skin tone, they usually flow a little into DEEP WARM, but not as much as an neutral. 

DEEP COOL soft, (Ginnifer Goodwin) looks their best in DEEP COOL colors, but needs a little splash of grey in them. This sub-group is also the only type of DEEP COOL to have a sensitivity regarding pure white. For those who are very pale, white wont give enough contrast together with the (out of character for a DEEP) soft hazel eyes or not so rich hair color. Light grey, a softer/dirty white, or black and white patterns would be better. Also, silver is your best metal, and bronze is better for you than gold, since it's a little softer and deeper. A DEEP COOL soft has a slightly softer intensity, and so they look their best in DEEP COOL colors that are ever so slightly muted.

DEEP COOL neutral, (Kim Kardashian) is a classic example of how a DEEP COOL with a tan can flow into DEEP WARM, and suit the warm colors "equally". Her natural skin color is somewhat neutral, and you can tell that the warm and soft hues aren't that great without the tan. The only reason she is in fact more cool than warm, is because she can look fantastic in "goth" makeup, and amazing in pure black as well as all white, without makeup. Plus, she doesn't suit blonder hair. A true DEEP WARM can look good in warm hues, even when pale, and lightened hair (not too blond) could actually be flattering.
For a real DEEP WARM, check out her sister Kourtney Kardashian. DEEP WARM, also has their version of a neutral, embodied by Olivia Munn, and both her and Kim K will look good in many of the same colors. The difference is that Olivia Munn has the typical warm feature of being sensitive to pure white and silver, whereas Kim K looks great in those colors too. 
If you have difficulty deciding whether you are warm or cold, you're probably a neutral.


DEEP COOL VARIATIONS

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DEEP COOL soft
(Ginnifer Goodwin)
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The deeper hair-color suits her season even better, but she still has a soft hazel eye color.
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Ginnifer looks great in most pure, deep and icy colors, but she has a slight sensitivity to pure white, and pure colors are better with a dash of grey in them. The fact that the cold dusty brown (below) doesn't work for her, proves that she is indeed deep and not a CLEAR or PURE COOL, just a different type of deep.
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Icy pink looks great, and peachy pink looks not as great, but fine as well. 
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Medium hot pink does nothing for a DEEP COOL, and fuchsia is much better.
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It looks as if she is choosing blueish, cold reds when she's pale, and yellowish, warm reds when she's tan. Which is a good idea for any neutral.
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The same goes for the yellow and orange. She looks great in the DEEP WARM yellow with a tan, and when she is natural and lighter, the greenish-yellows of the DEEP COOL, are equally flattering.They just give a different look.
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DEEP COOL neutral
(Kim Kardashian)
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flowing into DEEP WARM

Kim K, actually suit DEEP WARM colors kind of equally as good, or even better now that she spray tan. But naturally she is a 
DEEP COOL, and the golden browns, dirty white and peachy tones would give her a stronger glow if she was a real Deep Warm. That said, the only thing certain is that she's definitely a DEEP. 
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Dark hair flatters Kim K best, and blond hair has a "wishy washy" effect on her without the fake tan (to compare; look at the top image where she has the same "pale" skin). If she truly was a DEEP WARM, blond would have worked a little better, even though all deeps are best with deep hair.
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Kim K is a DEEP COOL neutral, which means that she is right smack in the middle between cold and warm. Her sister Kourtney is a proper DEEP WARM, and she looks great in all the DEEP WARM tones, but KIM seem to struggle a little with colors on both sides.  
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If she was as warm as her sister and a proper DEEP WARM, then these nude and ivory beige colors would have looked better on her. The purer whites seem to give her the sharp look she needs
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A DEEP WARM would not look as fresh in an all black outfit, or this pure white, without makeup. 
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A DEEP neutral, looks good in both gold an silver, sometimes depending on level of warmth in tan. 
The same goes for pure colors such as green. Since she is above all DEEP, all deep greens will be great.
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The first green dress has a little blue in it, and the bottom olive green dress, has a little yellow in it. But they are both deep-pure, and not muddy or muted.
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Icy greens and jewel tones, are also great, but keep it pure, deep, dark or icy. 
The bright green below, is way too bright for her. She is flowing into WARM, and not into CLEAR. 
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DEEP COOL true
(Sandra Bullock)

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Sandra Bullock is a real pure DEEP COOL. The way you know is that she can use deep colors, and look natural and balanced in an all dark and deep makeup, without looking goth. Also, she looks better with dark hair than light. Light hair makes her features disappear, and her skin tone a little flat.  You can also tell that silver is better on her than gold. Even though gold "should" be good with a tan, the pale skin and silver is overall better. 
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DEEP COOL true
(Lucy Liu)
Is flowing into DEEP WARM, because she has a slightly warmer skin tone. But her hair and eyes are dominantly cool, so icy blue and silver is great on her. 
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A true DEEP and COOL, can make harsh, dark, pure and icy colors look fresh and balanced.
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Eva Longoria might seem warm because of her olive skin, and she can certainly flow a little into DEEP WARM, but only someone with a cool undertone can look this fresh in all icy silver look. 
Just as, DEEP COOL true, America Ferrera makes deep red look natural and elegant. If you have dark colors, you can handle dark colors. This is because your contrast level is equally as strong.
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Fair skinned, Anne Hathaway is also a DEEP COOL true. And because of her fair skin, pure white can sometimes not give her as much of a "wow" effect as on the other DEEP COOL's. Any DEEP COOL needs contrast.
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A DEEP COOL can still look good in gold, even though they aren't flowing into DEEP WARM, because first of all, gold and silver are somewhat neutral tones to begin with. Also, all DEEP's are a mix between earthy warm and cold and dark. In other words, a mix between CLEAR COOL and MUTED WARM. 

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Kelly Rowland is proving that she is a DEEP COOL dark, because no one from groups that are not cool or sufficiently high enough in contrast could look this great in that purplish pink, vibrant shade.
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DEEP COOL dark
(Oprah Winfrey)

Because of her deep skin and dark hair, her overall coloring has less natural contrast, and therefore needs to use the colors slightly differently to achieve the same flattering look.
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Oprah Winfrey looks good in all the vivid, deep, and pure DEEP colors, even many of the warmer ones. 
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But not all DEEP WARM hues flatter the dominantly cool DEEP COOL dark, even when flowing into DEEP WARM. 
Ivory, peachy pink, rust, forest green, and dusty warm purple are just too warm or dirty, muted and earthy for a COOL. 
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Another DEEP COOL dark, Naomi Campbell; looks her best in silver, and you can tell that it gives her a bright and fresh glow. Being DEEP with a somewhat neutral skin tone, the gold is fine too, but just not as good as the silver.

TO DETERMINE YOUR COLOR GROUP, CLICK HERE
FOR THE RULES OF WEARING COLORS OVERVIEW, CLICK HERE

(My sources are "Color me beautiful", thechicfashionista.com, http://visual.ly/, http://www.truth-is-beauty.com/, the 12 seasons system, the 16 season system, and the basic four element system. I have made alterations and created my own system. Photos in this post are random pictures from Tumbler, Pinterest or borrowed from Google. Unknown source.)

4 Comments
JR
27/6/2017 11:45:28 pm

I am so totally confused ! 😲 lol

(Very interesting article, though)

Reply
KSA
4/11/2020 06:24:58 pm

Oh My! This article is a revelation. I relate to Ginnifer Goodwin. I look awful in bright white. I also need to splash some gray with my bright colors to make them wearable. Icy pale colors are a yes. White based pastels are a NO! SoI am a Deep Soft Winter

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
21/11/2020 12:14:38 pm

Hi, KSA! That makes me so happy to hear.
Also, my sister is the exact same. So glad you found this post helpful. Made my day.

Xxx, Sun.

Reply
Lani
20/4/2022 12:16:04 pm

Hello! I love your system, so far its been the best fit for me. Still having a bit of trouble but
I’m fairly confident I am a Deep Cool Neutral but really dark colors, hair & make up typically over power me and can look a bit goth. So I’m not sure… Yellows in general are really hard for me, I can get away with a sort of rich pure/golden yellow or a really “cold yellow” but it’s still kinda hit or miss. I can handle a pretty wide range of both warm & cool colors, rich and vibrant is best. Soft muted colors are an absolute no, creams, beiges, light tans … “fleshy” colors are horrible. I can do cool & warm browns as long as they are rich and on the deeper side. Cool deeper greys are also really great. I can do white, soft white, ivory & bone all pretty well but not icy white or white with too much pink/yellow tint. Black is pretty good but I think I prefer the dark cold greys & rich deep browns. Basically, cooler seem to suit me a tiny bit better but I can wear both but I need crisp rich vibrant colors, I can do both dark & bright but I can also be sensitive to too dark or too bright … soft/muted/muddy & icy/pastels & yellows are REALLY difficult. 🤷🏽‍♀️😅

As far as my appearance goes, I am mixed - Native American, Jewish & German. I am naturally tan but there is still a drastic difference between my “winter” shade & “summer” shade. My skin tone, according to the ONE foundation I have ever found to match my skin, is warm olive. As a really young child I had really dark hair and eyes as I got older my eyes became more a rich brown & my hair is sort of a medium-dark brown and I get natural golden highlights in the summer/sun. (I can see both warm and cool in my hair and eye color) … I CAN NOT do lighter or blonde hair tho, and red/copper browns aren’t bad but can feel a bit warm or meh on me, really dark hair overwhelms me and can look a bit goth. Randomly, magenta hair works surprisingly well on me tho lol.

Anyway, I feel like I just want on a full rant. 😅

Reply



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    ETHICAL AND PERSONALIZED STYLE, FOR A "GOOD FOR YOU" WARDROBE.

    Idealist style is a website and "slow blog" dedicated to ethical fashion and personalized style, including tips on how to find your very own "slow fashion" style by using color analysis, the body types system, and other slow fashion tips.»
    Created by an idealistic fashion designer, stylist, writer, and illustrator with a passion for "good for you" fashion. 
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