The reluctant Bright Winter - Nordic Simplicity (2024)

Getting a Bright Winter color palette in your hand can be terrifying.

I see quite a few Bright Winters. Their reactions when their colour tone is revealed can roughly be divided into two categories: the enthusiastic and the reluctant. Here's a couple of reactions:

I don't want to use the screaming Bright Winter colours, I want simple colours!

email from a client

...but these are circus colours!

a freshly minted Bright Winter, looking at her fan

There is, of course, the client who exuberantly embraces her colours, squeals with glee at finally being able to unchain all her favourite colours, and hops out the door with her fan held like a beacon, giggling as she skips to her car.

But there is also the client who squints suspiciously at her face in the drapes, almost refusing to believe what she sees in the mirror. She stares at me like a deer in headlights after we have concluded that she is Bright Winter. She handles her Bright Winter colour palette as if it was contaminated nuclear waste and tells me she needs some time to let it sink. And that she will appreciate some advice on how to work these colours into her wardrobe.

This blog post is for the suspicious ones, the introverts, the grudgingly accepting Bright Winters.

And I understand. I have been that client, the second category, the reluctant Bright Winter. Not wanting to let go of the safe, dark, sensible colours I had been calling my own, but on the other hand grudgingly admitting that the brighter colours made me look younger, fresher, more approachable.

Now, we could say that it is all about fear of being noticed. But the longing for wearing simple colours is not as simple as that (pun intended). We cannot cure a simplistic, minimalist Scandinavian by simply saying “Snap out of it, don’t be afraid of showing who you are”.

So what are simple colours? There are no "simple colours" in the Bright Winter color palette, are there?

In Norway, being simple is a complement. When we call something simple it is not a bad thing.
It's simple as in “clean and uncomplicated”.

When I think of simple in this context, it's kind of like the shaker tune Simple Gifts:

Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free
'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.

(Shaker dancing tune by Joshua Brackett)

So let us see if we can find the place just right for the reluctant Bright Winter, and see if that may lead us to the valley of love and delight in our colours.

There are many ways to invent your unique version of your colour tone.

The trick is to stay within the boundaries of your colour tone, without compromising the essence of it.

Bright Winter wisdom

The essence of Bright Winter is neutral/cool, bright colours, and high contrast.

Here are 4 baby steps and one graduate level project:

Embrace the neutrals

Really get to know your best neutral colours and use them. Bright Winter neutrals are charcoal grey, ebony, silver grey (often found in the silver of the grey haired Bright Winter), cool taupe, dark espresso brown (often found in the deepest hair colour of the dark haired Bright Winter), bright navy, white. Yes, navy can be used as a neutral. Bright Winter's neutrals are neutral, not too warm or too cool. With the taupes, it is better to lean cool than to choose a warm beige version. The Bright Winter neutrals are clear, not muddy.

Put together outfits using only neutrals

Make sure to use the highest possible contrast level:
Ebony with silver grey
Bright navy with cool taupe
Charcoal with silver
Black and white
Dark espresso brown with light grey

If the neutrals are clear, this will already lend a clarity and brightness to your features. Avoid combining dark with dark.

Use makeup in your colours

It is really worth your while to wear makeup in your colours:
Get a blush that is perfect for Bright Winter.
Invest in a perfect lipstick (and use it). Go for a sheer lipstick, it is easier to ease into your bright colours if the formula is sheer, not opaque.
It is amazing what the right makeup colours can do to lift a neutral outfit.

If you should happen to be a nail polish person, use nail polish in your best Bright Winter red and watch how that breathes life into the neutral outfit.

Introduce one bright accent to your outfit

When you look at your fan and see all those colours exploding in energetic intensity, it can be intimidating. However, nobody says that you have to wear them all at once.

One is enough, and in a very small portion.

But you do need this one, in order to sparkle like a true Bright Winter:

A necklace. A belt. A scarf. Earrings. A zipper in a jacket. A little sparkle. Something shiny. Shoes.

Graduate level project:

Are you ready for some gratuate level work?

Start wearing your colours in larger blocks in outfits.

Start with colours that you are comfortable with. Perhaps blues and greens are less scary than, say, pinks and reds.

So start within your comfort zone.

Bright Winter is an intriguing Season. I have special inside info just for you.

Do not compromise the brightness level of your colours just because you want to simplify them.

It is better to have an outfit built of neutrals with ONE little accent of a Bright Winter colour, than to compromise your season and wear muted, toned down, watered out colours in your clothing. That is not being simple. That is being off the mark.

These were my tips on how to express your season with Nordic simplicity, even if you are a reluctant Bright Winter.

About the author, Jorunn Hernes

Jorunn is a Certified Personal Colour Analyst, founder of Nordic Simplicity and Scandinavian Style Academy™, the fresh, simple, Scandinavian approach to getting dressed. Jorunn will avoid social settings with more than three people but can be lured out with snacks and the promise to talk about books.

Thank you, Jorunn. Yes. Moderately reluctant, possibly Low Contrast Bright Winter definitely fits the bill and is very comfortable and comforting to wear. Thank you so much.

I’m so glad you found it useful!
Reply

I’m struggling to figure out casual clothing for my bright winter husband. Can you offer any help? He won’t wear hats, even in the worst winter weather, nor ties except for weddings.

Hello Vicky, that’s a really interesting question. I myself find it very hard to inspire my husband to wear anything he hasn’t picked out himself…
Casual clothing for a Bright Winter man would be a really nice idea for a blog post, though. Even though we wouldn’t get our husbands to follow any kind of advice, we can play with ideas.
Reply

Greetings, readers. I'm here to share insights on the concept of a Bright Winter color palette, drawing from my extensive expertise in color analysis and personal style development. Over the years, I've worked with numerous clients, including many Bright Winters, witnessing their varied reactions and guiding them through the process of embracing their unique color tones.

The Bright Winter color palette is characterized by neutral/cool tones, bright colors, and high contrast. Clients often fall into two categories when discovering their Bright Winter identity: the enthusiastic embracers and the reluctant ones. Today, I want to focus on the latter—those who may initially resist the vibrant and energetic hues associated with Bright Winter.

One common concern among the reluctant Bright Winters is the fear of using what they perceive as "screaming" or "circus" colors. It's important to address this apprehension and guide individuals toward a more subtle integration of their palette. I've personally experienced this journey, having been a reluctant Bright Winter myself, clinging to safe, dark colors before realizing the transformative power of the brighter shades.

Now, let's delve into some practical steps for the introverts and the grudgingly accepting Bright Winters:

Embrace the Neutrals:
- Identify and embrace the best neutral colors for Bright Winter, including charcoal grey, ebony, silver grey, cool taupe, dark espresso brown, bright navy, and white.
- Ensure that the neutrals are clear and not too warm or too cool.
Outfit Combinations with Neutrals:
- Create outfits using only neutrals but with the highest possible contrast level.
- Pair ebony with silver grey, bright navy with cool taupe, charcoal with silver, black and white, dark espresso brown with light grey.
Use Makeup in Your Colors:
- Invest in makeup that complements the Bright Winter palette, including the perfect blush and sheer lipstick.
- Makeup in the right colors can enhance a neutral outfit and add brightness to your features.
Introduce One Bright Accent:
- Overcome the intimidation of a vibrant color palette by incorporating one bright accent into your outfit.
- This could be in the form of a necklace, belt, scarf, earrings, zipper in a jacket, or even colorful shoes.
Graduate Level Project:
- Gradually transition to wearing colors in larger blocks in your outfits.
- Start with colors you are comfortable with before exploring the full spectrum of Bright Winter hues.

Remember, simplicity doesn't mean compromising the brightness of your colors. It's about finding the right balance within your unique color tone. As a certified Personal Colour Analyst, I've seen these strategies work wonders for individuals transitioning to a Bright Winter palette.

Feel free to share your experiences or ask any questions. I'm here to guide you through the process of expressing your season with Nordic simplicity, even if you find yourself among the reluctant Bright Winters.