Snow Fairy Color Palette - Ethereal Winter Hues
The Snow Fairy color palette, with its soft and gentle hues, was inspired by a piece of clothing I saw: a dramatic floor-length felt coat in a grey and silver gradient with hints of light blue and lilac. It was stunning, and the thought popped into my head, “That’s what a snow fairy would wear!” Mind you, I don’t even know what a snow fairy is—and they probably don’t need jackets!—but I loved the name so I kept it.
The power of this palette lies in its subtlety. The colors are light, airy and ethereal. Silver, light grey and light blue represent snow and the chill of winter, while lilac adds a hint of fantasy and magic. Think of the soft shimmer of moonlight on freshly fallen snow; it's almost glittery and that's what I wanted to capture with this colorway.
Shown in the collage, starting from upper left and moving clockwise: Swirl Pendant, Long Feathered Leaves Earrings, Pirouette Bracelet, Hepatica Bracelet, Japanese Cross Earrings, Interwoven Bracelet
Snow Fairy Colors
- main colors: silver, light grey, light blue and lilac
- substitutions or extras: matte white, dark grey, lighter blue, pink, dusty rose, lavender, orchid
I like adding matte white (aka “snow”!) to this palette, and occasionally will also use a matte finish for some of the other colors to provide a noticeable contrast against the sheen of the metallics, allowing the shiny links to take on a touch of "fairy sparkle".
I’ve included several extras/substitutions because the pastel dye lots are particularly unreliable. Often a batch that is supposed to be lilac (pink undertone) winds up lavender (blue undertone), or both colors are mixed together. Some pastel dye lots are so light, it’s hard to see the color at all until they are placed next to a silver or white link.
Because the dye lots can vary so much, this colorway can be tricky for designs that require multiple link sizes, as it can be difficult to achieve a consistent look across different sizes of rings. Sometimes the variations work beautifully, but at other times, they might clash or disrupt the intended design.
The color variations also give each piece its own unique character. This means the colors in a matching necklace and earring set may not be exactly identical, but as the entire palette is soft and subtle, they will still have a cohesive look if worn together.
I may use a variety of pastel pinks, blues and purples, but I avoid adding light green/seafoam. Nothing against them, they just take the palette in a different direction, towards my "Cosmic Unicorn" colorway (also pretty, but a different look). I stay away from dark shades, except for dark grey, which I use sparingly to provide contrast and or to highlight the structure of a particular intricate weave.
Love these colors? Any item in my shop can be customized with the Snow Fairy colorway, or you can create your own masterpiece with a custom DIY kit from Blue Buddha Boutique in this palette. Contact me and let's bring your vision to life!
Follow this series on the dedicated Color Palette board on Pinterest.
