Cellar
Luxury, understated, premium · Aesthetary’s guidance, not research
Dark, warm and quiet; nothing gold, nothing glossy.
Dark variant
#1A1917, canvas, 65%. #232220, surface, 15%. #ECE7DF, text and primary action, 14%. #ABA399, muted text, 4%. #7FA38F, accent, 2%.
Suggested proportions
- 65% Canvas
- 15% Surface
- 12% Text
- 4% Muted text
- 2% Primary action
- 2% Accent
In use
New
Two fittings. One suit.
By appointment, above the bookshop.
Request a fittingCloth book
Your second fitting
Ready from 21 June.
Preferred day
Sunday
We are closed on Sundays.
Fitting confirmed.
Using it well
21 color pairs are approved for use. 4 pairs are not for text. Each is listed under Contrast, by use.
Roles
14 colors, their HEX values, what each is for and where it comes from
| Role | Color | Use | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canvas | #1A1917 | The page ground. | Aesthetary’s guidance |
| Surface | #232220 | Cards, panels and fields. | Aesthetary’s guidance |
| Text | #ECE7DF | All reading text and headings. | Aesthetary’s guidance |
| Muted text | #ABA399 | Secondary text and captions. | Aesthetary’s guidance |
| Primary action | #ECE7DF | The primary action: a bone-white button. | Aesthetary’s guidance |
| Text on primary | #1A1917 | Label on the primary action. | Aesthetary’s guidance |
| Secondary action | #ECE7DF | Secondary action: label and outline. | Aesthetary’s guidance |
| Border | #34322E | Hairlines and dividers. Decorative only; never a field’s only edge. | Aesthetary’s guidance |
| Input border | #75706A | The edge of an input, where it is the only boundary. | Aesthetary’s guidance |
| Accent | #7FA38F | Verdigris: a fitting confirmed, a garment ready. Used rarely. | Aesthetary’s guidance |
| Focus | #ECE7DF | Focus ring, 2px, offset from the control. | Aesthetary’s guidance |
| Success | #6FBF8E | Confirmation, always with a word or icon. | Aesthetary’s guidance |
| Warning | #E8B04B | Warnings, always with a word or icon. | Aesthetary’s guidance |
| Error | #F08A7E | Errors, always with a word or icon. | Aesthetary’s guidance |
Contrast, by use
21 approved pairs, all passing · 4 not for text
WCAG 2 ratios, computed from the colors. Text needs 4.5:1; large text (24px, or 18.66px bold) and non-text (a focus ring, a field’s only edge, an icon) need 3:1. Only the pairs listed as approved are recommended.
Approved pairs
| Pair | Contrast | Needs | For | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Text on Canvas | 14.27:1 | 4.5:1 | TextReading text | Passes |
| Text on Surface | 12.92:1 | 4.5:1 | TextReading text | Passes |
| Muted text on Canvas | 7.05:1 | 4.5:1 | TextSecondary text, captions | Passes |
| Muted text on Surface | 6.38:1 | 4.5:1 | TextSecondary text, captions | Passes |
| Text on primary on Primary action | 14.27:1 | 4.5:1 | TextLabel on the primary action | Passes |
| Secondary action on Canvas | 14.27:1 | 4.5:1 | TextSecondary action: label and outline | Passes |
| Secondary action on Surface | 12.92:1 | 4.5:1 | TextSecondary action: label and outline | Passes |
| Primary action on Canvas | 14.27:1 | 4.5:1 | TextLinks and small text in the action color | Passes |
| Primary action on Surface | 12.92:1 | 4.5:1 | TextLinks and small text in the action color | Passes |
| Focus on Canvas | 14.27:1 | 3:1 | Non-text (3:1)Focus ring | Passes |
| Focus on Surface | 12.92:1 | 3:1 | Non-text (3:1)Focus ring | Passes |
| Input border on Canvas | 3.58:1 | 3:1 | Non-text (3:1)Input edge, the only boundary of a field | Passes |
| Input border on Surface | 3.24:1 | 3:1 | Non-text (3:1)Input edge, the only boundary of a field | Passes |
| Success on Canvas | 7.96:1 | 4.5:1 | TextStatus message, always with a word or icon | Passes |
| Success on Surface | 7.21:1 | 4.5:1 | TextStatus message, always with a word or icon | Passes |
| Warning on Canvas | 8.99:1 | 4.5:1 | TextStatus message, always with a word or icon | Passes |
| Warning on Surface | 8.13:1 | 4.5:1 | TextStatus message, always with a word or icon | Passes |
| Error on Canvas | 7.23:1 | 4.5:1 | TextStatus message, always with a word or icon | Passes |
| Error on Surface | 6.54:1 | 4.5:1 | TextStatus message, always with a word or icon | Passes |
| Accent on Canvas | 6.31:1 | 4.5:1 | TextAccent text | Passes |
| Accent on Surface | 5.71:1 | 4.5:1 | TextAccent text | Passes |
Not for text
- Border on Canvas 1.37:1. Not for text. Fill or decoration only. Under 3:1: a fill or decoration only. Never text, an icon or a field’s only edge.
- Border on Surface 1.24:1. Not for text. Fill or decoration only. Under 3:1: a fill or decoration only. Never text, an icon or a field’s only edge.
- Input border on Canvas 3.58:1. Not for text. Non-text only. An edge or ring, not a text color.
- Input border on Surface 3.24:1. Not for text. Non-text only. An edge or ring, not a text color.
Light variant
#F2F0EC, canvas, 58%. #FAF9F7, surface, 18%. #1A1917, text and primary action, 17%. #5C5750, muted text, 4%. #3F6B5C, accent, 3%.
Suggested proportions
- 58% Canvas
- 18% Surface
- 12% Text
- 5% Primary action
- 4% Muted text
- 3% Accent
In use
New
Two fittings. One suit.
By appointment, above the bookshop.
Request a fittingCloth book
Your second fitting
Ready from 21 June.
Preferred day
Sunday
We are closed on Sundays.
Fitting confirmed.
Using it well
21 color pairs are approved for use. 4 pairs are not for text. Each is listed under Contrast, by use.
Roles
14 colors, their HEX values, what each is for and where it comes from
| Role | Color | Use | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canvas | #F2F0EC | The page ground. | Aesthetary’s guidance |
| Surface | #FAF9F7 | Cards, panels and fields. | Aesthetary’s guidance |
| Text | #1A1917 | All reading text and headings. | Aesthetary’s guidance |
| Muted text | #5C5750 | Secondary text and captions. | Aesthetary’s guidance |
| Primary action | #1A1917 | The primary action, and links where it passes as text. | Aesthetary’s guidance |
| Text on primary | #FAF9F7 | Label on the primary action. | Aesthetary’s guidance |
| Secondary action | #1A1917 | Secondary action: label and outline. | Aesthetary’s guidance |
| Border | #D6D2CA | Hairlines and dividers. Decorative only; never a field’s only edge. | Aesthetary’s guidance |
| Input border | #8A857D | The edge of an input, where it is the only boundary. | Aesthetary’s guidance |
| Accent | #3F6B5C | Verdigris, deepened for paper. | Aesthetary’s guidance |
| Focus | #1A1917 | Focus ring, 2px, offset from the control. | Aesthetary’s guidance |
| Success | #1E7A46 | Confirmation, always with a word or icon. | Aesthetary’s guidance |
| Warning | #8A5A00 | Warnings, always with a word or icon. | Aesthetary’s guidance |
| Error | #B3261E | Errors, always with a word or icon. | Aesthetary’s guidance |
Contrast, by use
21 approved pairs, all passing · 4 not for text
WCAG 2 ratios, computed from the colors. Text needs 4.5:1; large text (24px, or 18.66px bold) and non-text (a focus ring, a field’s only edge, an icon) need 3:1. Only the pairs listed as approved are recommended.
Approved pairs
| Pair | Contrast | Needs | For | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Text on Canvas | 15.44:1 | 4.5:1 | TextReading text | Passes |
| Text on Surface | 16.70:1 | 4.5:1 | TextReading text | Passes |
| Muted text on Canvas | 6.29:1 | 4.5:1 | TextSecondary text, captions | Passes |
| Muted text on Surface | 6.80:1 | 4.5:1 | TextSecondary text, captions | Passes |
| Text on primary on Primary action | 16.70:1 | 4.5:1 | TextLabel on the primary action | Passes |
| Secondary action on Canvas | 15.44:1 | 4.5:1 | TextSecondary action: label and outline | Passes |
| Secondary action on Surface | 16.70:1 | 4.5:1 | TextSecondary action: label and outline | Passes |
| Primary action on Canvas | 15.44:1 | 4.5:1 | TextLinks and small text in the action color | Passes |
| Primary action on Surface | 16.70:1 | 4.5:1 | TextLinks and small text in the action color | Passes |
| Focus on Canvas | 15.44:1 | 3:1 | Non-text (3:1)Focus ring | Passes |
| Focus on Surface | 16.70:1 | 3:1 | Non-text (3:1)Focus ring | Passes |
| Input border on Canvas | 3.22:1 | 3:1 | Non-text (3:1)Input edge, the only boundary of a field | Passes |
| Input border on Surface | 3.48:1 | 3:1 | Non-text (3:1)Input edge, the only boundary of a field | Passes |
| Success on Canvas | 4.70:1 | 4.5:1 | TextStatus message, always with a word or icon | Passes |
| Success on Surface | 5.08:1 | 4.5:1 | TextStatus message, always with a word or icon | Passes |
| Warning on Canvas | 5.21:1 | 4.5:1 | TextStatus message, always with a word or icon | Passes |
| Warning on Surface | 5.63:1 | 4.5:1 | TextStatus message, always with a word or icon | Passes |
| Error on Canvas | 5.74:1 | 4.5:1 | TextStatus message, always with a word or icon | Passes |
| Error on Surface | 6.21:1 | 4.5:1 | TextStatus message, always with a word or icon | Passes |
| Accent on Canvas | 5.32:1 | 4.5:1 | TextAccent text | Passes |
| Accent on Surface | 5.75:1 | 4.5:1 | TextAccent text | Passes |
Not for text
- Border on Canvas 1.32:1. Not for text. Fill or decoration only. Under 3:1: a fill or decoration only. Never text, an icon or a field’s only edge.
- Border on Surface 1.43:1. Not for text. Fill or decoration only. Under 3:1: a fill or decoration only. Never text, an icon or a field’s only edge.
- Input border on Canvas 3.22:1. Not for text. Non-text only. An edge or ring, not a text color.
- Input border on Surface 3.48:1. Not for text. Non-text only. An edge or ring, not a text color.
What makes it characteristic
Premium by restraint: a warm near-black, a bone-white type and one verdigris for the few things that need marking. It is dark first; the light variant is the same voice by day.
Avoids: Black and gold; a serif on beige.
Related
Shares a principle with (Aesthetary’s guidance)Editorial Modernism
Related palettesBlack Blade, Powder and Ink, Late Edition