12 luxury color palettes

Gold on midnight is the private-banking cue; the mint accent keeps it from feeling old-money stuffy.

Espresso and caramel: a dark-roast palette that photographs latte art beautifully.

Black on bone with a whisper of gold: the runway default that lets garments carry the color.

Bronze on charcoal signals premium listings; the silver accent handles secondary detail without adding color.

Black, gold and one deep red — the prestige cosmetics counter: all restraint and a single lipstick.

Champagne gold on ink-navy with a violet undertone — hotels and spirits use it because it reads expensive at any size.

Burgundy and plum on near-black with a brass accent — theatre, wine, and anything that wants to feel after-dark.

Cranberry, pine and brass on a charcoal night — the holiday palette without the clichés, because the surface is cold.

Cyan and mid-blue on abyss navy with a foam highlight — the ocean at depth; the darker the surface, the brighter the water.

Emerald, amethyst and ruby on velvet-black — the jewel-tone trio; the surface must be dark or the stones go plastic.

Deep sapphire and gold with a teal — old-money jewel tones on an ivory ground; heraldic without a crest.

Burgundy, gold and a blush on warm white — the evening wedding set; burgundy carries the formality, blush the softness.