Royal Robbins Color Descriptions
All computers are not
created equal, and they don't all show colors the same. Differences in video cards, software, monitor types and monitor settings can all affect the way that your computer displays colors, so please use the following descriptions to help you determine the true appearance of a color.
A note on Heathered Colors: Heathered colors have white threads mixed into the fabric and are lighter than the base colors shown below the product image.
Aluminum A pale off-white with mist-like gray hues. Similar to Eggshell, but cooler. Lighter than Sand, and with none of the beige overtones.
Apple Green Like a candied Granny Smith apple, a medium green with a warming yellow influence. Similar to Olive, but brighter.
Aquifer A light sea-green, faintly muted with gray. A lighter version of Lake; similar to Riviera, but paler and more subdued.
Arctic Blue A pale blue with warm hints of green and gray. In the Highland Chenille, this color becomes more luminous, like a sky blue.
Atlantic A moderately dark blue-green the color of ocean swells off the Florida Keyes. Less green than Loden, more green than Lagoon, but similar to both.
Aubergine A subdued purple with red overtones, so dark as to appear almost black.
Azure A lighter shade of medium blue with a slightly frosty brightness, like the sky behind high, wispy cirrus clouds.
Bark A dark, neutral blend of gray and brown, like a lighter Tundra. Less green than Olive, but more than Dark Khaki.
Basil The brown of dried kitchen herbs, with a dash of gray and the faintest traces of dusty green. Similar to Bison, but more silvery. Slightly lighter than Tundra..
Bison A warm golden brown the color of milk chocolate or sunlit buffalo hide. Several shades darker than Brown Sugar, richer and with more yellow than Bark.
Black A neutral jet black.
Bluegrass A dark teal, more blue than Olive and more green than Bluesteel.
Bluejay The vivid hue of jay feathers, slightly darker than Azure.
Blueprint The dark blue of a moonlit night sky, reminiscent of the architectural drawing material of the same name. Slightly lighter than Ink, and with the barest mention of purple in comparison to Navy.
Bluesteel A slate-like blend of blue and gray, lighter than Navy and darker than Winter Sky.
Boysenberry The rich color of crushed berries, a bold purple with suggestions of magenta.
Brick A sun warmed and weathered color, more brown than red and mellowed with golden tones.
Brown Sugar A warm brown with shades of gold. Contains more bronze than Chamois and less orange than Nutmeg.
Butter The bright, creamy pale yellow of freshly churned butter.
Butterscotch A caramel color with the yellow muted into the golden browns of baked goods and confections. Similar to Sesame, but more golden.
Cactus A medium green tempered with yellow and gray. Similar to a muted Apple Green.
Caper Green A muted, silvery green that resembles the color of uncooked capers. Lighter and slightly more yellow than Olive.
Carbon A very dark gray with a wash of teal. More blue than Evergreen. Very similar to, but more green than Navy.
Carrot The light, bright color of young carrots pulled fresh from moist earth and scrubbed til they gleam. Brighter (but not much lighter) than Pumpkin.
Cedar A vibrant reddish brown, like sunlight on richly burnished wood. Similar to Red Rock, but lighter and with more orange.
Chamois A mix of yellow and beige, like Khaki in a sunbeam. Similar to a pale Brown Sugar.
Charcoal A very dark gray, several shades lighter than Black.
Chicory The cool, dark brown of a chicory nut hull. Similar in depth to a Navy or Evergreen, but in the brown spectrum.
Citron A light, spring-like green, paler than Lime and resembling a blend of Leaf and Pale Yellow.
Claret A deep mix of red and violet that is darker than Pomegranate and similar to Port, containing more purple than either.
Coral The pale orangey-pink of lighter sections of the reef, illuminated by filtered sunbeams. More faded, lighter and moderately more pink than Carrot. Between Rosy Cheeks and Sweet Pea in terms of lightness, and containing more orange than either.
Cornflower A medium blue with a faintly luminous lavender quality.
Daiquiri The bright pink of crushed strawberries and ice, lighter than Garnet but several shades deeper than Petal.
Dark cloud A medium color of predominantly grey, with blue and purple shades, like an angry thunderhead approaching on a summer day. Very similar to Periwinkle, but slightly warmer and more grey.
Dark Coral A dark rose with overtones of orange and brown. Slightly darker than Rhubarb.
Dark Khaki A dark yellowish brown with tones of green. Darker and more green than Khaki, lighter and more yellow than Tundra.
Dusty purple The warm, silvery finish of a late-summer grape, sun-faded and still hanging on the vine. A fairly dark purple, but muted down to just before the point the color becomes a warm, silvery gray. Similar to Rosy Cheeks but darker.
Dutch Blue A medium blue with overtones of gray and purple, like the deep blue of the sky reflected in lake water.
Eggshell An off-white with subtle yellow overtones, like the shell of a freshly laid egg.
Elderberry A very dark purple, with warm, reddish tones that verge on a rich brown.
Espresso A dark, seal brown, like the dry grounds of a full-bodied coffee.
Evergreen The dark green of shadows in a pine forest. An almost black color, very similar to Navy but in the green spectrum.
Faded Blue A luminous medium blue with a purple cast. Lighter than Dutch Blue.
Flamingo The cheerful signature hue of the flamingo's brightest plumage, now attainable without a steady diet of shrimp.
Foliage An earthy green with strong brown and gray qualities, like fallen leaves or dusty undergrowth. Similar to Olive but with more yellow.
Garnet A darker, more jewel-like crimson than Daiquiri. A hint of purple brings out a rich color and is slightly more noticeable in the sweater yarns like Pampero.
Glacier Blue A pale blue with faint overtones of purple and gray. Darker than Mist.
Gold Nugget A fiery yellow with red and bronze tints, like fall foliage in Vermont.
Gray A medium gray, reminscent of camp fire ashes. Substantially darker than Sand and much lighter than Charcoal. Similar to Khaki without the yellow tones.
Green Tea A pale, warm green with a strong component of yellow.
Guacamole The warm green of well-ripened avocado mixed with plenty of sour cream and salsa. Similar to Olive but with livelier golden tones, remarkably similar to a green version of Brown Sugar.
445 Habanero A changeable color, depending on the fabric and colors surrounding it. Next to browns or cool colors, Habanero looks like a dark, earthy orange; against yellows and reds it seems to be a light brown with major red and yellow components. Darker and more reddish than Persimmon, it runs slightly more to brown in the cottons and more to melon in nylon.
273 Honeydew The creamy, green off-white of chilled honeydew rind. Similar to Butter, but in the green spectrum.
605 Huckleberry A silvery, jam-like purple. Similar to Iced Lilac but much darker.
712 Hydro Blue The straight, cool blue of Lake Tahoe or deep sky. Several shades lighter than Dutch Blue, very similar to Cornflower, but without the purple.
651 Iced Lilac The pale lavender of thistles, brightened with a frosty hint of pink.
069 Iguana A warm, medium gray like the hide of an iguana basking on a seacliff rock. A faint hint of green makes it warmer than Pewter, but Iguana is decidedly more solid gray than either Khaki or Light Olive. Similar to Shitake, but cooler.
689 Ink A very dark blue, like the night sky in the east when the last hint of daylight still plays along the horizon to the west. Similar to Navy but with a brighter, more clearly blue quality.
037 Jet Black A vibrantly dark black with a trace of cool, blue tones. Not as neutral as Black.
259 Julep Like mint leaves blended in crushed ice. A sedate green toned down with plenty of grey, but more lively than Light Olive.
250 Key Lime A muted green with yellow tones. Darker than Stem, and with more yellow than Light Olive.
059 Khaki The yellowish brown of classic chinos - a medium shade similar to Sand with olive and gray overtones.
734 Lagoon A pale blue similar to Glacier Blue, but with a slightly grayer cast.
797 Lagoon The deep blue-green of sparklingly clear ocean water in shadow. A darker version of Surf, similar to Atlantic but richer and not as green.
867 Lake A medium blue-green, with a sobering dose of gray. A darker version of Aquifer; similar to Riviera but with more blue-gray.
180 Leaf An earthy, medium green with elements of gray, silver and brown. Similar to Light Olive, but warmed with yellow and possessing less gray. Considerably lighter than Loden, but in the same spectrum.
199 Light Olive A mix of green and gray, several shades lighter than Olive.
186 Loden A rich, foresty green, the color of pine needles. Loden is to green what Navy is to blue. Less brown than Tundra.
394 Mango A vibrant light orange with a predominantly yellow base and rosy glow. Somewhat muted in the Huntington Beach Peached Poly.
194 Marsh Green A very dark green, approaching dark gray and lacking brown overtones.
492 Mars Red The bright, vivid and unadulterated red of candy apples, lipstick, and fast cars.
470 Melon A medium, flesh toned pink with faint tones of orange. Similar to Dark Coral but lighter.
738 Midnight The fathomless blue of deepest night. Or is it a cool, powerful Black? You'll need great lighting and specific colors to contrast against to tell the difference. A dark navy next to lighter blues, virtually black next to yellows.
766 Mineral Blue A dark blue similar to Navy, but with more green. In the Weathered Twill, the fabric is faded slightly, resulting in a grayer color.
931 Mist A pale, icy blue. In the Comfort Stretch Jersey, the effect is an icy blue off-white. The color is a pale but distinct powder blue in Aspen Fleece and slightly more vivid in Cotton.
020 Natural A subdued, unbleached white, like the color of muslin.
728 Navy A very dark, cool blue that almost appears black.
740 Niagara A medium blue like shadows on ice, similar to Bluesteel but richer and with less gray. More blue than Winter Sky.
695 Nile Blue A cool, medium blue with subdued tones that run almost to gray, like slow moving waters reflecting a slate sky. Similar to Sky Blue, but slightly darker and more silvery.
357 Nutmeg A rich, medium brown, with orange and bronze overtones.
183 Olive A muted mix of green and gray, like the color of a Greek olive.
700 Pale Blue A soft periwinkle blue with gray and lavender tones. A paler version of Faded Blue.
800 Pale Yellow A light buttery color, so bright as to be distinctly yellow rather than an off-white, but paler and less golden than Yellow.
611 Pansy A sweet, luminous purple with cool blue hues, like the colorful, distinctive faces of the flower for which it's named. Like Periwinkle with more punch or Boysenberry without the scarlet.
656 Periwinkle A soft blue with a wistful purple touch; brighter than Dark Cloud, warmer than Azure.
460 Persimmon A medium orange containing more red and brown tones than the orange fruit, for a slightly more subdued color. Like a bright Rhubarb, but with more yellow.
503 Petal The classic, delicate pink of rosebuds, pale but not washed out.
732 Pewter A medium gray given a neutral boost of vigor with a hint of blue-green. Pewter's grey looks slightly bluer next to Iguana, slightly greener next to Periwinkle, and distinctly teal next to the strict gray of Shark.
329 Pineapple A brilliantly warm yellow that will remind you of the taste of hand picked, sun-ripened pineapples under a tropical sun, but that is more vivid than the color of the real fruit. Warm, but not orangey.
598 Plum A very dark purple. Similar to Elderberry but with slightly more blue and magenta.
520 Pomegranate A rich, medium red like the inside of the fruit with the same name. Lighter than Crimson, less pink than Coral. The Highland Chenille Pomegranate is notably brighter, becoming almost a dark pink.
448 Port A warm, chocolatey burgundy, similar to very dark red wines.
654 Purple Sage A silvery purple so muted as to almost appear to be a warm gray. Darker and less blue than Lavender.
462 Pumpkin A warm, muted orange the color of pumpkin spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg. Darker than either Carrot or Coral, with more brown to it than either.
491 Radish A blazingly rich scarlet, similar to Red but with magenta facets, like crushed strawberries.
052 Raw White A creamy white with yellow tones. Brighter than Sand.
496 Red A rich, blood red.
468 Red Rock A very dark, sanguine red with chocolate tones.
499 Redwood A rich, brick red with brown tones. Similar to Pomegranate but with less scarlet.
506 Rhubarb An orangey, muted melon, slightly darker and more red than Persimmon. In Vintage Corduroy, the color is paler with a more flesh-toned result.
800 Riviera A medium blue-green teal, darker than Aquifer. Similar to Lake, but richer and livelier.
504 Rosy Cheeks The slightly gray, subtle rose of shadows on a woman's face. Similar to a medium shade of Sweet Pea. Lighter and less grey than Dusty Purple.
575 Russet A deep, persimmon-like red with earthy browns mixed in. Slightly more orange than Red Rock.
038 Sand A pale, neutral beige with more gray than Raw White.
590 Sangria A fuschia-like purple. Similar to Elderberry, but with more magenta and brightness.
043 Sesame The nutty, glowing brown of whole grains and seeds, carrying a breath of green. More golden than Sand, similar to Brown Sugar but lighter.
029 Shark The slightly warm but mostly neutral medium gray of shark skin.
065 Shitake The subtle brownish-gray of shitake mushroom caps. A fairly neutral gray, warmer and faintly more brown than Shark, slightly darker than Sand, lighter and more gray than Bark.
704 Slate A medium gray with subtle blue and green overtones.
230 Stem A bright green with predominantly yellow tones, like new spring growth.
474 Sunset A vivid orange with a reddish cast, like a ripening nectarine.
328 Sunshine A bright, medium yellow with orange tones, like a freshly squeezed glass of orange juice.
753 Surf A luminous, medium-light aquamarine like the startlingly clear waters of the Caribbean. Substantially more green than Nile Blue. Related to Atlantic but considerably warmer and brighter.
501 Sweet Pea The delicate, pale pink of sweet pea petals. Much lighter than Rosy Cheeks, similar to Coral but a much cooler hue of pink.
522 Thistle A soft, pale purple like a lavender with a slightly rosier hue.
489 Tomato The vivid crimson of a well-ripened Beefsteak tomato, with hints of orange and scarlet. Similar to Garnet but more intense. Also similar to Red but with a suggestion of purple undertones
192 Tundra A warm, earthy mix of green and brown with green prevailing. Contains more brown than Olive and more green than Marsh Green.
610 Violet A warm mix of purple and rose.
010 White A crisp, snowy white.
901 Willow A spring-like mix of yellow and green. Similar to Caper Green with slightly more yellow for a brighter color.
691 Winter Sky A cold, pale blue, similar to a sky blue but with a suggestion of gray.
302 Yellow A bold, sunny yellow enriched but not made orangey with a touch of red.
516 Zinfandel A deep, warm purple with ruddy tones similar to a red wine.
