Seasonal color analysis / Summer / Soft Summer
Summer family
Soft Summer color palette
What colors suit Soft Summer?
Soft Summer is the most muted cool season. Its best colors are soft, cool and slightly grayed: dusty rose, mauve, soft plum, blue-gray, smoky blue, dusty teal and sage-gray green, with charcoal blue, cocoa, rosy brown and soft white as neutrals. Black, pure white, neon and bright orange overpower it.
Best Soft Summer colors
- Dusty rose#C08497
- Mauve#B684A6
- Soft plum#8D6B89
- Muted raspberry#A85776
- Soft lavender#A99BC3
- Smoky blue#7393B3
- Blue-gray#8A9BAE
- Denim#5F7FA6
- Slate#6B7988
- Dusty teal#5E8E8A
- Sage-gray green#9BAE9E
- Soft spruce#5F7D72
Soft Summer neutrals
- Soft white#F2EFEA
- Light taupe#B6A99F
- Rosy brown#A07E7E
- Cocoa#7A6362
- Charcoal blue#4A5560
Colors Soft Summer should avoid
These work against Soft Summer coloring and can make skin look sallow, gray or tired. If you love one, wear it away from your face, such as in shoes, bags or trousers.
- Black#111111
- Pure white#FFFFFF
- Bright orange#FF7A12
- Neon pink#FF2E9A
- Golden yellow#FFC52E
Soft Summer at a glance
| Main quality | Soft (muted), then cool |
|---|---|
| Hue | Cool-neutral |
| Value | Medium |
| Chroma | Muted, grayed |
| Whites | Soft, slightly grayed white and oyster. |
| Metals | Brushed silver, pewter, white gold and soft rose gold. |
| Denim | Medium to dark grayed blue; avoid very bright or bleached washes. |
Do you look like a Soft Summer?
Often ash-brown or dark-blonde hair with little shine contrast, gray, gray-blue, gray-green or soft hazel eyes, and neutral to cool skin. Everything blends; contrast is low to medium. Seasons describe how colors harmonize with you overall, so not every feature has to match.
Soft Summer makeup
| Lips | Dusty rose, mauve, soft berry and rosy nude. |
|---|---|
| Blush | Dusty rose and soft mauve-pink. |
| Eyes | Taupe, gray-brown, slate, plum and soft navy, in matte or satin finishes. |
Soft Summer hair colors
Ash brown, mushroom brown, soft ash blonde; avoid brassy gold, bright copper and jet black.
Soft Summer or a neighbor?
Soft Summer vs Soft Autumn
Both are soft and muted. Soft Summer leans cool: mauve, blue-gray and dusty rose glow, while olive, camel and terracotta look muddy. Soft Autumn is the reverse.
See the Soft Autumn palette →Soft Summer vs True Summer
True Summer is cooler and clearer; if clean rose and cornflower blue look better than dusty, grayed shades, you may be True Summer.
See the True Summer palette →Soft Summer questions
Can Soft Summer wear black?
Black is usually too heavy and stark. Charcoal blue, deep slate or cocoa give depth while staying soft.
What is the difference between Soft Summer and Soft Autumn?
Both seasons are muted. Soft Summer leans cool (mauve, blue-gray, silver); Soft Autumn leans warm (olive, camel, soft gold). Compare a dusty rose and a terracotta near your face: the one that makes your skin look even and calm is your side.
What hair color suits Soft Summer?
Soft, ashy or neutral shades: ash brown, mushroom brown and soft ash blonde, with low-contrast highlights. Avoid brassy gold, bright copper and jet black.