Soft Summer color palette
Soft Summer is the most muted summer: smoky, greyed colors like dusty rose, sage, slate teal and mauve. Its palette is cool to neutral and low in contrast, so harsh, bright or very dark colors overpower it.
- Undertone:
- cool-neutral
- Value:
- medium
- Chroma:
- very soft
The Soft Summer palette
18 signature colors with hex codes. Tap a color to copy its code.
Best neutrals
Build your wardrobe base from these instead of black and stark white.
Colors to avoid
Keep these away from your face; they work better as shoes, bags or trousers.
How to recognize a Soft Summer
Soft Summer has a cool-neutral undertone, medium value, very soft chroma. Typical, but not required, features:
Skin
neutral to slightly cool, beige or olive-beige
Hair
ash brown, dark blonde or mousy brown, often with a greyed look
Eyes
grey-green, soft hazel, grey-blue or muted brown
Not sure? Take the color analysis quiz or check your undertone first.
Hair colors
ash brown, mushroom blonde, dark ash blonde, soft cool brown.
Makeup
Lips: dusty rose, mauve, soft berry.
Blush: muted rose.
Eyes: taupe, grey-brown, smoky plum, slate.
Jewelry
Brushed silver, pewter, soft rose gold.
Soft Summer vs. neighboring seasons
These seasons share one trait with Soft Summer, which is why they are easy to confuse. Compare the palettes side by side.
Colors in this palette
Other summer seasons
FAQ
What colors look best on a Soft Summer?
Soft Summer looks best in dusty rose, mauve, soft raspberry, rosewood, muted plum, dusty lavender and the other colors in the palette above. The best neutrals are oyster, taupe, pewter, soft navy.
What colors should a Soft Summer avoid?
Soft Summer should avoid black, pure white, orange, bright yellow, hot pink, royal blue near the face. They clash with the cool-neutral undertone or overpower the very soft coloring.
What hair colors suit a Soft Summer?
Flattering hair colors for Soft Summer include ash brown, mushroom blonde, dark ash blonde, soft cool brown.
What metal jewelry suits a Soft Summer?
Soft Summer looks best in brushed silver, pewter, soft rose gold.
How do I know if I am a Soft Summer?
Soft Summer typically has neutral to slightly cool, beige or olive-beige skin, ash brown, dark blonde or mousy brown, often with a greyed look hair and grey-green, soft hazel, grey-blue or muted brown eyes. The best test is draping: hold colors from this palette and from neighboring seasons under your face in daylight, or take our free color analysis quiz.
Recommended app · ColorScan
Check if a color fits your palette
In a store or at home, point ColorScan at a sweater, a lipstick or a wall and get its exact color, so you can compare it with your Soft Summer palette.
- Identify any color from a photo or the live camera
- Closest matches from Benjamin Moore, Sherwin-Williams, Behr and Farrow & Ball
- HEX, RGB, HSL, CMYK and LAB in one tap
- Color harmonies and palettes from any shot
