Summer family, light and cool
Light Summer color palette
Cool, quiet and made of pale blue.
Light summer is the palest of the cool seasons. Hair is blonde or light brown, often ashy rather than golden. Skin is fair with a pink or neutral cast, and eyes are light blue, gray or green.
The palette is light like light spring but without the gold. Every color has a blue or gray base, which is why powder blue and rose quartz look calm here and peach does not.
Palette at a glance
summer family · Silver, white gold and platinum.
The palette
Twelve colors for Light Summer
- Powder Blue#B7CDE8
- Lavender Mist#CDC3E6
- Rose Quartz#EFC9D2
- Soft Mint#C4E3D8
- Pearl Gray#DFE1E6
- Wedgewood#7F9CC4
- Raspberry Sorbet#E3A6B6
- Icy Pink#F6DBE2
- Seafoam#B8DCD6
- Bluebell#9AA8D8
- Soft White#F8F7F4
- Slate Blue#6C7FA8
Neutrals
- Soft White
- Pearl Gray
- Slate Blue
- Dusty Navy
Silver, white gold and platinum. Gold should be pale and thin if it is worn at all.
Colors to leave out
- Orange. The warmth clashes with cool fair skin and makes it look flushed.
- Mustard. Warm and heavy. It drags the palette towards autumn, where it does not belong.
- Black. Too strong for delicate coloring. Use slate blue or soft white for depth.
- Warm Brown. Chocolate makes light summer skin look sallow rather than rested.
Wearing it
How the palette works on a body
The rules are about placement and quantity, not about permission.
Keep depth low
Light summer outfits work when the darkest color is slate blue or dusty navy. A black coat over a pale outfit breaks the softness at the neckline.
Tone on tone
Two pale cool colors together, such as powder blue and soft white, is the easiest formula. It looks deliberate without needing a contrast color.
Choose cool pastels, not warm ones
Rose quartz and icy pink flatter; peach and buttercup do not, even when they are equally pale.
Base and cheek
A cool pink or soft berry blush, applied lightly. A warm bronzer is the quickest way to pull the face out of this palette.
Eyes and lips
Slate, soft navy and pearl on the eyes. Lips in rose, raspberry or a soft berry stain rather than coral.
Questions
Light Summer questions
How is light summer different from light spring?
Undertone. Both are light, but light summer is cool and light spring is warm. Try a peach top and a pale blue top in daylight: the one that makes your skin look even is your answer.
Can a light summer wear white?
Yes, soft white rather than optic white. The difference is subtle in a photo but visible in a mirror.
What hair colors suit light summer?
Ash blonde, cool light brown, smoky brunette and soft mushroom. Golden, copper and red tones work against the palette.
Which jewelry?
Silver and white gold. If you love gold, choose a pale, polished finish and keep it small.