Autumn family, soft and warm-neutral
Soft Autumn color palette
Warm, dusted down, easy to live in.
Soft autumn is the quiet end of the warm family. Hair is a soft brown or dark blonde, eyes are hazel, green or soft brown, and the skin is neutral with a warm lean. Nothing is high contrast.
The palette is warm but grayed: camel instead of orange, sage instead of grass, terracotta instead of tomato. It is the most forgiving autumn palette and the easiest to build a wardrobe from.
Palette at a glance
autumn family · Brushed gold, bronze and copper.
The palette
Twelve colors for Soft Autumn
- Camel#C8A27A
- Terracotta#B96B4E
- Olive#8F8A4F
- Moss#7D8A5C
- Warm Taupe#A8907F
- Dusty Peach#DDA98C
- Copper#B0713F
- Sage#9AA681
- Marigold#CF9A3F
- Rust#9D4F33
- Cream#F2E6D2
- Muted Teal#6F8F86
Neutrals
- Cream
- Camel
- Warm Taupe
- Chocolate
Brushed gold, bronze and copper. A matte finish suits the palette better than high shine.
Colors to leave out
- Fuchsia. Too bright and too cool. It makes muted warm skin look gray.
- Icy Blue. The cold pastel fights the warmth that holds this palette together.
- Pure White. Cream does the same job without the glare that flattens soft features.
- Black. A softer dark, such as chocolate or muted teal, keeps the outfit in the palette.
Wearing it
How the palette works on a body
The rules are about placement and quantity, not about permission.
Stay in the middle
Soft autumn looks best in medium values. Very light outfits wash out and very dark ones overpower, so keep the main color at camel, olive or terracotta depth.
Let neutrals do most of the work
Camel, cream, taupe and chocolate are the heart of the wardrobe. Add one muted color and stop there.
Choose matte fabrics
Linen, suede, brushed cotton and wool sit naturally in this palette. High-shine satin makes the muted colors look muddy.
Base and cheek
A warm peach or terracotta blush with a soft finish. Avoid cool pink, which reads as a separate layer.
Eyes and lips
Olive, bronze and soft brown on the eyes; a warm nude, terracotta or muted brick lip. Keep it soft rather than sharp.
Questions
Soft Autumn questions
Is soft autumn warm or neutral?
Warm-neutral. There is warmth in the skin, but it is gentle. That is why bright orange looks wrong while terracotta looks right.
Can a soft autumn wear black?
Chocolate, olive and deep teal are kinder. If you wear black, keep it away from the face.
Which hair colors suit soft autumn?
Chestnut, warm brown, dark caramel and soft auburn. Very dark or very ashy colors are too strong.
What is the difference between soft autumn and warm autumn?
Saturation. Warm autumn carries pumpkin and rust at full strength; soft autumn needs them muted with gray or brown.