Summer family, soft and cool-neutral
Soft Summer color palette
Grayed colors for a face that does not need volume.
Soft summer is the muted corner of the cool family. Hair is often a flat ash brown or a smoky blonde, eyes are gray, blue or green with a soft quality, and the skin is neutral with a cool lean.
Every color in this palette has gray mixed in. That is not a weakness: against soft features, a bright color takes over the face, while a grayed one lets the face stay in charge.
Palette at a glance
summer family · Brushed silver, pewter and soft rose gold.
The palette
Twelve colors for Soft Summer
- Mushroom#B9A79C
- Dusty Mauve#B394A0
- Sage Green#9FAE95
- Misted Blue#8FA5B5
- Rose Beige#D7B8AE
- Soft Plum#8A6F83
- Eucalyptus#8AA79B
- Pewter#9AA0A3
- Wedgwood#6F8BA3
- Dusty Coral#CF9C93
- Gray Lilac#B4A8BC
- Oyster#E7E0D8
Neutrals
- Oyster
- Mushroom
- Pewter
- Charcoal Blue
Brushed silver, pewter and soft rose gold. High shine is less flattering than a matte finish.
Colors to leave out
- Bright Orange. It overwhelms muted coloring and makes the face look pale by comparison.
- Black. The strongest neutral there is. It turns soft features into an outline.
- Fuchsia. Saturated and cool, so it fights both the softness and the neutrality of the palette.
- Primary Yellow. Too clear. It pulls attention to the clothes before the face.
Wearing it
How the palette works on a body
The rules are about placement and quantity, not about permission.
Match the saturation
If the outfit is muted, the accessories should be muted too. A bright bag or shoe next to a soft summer outfit pulls the eye down and away.
Texture instead of pattern
Because the palette has little contrast, fabrics do the work: linen, brushed cotton, soft wool. A large graphic print is harder to wear than a texture in the same color.
Use oyster as your white
Pure white is too strong. Oyster, mushroom and rose beige give the same lift with less glare.
Base and cheek
A muted rose or soft plum blush. Keep the finish satin rather than dewy so it does not read as shine.
Eyes and lips
Taupe, pewter and soft plum on the eyes; a rosewood or muted berry lip. Avoid a clear red, which jumps off a soft face.
Questions
Soft Summer questions
What is soft summer versus soft autumn?
Both are muted, but soft summer leans cool and soft autumn leans warm. Compare a dusty rose with a dusty peach: whichever makes your skin look even is your family.
Can a soft summer wear black?
It is the hardest neutral for this palette. Charcoal blue or pewter gives depth without the hard edge.
Does soft summer suit silver or gold?
Silver and pewter first, then a soft rose gold. Bright yellow gold is too warm and too shiny.
Which colors should I avoid in photos?
Pure white, black and any neon. In a photo they blow out or go flat and take the face with them.