Autumn · Warm-neutral · Low contrast
Soft Autumn Color Palette
Soft Autumn is the most muted of the autumn seasons: warm, but gentle rather than rich, with naturally low contrast between hair, skin, and eyes. If bright or icy colors feel harsh against your coloring while soft, warm neutrals look effortless, you're likely a Soft Autumn.
The palette
Best colors to wear
Reach for colors that are warm but never bright: sage green, dusty teal, soft camel, muted terracotta, and warm taupe all sit naturally on a Soft Autumn. Oatmeal and honey work as neutrals in place of stark white or black, keeping the low contrast that flatters this season.
Makeup shades
Lipstick works best in warm rosy-brown or soft terracotta rather than true red or blue-pink. Blush should lean soft peach, not cool pink. For eyes, bronze, olive, and soft brown shadows do more for you than black or silver, and a brown eyeliner reads more natural than black.
Hair color
Warm, soft tones flatter this palette: think honey blonde, soft caramel, or warm golden brown. Ash tones and jet black tend to read as too cool and too stark against Soft Autumn coloring.
Gold or silver
Warm or antiqued gold, and rose gold. Bright silver tends to look colder than the rest of the palette wants to be.
Colors to avoid
Pure black, icy pastels, and neon brights are the hardest colors for Soft Autumn. They introduce more contrast and cold than this palette's naturally soft, warm coloring can carry, which is why they can look more like a costume than an outfit.
Not sure this is your season?
Use three daylight selfies to check your actual undertone, contrast, and depth against Soft Autumn and the other eleven seasons.
Related seasons
Common questions
What's the difference between Soft Autumn and True Autumn?
True Autumn is warmer and richer overall, while Soft Autumn is defined mainly by its low contrast and muted tone, not just warmth. If your coloring feels gentle rather than rich, Soft Autumn is the more likely fit.
Can Soft Autumn wear black?
Generally, no. It tends to overwhelm the soft contrast that defines this season. Espresso brown or charcoal do the same job as a dark neutral without the harshness.