Summer · Cool-neutral · Muted
Soft Summer Color Palette
Soft Summer is the most muted of the three summer seasons, cool but gentle rather than bright or icy. If clear, saturated colors feel harsh against your coloring while soft, dusty shades look effortless, you're likely a Soft Summer.
The palette
Best colors to wear
Reach for color that's cool but muted: mushroom, rose taupe, mauve, smoky teal, and sage all sit naturally on a Soft Summer. Oyster and pewter work as neutrals in place of stark white or black, keeping the low contrast that flatters this season.
Makeup shades
Lipstick works best in dusty rose, mauve, or muted berry rather than true red or bright pink. Blush should be soft mauve, not bright pink or peach. For eyes, taupe, smoky teal, and soft plum do more than black or bright bronze, and a soft brown eyeliner reads more natural than black.
Hair color
Cool, muted tones flatter this palette: think ash brown, cool taupe blonde, or soft mushroom brown. Bright, warm, or very dark tones tend to overwhelm the gentleness that defines Soft Summer.
Gold or silver
Silver or white gold, kept soft rather than shiny; brushed or matte finishes tend to suit this palette better than high-polish silver.
Colors to avoid
Bright, saturated colors and warm earth tones like orange or gold tend to be the hardest for Soft Summer. They clash with the muted, cool quality that makes this palette work, reading as costume-like rather than natural.
Not sure this is your season?
Use three daylight selfies to check your actual undertone, contrast, and depth against Soft Summer and the other eleven seasons.
Related seasons
Common questions
What's the difference between Soft Summer and True Summer?
True Summer is cooler and clearer overall, while Soft Summer is defined mainly by its low contrast and muted tone. If your coloring feels gentle and blended rather than clear, Soft Summer is the more likely fit.
Can Soft Summer wear black?
Generally, no. It tends to be too stark for this season's natural softness. Charcoal or soft navy do the same job as a dark neutral without the harshness.