The Light Summer guide
Light Summer
Pale blues, with a polished finish.
Powder blue, wisteria and dove gray give Light Summer its light, cool look. Clean tailoring keeps these pale colors feeling grown-up. Start with a shirt or jacket you can wear often.
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Explore the palette ↓
Light first, cool second
Light colors have little darkness in them. This palette leans cool, toward blue, pink and lilac. Dove Grey can replace a much darker jacket when you want a smaller jump between the pieces in an outfit.
What to notice in the features
Light ash-blonde hair, pale gray-blue eyes and softly colored brows make this example light overall. The ash and blue tones help illustrate the cool direction of the palette.
An example pattern, not a diagnosis. You do not have to look like this woman to belong to Light Summer. Try colors beside your own face.
The Light Summer palette
Start with one color you like. These are the general starting colors for this season. The neutrals make useful bases; the richer colors and lighter shades give you more ways to mix.
Your everyday bases
Colors to build around
More colors to mix
A little shine
Use the color names as a starting point when you look through your closet. Screens and fabric can show color differently. You do not need an exact match to try an outfit.
Use shape to give pale colors definition.
Try a powder-blue shirt with soft-white trousers. Wear a wisteria cardigan with a dove-gray skirt. A neat gray jacket adds a clear shape without a very dark color. Simple silver earrings make an easy finishing touch.
Three combinations to try first
Sea Mist
Lavender Field
Ballet Class
Use these as outfit ideas. Swap a skirt for trousers, or a blouse for a knit, to suit your day.
Close palettes, small differences
Light Spring is light too, but its peach and cream lean warm. Compare Powder Blue with Fresh Apricot. True Summer stays cool and offers more medium-depth colors. A pale palette does not require pale skin or one specific hair color.
Try it with what you own.
Try a pale blue top and a much darker blue top with similar necklines. Notice how big the jump feels between your face and each color. Decide which balance you enjoy.
Face a window in soft daylight. Change one piece at a time. This picture shows the setup; it does not show a season result.
Keep exploring
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More on light summer
Palettes for specific hair and eye colors
Explore the written color palettes for these combinations.
- Blue eyes, dirty blonde hair
- Blue eyes, golden blonde hair
- Blue eyes, grey silver hair
- Blue eyes, light brown hair
- Blue eyes, platinum blonde hair
- Brown eyes, dirty blonde hair
- Brown eyes, golden blonde hair
- Brown eyes, grey silver hair
- Brown eyes, platinum blonde hair
- Dark brown eyes, dirty blonde hair
- Dark brown eyes, golden blonde hair
- Dark brown eyes, grey silver hair
- Dark brown eyes, platinum blonde hair
- Green eyes, dirty blonde hair
- Green eyes, golden blonde hair
- Green eyes, grey silver hair
- Green eyes, light brown hair
- Green eyes, platinum blonde hair
- Grey eyes, dirty blonde hair
- Grey eyes, golden blonde hair
- Grey eyes, grey silver hair
- Grey eyes, light brown hair
- Grey eyes, platinum blonde hair
- Hazel eyes, dirty blonde hair
- Hazel eyes, golden blonde hair
- Hazel eyes, grey silver hair
- Hazel eyes, platinum blonde hair