The Soft Autumn guide
Soft Autumn
Warm color with a softer edge.
Terracotta, sage and camel are the starting point. Soft Autumn pairs warm colors with a little gray or brown in them. The result is a group of colors that feels easy to mix.
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Explore the palette ↓
Soft first, warm second
Soft means muted: a color looks toned down instead of very bright. Warm means it leans toward gold, peach or brown. Deep Teal adds a rich choice without turning the whole palette into beige.
What to notice in the features
Warm brown hair and muted hazel eyes blend gently in this example. There is warmth, but little sharp contrast. That combination illustrates the soft, warm idea behind the palette.
An example pattern, not a diagnosis. You do not have to look like this woman to belong to Soft Autumn. Try colors beside your own face.
The Soft Autumn 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.
Three colors that can work hard.
Try a terracotta blouse with camel trousers. A deep-teal cardigan gives the same trousers a different feel. An olive blazer can go over warm ivory with your usual jeans. Keep the clothes you love and try changing the color nearest your face first.
What to do about black
Keep the black clothes you love. Try black trousers with a camel knit, or a black skirt with warm ivory. If you want warmth near your face, add a terracotta scarf or an open cardigan.
Shopping with this
Look for one useful piece in a color you want to try. Check it in daylight when you can, since shop lights can change how color looks. Compare it with clothes you own before buying more.
Three combinations to try first
Easy Everyday
Rose Garden
Terracotta Sunset
Use these as outfit ideas. Swap a skirt for trousers, or a blouse for a knit, to suit your day.
Close palettes, small differences
Soft Summer shares the muted look but leans cool. Compare Terracotta with Dusty Plum. True Autumn keeps the warmth and adds richer earth colors. If you are between two palettes, try clothes from both before drawing a firm line.
Try it with what you own.
Hold a terracotta scarf below your chin, then a dusty plum one. Keep the light and your position the same. Notice which you prefer with your face, not which color you like more on its own.
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 soft autumn
Palettes for specific hair and eye colors
Explore the written color palettes for these combinations.
- Blue eyes, black hair
- Blue eyes, dark brown hair
- Blue eyes, dirty blonde hair
- Blue eyes, golden blonde hair
- Blue eyes, grey silver hair
- Blue eyes, light brown hair
- Blue eyes, medium brown hair
- Blue eyes, platinum blonde hair
- Blue eyes, red auburn hair
- Brown eyes, black hair
- Brown eyes, dark brown hair
- Brown eyes, dirty blonde hair
- Brown eyes, golden blonde hair
- Brown eyes, grey silver hair
- Brown eyes, light brown hair
- Brown eyes, medium brown hair
- Brown eyes, platinum blonde hair
- Brown eyes, red auburn hair
- Dark brown eyes, dirty blonde hair
- Dark brown eyes, golden blonde hair
- Dark brown eyes, grey silver hair
- Dark brown eyes, light brown hair
- Dark brown eyes, medium brown hair
- Dark brown eyes, platinum blonde hair
- Dark brown eyes, red auburn hair
- Green eyes, black hair
- Green eyes, dark brown hair
- Green eyes, dirty blonde hair
- Green eyes, golden blonde hair
- Green eyes, grey silver hair
- Green eyes, light brown hair
- Green eyes, medium brown hair
- Green eyes, platinum blonde hair
- Green eyes, red auburn hair
- Grey eyes, black hair
- Grey eyes, dark brown hair
- Grey eyes, dirty blonde hair
- Grey eyes, golden blonde hair
- Grey eyes, grey silver hair
- Grey eyes, light brown hair
- Grey eyes, medium brown hair
- Grey eyes, platinum blonde hair
- Grey eyes, red auburn hair
- Hazel eyes, black hair
- Hazel eyes, dark brown hair
- Hazel eyes, dirty blonde hair
- Hazel eyes, golden blonde hair
- Hazel eyes, grey silver hair
- Hazel eyes, light brown hair
- Hazel eyes, medium brown hair
- Hazel eyes, platinum blonde hair
- Hazel eyes, red auburn hair