The Soft Summer guide
Soft Summer
Smoky color, beautifully combined.
Dusty plum, steel blue and mauve are the heart of Soft Summer. Each has a grayish touch. Put them together for color that feels blended, with enough choice to keep getting dressed interesting.
Updated
Explore the palette ↓
Soft first, cool second
Soft means muted, as though a little gray has been mixed into the color. This palette also leans cool. Steel Blue and Dusty Plum are good starting points. Slate Grey adds more depth without a very sharp dark edge.
What to notice in the features
Ash-brown hair and smoky gray-blue eyes blend gently in this example. The overall effect is cool and soft. The picture shows one pattern, not a checklist your face has to match.
An example pattern, not a diagnosis. You do not have to look like this woman to belong to Soft Summer. Try colors beside your own face.
The Soft 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.
Mix colors that share a smoky note.
Wear a plum cardigan with greige trousers. Try a steel-blue blouse with a slate-gray skirt. A mauve blazer can go over either a pale top or a soft blue one. Silver or pewter adds a little shine beside these matte fabrics.
Three combinations to try first
Morning Fog
Heather Walk
Smoke & Rose
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 Autumn shares the muted quality, but its terracotta and camel lean warm. Compare Dusty Plum with Terracotta. True Summer stays cool and is less muted. You may like some colors from a neighboring palette too.
Try it with what you own.
Compare a smoky blue scarf with a clear bright blue scarf. Use the same light and hold each at the same height. Look for the balance you prefer between your face and the fabric.
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
Not sure this is you? Answer five questions.
More on soft summer
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