The Seasonal Color Palette

Palettes / Summer

Soft Summer color palette

The most muted cool palette. Smoky, greyed shades that blend rather than contrast.

Undertone Cool-neutralValue MediumChroma MutedDominant Soft

Is Soft Summer your palette?

  • Undertone: Leans cool without being icy. Silver usually wins, and the harshest warm shades like orange and mustard are the ones to skip.
  • Value: Coloring sits in the middle range. Neither the palest pastels nor the darkest shades are ideal.
  • Chroma: Features blend softly with low contrast. Greyed, smoky colors look harmonious, while bright shades look loud.

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All 16 Soft Summer colors

Tap a swatch to copy its hex code

Best neutrals

  • Oyster #E3DED5
  • Sage #9CAF98
  • Dusty Blue #95A8BE
  • Lavender Gray #A69CB6
  • Cool Taupe #9E948F
  • Mauve #B28A99
  • Pewter #8A8D91
  • Soft Denim #6F88A6
  • Soft Teal #5E8C88
  • Slate Blue #6A7B9C
  • Plum Gray #7C6C80
  • Blue Spruce #466B6B
  • Charcoal #4E5157
  • Soft Navy #3F4A63

Colors to avoid

Neon, bright white, and pure black. The opposite palette on the seasonal wheel, Bright Winter, is usually the least flattering overall.

Clothing in Soft Summer colors

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Editor's pickDusty Blue

Dusty blue denim shirt

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Editor's pickCharcoal

Charcoal wool trousers

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Editor's pickDusty Rose

Dusty rose leather bag

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Sister palettes

These sit next to Soft Summer on the seasonal wheel and share one of its characteristics. If you're between palettes, the colors they share with Soft Summer are the safest choices.

Soft Autumn

Both share the same value (medium) and chroma (muted). Soft Summer is cool-neutral in undertone where Soft Autumn is warm-neutral. Soft Summer is a Summer palette and Soft Autumn is a Autumn palette, so they sit on either side of the warm–cool divide.

True Summer

Both share the same value (medium). Soft Summer is cool-neutral in undertone where True Summer is cool; Soft Summer is muted in chroma where True Summer is soft. Both belong to the Summer family.

Soft Summer FAQ

What colors are in the Soft Summer palette?

The Soft Summer palette includes oyster, cool taupe, pewter, charcoal, soft navy, slate blue, soft denim, dusty blue, sage and soft teal, among others. It is cool-neutral in undertone, medium in value and muted in chroma, and its dominant characteristic is soft.

What colors should a Soft Summer avoid?

Neon, bright white, and pure black. The palette on the opposite side of the seasonal wheel, Bright Winter, is usually the least flattering overall.

Can a Soft Summer wear black?

Pure black is usually too harsh for a Soft Summer. The deepest shade in the palette, soft navy (#3F4A63), is the closest substitute for suits, coats and evening wear.

What are the best neutrals for a Soft Summer?

The most versatile neutrals in the Soft Summer palette are oyster (#E3DED5), sage (#9CAF98), dusty blue (#95A8BE), lavender gray (#A69CB6), cool taupe (#9E948F), mauve (#B28A99), pewter (#8A8D91), soft denim (#6F88A6), soft teal (#5E8C88), slate blue (#6A7B9C), plum gray (#7C6C80), blue spruce (#466B6B), charcoal (#4E5157) and soft navy (#3F4A63).

What is the difference between Soft Summer and Soft Autumn?

Both share the same value (medium) and chroma (muted). Soft Summer is cool-neutral in undertone where Soft Autumn is warm-neutral. Soft Summer is a Summer palette and Soft Autumn is a Autumn palette, so they sit on either side of the warm–cool divide.

What is the difference between Soft Summer and True Summer?

Both share the same value (medium). Soft Summer is cool-neutral in undertone where True Summer is cool; Soft Summer is muted in chroma where True Summer is soft. Both belong to the Summer family.