Understanding the cool summer color palette is key to discovering your most flattering colors and knowing what to look for when it comes to picking out clothing and makeup.
This ultimate toolkit showcases your color palette, real-life examples from each color group, and a list of portable color palettes you can keep with you at all times.
Professional stylists rely on fashion color palettes to pick the most flattering colors for their clients, and now you will be able to do the same for yourself.
What is a Cool Summer Color Palette?
A cool summer color palette is a collection of flattering colors that complement those within the cool summer color season.
The color palette for cool summers is generally composed of medium to dark cool toned shades with a few complimentary light shades.
If you are a cool summer you likely have one dark color feature and two light features. For example, light hair, light skin, and muted darker eyes. Or, darker ash brown hair with light eyes and light skin.
Best Cool Summer Colors
The cool summer colors all tend to have a slight gray tint to them if you look close enough. In color season analysis, gray tinted colors are called muted colors.
For this color group, these muted colors are primarily in the medium to dark shade category, but there are a few lighter options, too.
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We’ll break down this palette into each major color group. Plus, we’ve paired the colors with women in the light summer color season so you can see the power of color in action yourself.
You’ll notice these stunning women have either dark ashy blonde hair, or different shades of ash brown hair. Their eyes are muted with grayed out browns, blues, and teals.
1. Best Cool Summer Dark Neutrals
When it comes to the cool summer color palette, your darkest color options tend to be medium dark color options. You won’t see stark black in the mix, but you’ll see gray, purple, and brown neutrals that have a tint of black in them.
These cool-toned dark neutrals are perfect for creating stylish and timeless looks. The cool summer shades can be best described as:
- Medium Bluish Gray
- Medium Rose Brown
- Medium-Dark Greenish Gray
- Dark Muted Plum
Cool summer dark colors to avoid:
- Deep Golden Browns
- Deep Warm Forest Greens
- Deep Coppers
2. Best Cool Summer Blues
The best blues for cool summer women are light to medium shades that have hints of grays and purple tones mixed in.
These colors pair perfectly with the summer color characteristics and play seamlessly off of your cool-toned or neutral colored eyes, hair, and skin. Blue is the epitome of cool tones and is the most referenced cool color.
These flattering blue cool summer shades can be described as:
- Light Muted Blue
- Light Muted Teal
- Medium Muted Blue
- Light Purple Blue
Cool Summer Blues to Avoid:
- Neon Blues
- Royal Blues
3. Best Cool Summer Greens
The best Cool summer greens lean toward sea greens, and blue greens with gray hues.
Cool summer colors are the perfect way to make your wardrobe and makeup pop during the colder months. The cool summer greens are essential to complete the look.
The muted, light greens will look great paired with blue jeans and grays for an overall summer vibe.
The most flattering greens for cool summer women can be described as:
- Light Muted Sea Green
- Medium Muted Cool Green
- Light Grayish Green
- Medium Grayish Green
Cool summer greens to avoid:
- Lime Green
- Yellow Green
- Forest Green
- True Green
4. Best Cool Summer Reds
For those with a cool summer color palette, the best reds to wear are medium in shade with subtle hints of black, blue, pink, and gray.
These cool reds look amazing on cool summer women and can be easily incorporated into any wardrobe.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with different shades of red to find the best one that complements your cool summer complexion.
The most flattering cool summer reds can be described as:
- Medium Pinkish Grayish Red
- Medium Mauve with a Tint of Black
- Medium Muted Berry Red
- Dark Muted Berry Red
The reds to avoid as a cool summer woman include:
- Rusty Reds
- Copper Reds
- Neon Reds
5. Best Cool Summer Pinks
Cool-toned pinks are power colors for women who are in the cool summer color season. The best cool pinks are cool berry and icy pink tones that are medium to dark in shade.
These cool-toned pinks bring a vibrant pop of color to the cool summer color palette, creating a soft look that can be used for any occasion.
The best shades of pink for l summers can be described as:
- Medium Mauve Pink
- Light Cool Pink
- Light Coral Pink with a Touch of Blue Tints
- Medium Purple Pink
Pink shades that blue toned summers should avoid:
- Orangish Pinks
- Neon Pinks
6. Best Cool Summer Purples
The purples in the color palette for cool summer women are light, medium, and dark shades of purple with tints of grays and blues.
The cool summer color palette is perfect for adding a touch of sophistication to any look.
The best purples for cool summers can be described as:
- Light Ice Purple
- Medium Muted Pinkish Purple
- Medium Ice Purple with Hits of Blue
- Dark Muted Plum Purple
Purples to avoid if you are a cool summer include:
- Neon Purple
- Rusty Brownish Purple
7. Best Cool Summer Light Neutral Colors
A unforgettable way to remember which lights look best on you as a cool summer, is to think of a load of white laundry that got mixed in with medium colors. For example: A maroon sock, a navy blue sock, or a black sock. Your light neutrals have tints of pinks, blues, and blacks.
With this combination of colors, you can create a beautiful, timeless look that works in any season.
The best light neutrals for cool summer women include:
- Light Muted Pinkish White
- Light Muted Gray White
- Light Muted Gray Blue
- Light Muted Bluish White
The light neutrals you should avoid if you are a cool summer include:
- Bright Yellowish Whites
- Bright Cream Tones
- Bright Greenish Whites
Cool Summer Metals
When creating a cool summer color palette, metals are an important factor to consider. The best metals for a cool summer color type are silvers, white gold, and rose gold.
Silver is the most versatile of the metals, adding a light and airy, slightly cool feel.
White gold is a great alternative to silver, offering a more classic and formal look.
Lastly, rose gold is a great way to add a touch of warmth and femininity to an outfit.
All of these metals are perfect for a cool summer color palette and can be used in jewelry, accessories, and other accents.
Cool Summer Colors to Avoid
When it comes to creating a cool summer color palette, not all colors are created equal. As a cool summer color type, you’ll want to avoid warm tones, neon colors, and creams.
- Neon Colors. Neon colors can overpower your light complexion and leave you looking flushed out and sick. Even your power pinks aren’t flattering if they are too bright. Muted is key here.
- Warm Golden Fall Colors. Rusty oranges, golds, reds, greens and yellows compete with your cool undertones and can highlight imperfections and can make you look washed out and sickly.
Best Portable Cool Summer Color Palettes
There are a variety of helpful summer color palette tools that showcase these stunning shades.
These custom palettes give you all-time access to your best colors.
There are physical color palettes that you can touch and feel, and there are digital palettes that you can keep on your phone.
Here are our favorites:
1. Style Solutions for You – Best Fabric Palette to Fit In Your Purse
Its’s like having a personal color stylist with you at all times. This cool summer color palette fabric swatch fan fits in your purse and is super simple to use.
Highlights
- Handmade
- Portable
- Beautiful Protective Bag
- Plastic Covering for Each Swatch
- Fast Shipping
Price
This cool summer color palette costs around $49 on Etsy.
2. Color Me a Season- Best Plastic Palette for Full Summer Color Season
This is another great option for a portable palette. It can fit in your purse. The major difference between this one and the one above is that it includes all colors from the entire summer color palette, not just the cool summer color season.
Highlights
- Portable
- Fits In Your Purse
- Wipeable
- Fast Shipping
- 215 Colors
Price
This palette for the full summer season costs around $32 on Amazon.
3. Color Me a Season Selector – Best for Complementary Colors
Cover all of your summer color bases with this color selector. Find your main color and get all of the professionally recommended complimentary colors too. This is great for picking outfits and makeup combinations.
Highlights
- Includes Main + Complementary Colors
- Portable – 8 x 0.1 x 8 inches.
- Plastic
- Instructions on the back.
Price
This amazing color selector costs under $30 on Amazon.
4. BelleAndBonnet- Best Digital Palette
If you like the idea of having your best colors on your phone at all times, this cool summer digital color palette may be a great option for you.
Highlights
- Instant Digital PDF Download
- Includes 26 Colors
- 9 Pattern Ideas
- 6 Lipstick Shades
Price
This digital color palette costs around $6 on Etsy.
Conclusion
The cool summer color palette can be used to help women in the cool summer color season to find their most flattering colors.
Several color palette tools such as fabric swatch color palettes, plastic swatch color palettes, and digital color palettes can be incredibly helpful when shopping for makeup and clothing colors. These handy tools empower you to advocate for yourself and essentially be your own color stylist.
The colors within this cool summer color palette are muted and cool just like the eyes, hair, and skin of the women in that color season. These colors include cool and muted blues, pinks, reds, charcoals, and purples.
