Dressing for the light summer color season is about to get a whole lot easier for you.
In this super simple guide, we jump straight to the point. We break down everything you need to know about the light summer color season in a quick and easy way.
This way you can stop researching and start making those little changes that will ultimately add up to a dramatically better wardrobe for you.
How to Spot the Light Summer Color Season
First, let’s break down the characteristics of a light summer.
You’ll quickly notice a pattern here. “Light” is the dominating factor for light summers. Light summers have light eyes, light skin, and light hair.
It’s the lightest of the summer seasons and has the least amount of contrast between features – hence the light theme across the board.
Skin Tone
The skin tones for a light summer range from fair to medium.
They have neutral and neutral cool undertones or NC + N. (A good way to find this out, if you don’t already know it, is to go to a cosmetic counter or store and have a professional color match you for foundation. The letters signifying the undertones are almost always marked on the bottle.)
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Light summers have an overall tend to have an overall soft and creamy appearance.
Eyes
Light summers have lighter eyes.
However, instead of light and bright, light summer eye colors are light, soft, and blend well with the overall appearance.
Because of the the light summer neutral tones, you’ll often see cool mixed in with cooler tones of warmer colors. (Example: greens and yellows.)
Hair
To carry on with the light theme, light summers have light hair that varies from light ash blonde to light ash brown.
These hair colors include: platinum ash blonde, light ash blonde, medium-dark ash blonde, and light ash brown.
Hair can be an easy giveaway for summers. If you describe it as dirty, dusty, dishwater, or ash blonde – that’s a key indicator that your hair is cool toned,
Light Summer Color Season Palette
At first glance, the light summer color season palette is full of light colors. But, you’ll also notice medium and darker tones in the mix.
The easiest way to make sense of this is to think about the variety of clothing colors available at stores and online shops. This light summer color palette should give you an idea of the shade range for each basic color.
We break into down into a lighter, medium, and darker option to help steer you in the right direction.
If you don’t have access to this color palette when shopping, these three questions should help.
- Does this shade have a pinkish or bluish, cool tint to it?
- Is this shade the “soft” version of this color family instead of the bright version?
- Is this the lighter-medium option of this color family?
Best Colors for the Light Summer Color Season
Below are your top three colors for each color category.
As mentioned above, you’ll find a lighter, medium, and darker option for each color family. This will help you get a better grasp on the shade range for the light summer color season.
Whites/Creams - Creamy with Pink or Gray TInts
When looking for whites or light neutral colors you’ll want them to have these characteristics:
- Soft and creamy vs crisp. *Avoid bright, true whites.
- Pinkish, gray tints vs yellow and golden.
yellows - Soft with Blue tints
You’ll want to pick soft yellows that won’t overpower your light complexion.
- Soft vs Bright
- More blue tints than true yellow.
Oranges - Soft Corals + Pink and Blue Tints
Orange is hard to pull of as a summer. However, you can fake orange with some coral tones. Pick oranges that are:
- More pinkish coral than pure orange.
- Medium shades vs very light + very dark.
- Soft vs. bright.
pinks - soft neutral pinks with subtle white or BLUE tint
Pinks tend to be a power color for summers. Pick pinks that are:
- Soft vs Bright
- Blue or dulled tints
- Pinks that lean closer purplish fuchsia than orangish corals.
Reds - Red Oranges with Blue Tint
The right kind of red can look incredible on light summers. Choose reds that are:
- Blue tints vs. Orange Tints
- Soft vs crisp
Purples - neutral purples Than Lean Blue
Like pinks, purples can be more cool toned. So pick purples that are;
- Soft neutral vs vibrant
- Subtle blue tints vs peachy purples.
blues - Blue with Yellow and White Tints
Blues are another power color for light summers. Pick blues that are:
- Soft vs bright
- More faded purplish vs greenish
Greens - BLuISH MINT Greens
Greens can be harder to pull off for summers. Pick greens that are:
- Soft vs Bright
- Blue or gray greens vs yellow greens.
grays- Blue Gray
Grays that lean toward blue work best for light summers. Pick grays that are more:
- Blue tones vs. yellow tones.
- Dirty, or soft, vs bold.
Browns - Pinkish Purple Browns
Browns can blend well with the light summer coloring. Choose browns that are:
- More pinkish than golden.
- Soft and neutral vs bold and bright.
Blacks/ Alternates for Blacks - Darks that have a BLUE oR PURPLE TINTS
Light summers should avoid stark black because it can overpower your overall light coloring. But, that doesn’t mean you can wear some form of it. Pick blacks that are:
- Faded vs bold
- Blue or purplish vs greenish
Light Summer Shopping Hacks
When shopping, light summers should gravitate to naturally cool colors first. Look at pinks, blues, reds, and grays first as they are more likely to have options that suit your natural undertones.
Also, scan for the colors that you would describe as soft but not bright.
If you prefer a variety of colors, warm tones can look great on you, too. However, they may be harder to spot.
Look for the cool warm that have a hint of blue instead of yellow. These should also be soft instead of bright and bold.
Conclusion: Light Summer
The light summer color season has light hair, light eyes, and light skin. Light summers have cool and neutral undertones and look best in shades that are more soft vs. bright.
When shopping, cool springs should gravitate to cool dominate colors first like pinks, blues, reds, and grays as the store is more likely to have a colors that will harmonize with their natural coloring.
Next Steps:
If you’re a light summer, share what your favorite color to wear is in the comments. (Bonus points for photos.)
Lastly, do you know what makeup colors look best on you? Find out now in this super simple guide to light summer makeup colors.
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