The summer color palette is known for it’s beautiful cool and lighter colors.
Let’s compare! The four main seasons for color analysis are Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. When comparing the summer color palette to the other 3 main seasons, you’ll see the most similarities with it’s cool sister season – Winter. However, Winter is known for being dark and cool, while summer is light and cool.
You’ll also see Summer compared to the other light color season – Spring. Summer is light and cool, while Spring is light and warm.
Summer Color Palettes
The Summer Color Season has three sub seasons: Light Summer, Soft Summer, and Cool Summer.
Here’s an easy way to decide which sub season you fall into.
When describing your eyes, skin tone, and hair color what word would describe them the best.
- Light Cool = Light Summer
- Med Cool= Soft Summer
- Darker Cool= Cool Summer
The three Summer color palettes break down in a similar way.
Summer Rose Tones
Let’s compare the reds, pinks, and oranges in this summer palette. These rose tones are often on the same rack when shopping for clothes. So how do you spot which one fits your sub season?
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Most of us don’t carry color palettes around with us, so here’s a way to spot the difference.
- Light Summer – Light, neutral blush tones. White overtones.
- Soft Summer- Medium grayed out shades. Muted tones.
- Cool Summer- Dominant blue tints. Medium/darker shades.
Summer Greens, Blues, and Purples
You can use the same tint method with the greens, blues, and purples from the summer color palette. White tints for Light Summer, Gray tints for Soft Summer, and Blue Tints for Cool Summer.
Analyzing the Light Summer, you’ll see lighter neutral tones that you’ll likely find in a crayon box. You can see the yellow in the greens, and the grays in the purples.
The Soft Summer’s grayed tent mutes the cool shades creating a soft, subtle color.
- Light Summer – light cool and neutral colors found in a crayon box.
- Soft Summer – Muted gray tints, soft and subtle cool colors.
- Cool Summer – Cool blue tints, often referred to as icy tones.
Neutral Summer Color Palette
The differences in neutrals are a little easier to see compared side-by-side.
You’ll see Light Summer carry the same crayon box theme – more of a variety. Light Summer doesn’t exclude the cool tones. It’s the most neutral of the three, therefore colors can have cool hues as well.
- Light Summer Neutral light tones that can have neutral and warm and cool light tints.
- Soft Summer- Cool colors with gray tints.
- Cool Summer – Blue tinted medium and dark shades. (Blue or pink tints.)
Conclusion: Summer Color Palette
The summer color palette is known for it’s cool and light-medium colors.
When the color palette is broken down by sub season, you have Light Summer, Soft Summer, and Cool Summer.
- Light Summer – The most neutral of the sub seasons. They are the ones closest to the basic colors you’ll find in a crayon box. They also tend to be the lightest options.
- Soft Summer- Muted medium and darker shades with gray tints.
- Clear Spring- Bolder cool colors with blue and pink tints. Icy colors.
Next Steps
How does this translate into makeup colors? Check out our makeup color palettes.
