Your Summer Colour Palette Explained
Summer colour types glow in cool, soft, and blended shades, such as lavender, sky blue, and dusty rose. If black feels harsh but silver sings, you could be a Summer. Here’s your complete guide to Light, True, and Soft Summer—including celebrity inspiration, best colours to search for, and everyday dos and don’ts to make dressing easy.
Colour Analysis: The Basics
Seasonal colour analysis focuses on identifying the shades that accentuate your natural brightness. It examines three aspects: your undertone (warm, cool, or neutral), your depth (the lightness or darkness of your features), and your clarity (whether you shine in clear, crisp colours or softer, muted tones).
The Summer colour palette is cool, soft, and blended. These colours work beautifully on people whose undertones lean cool, have lower contrast features, and who glow in gentle, dusty shades rather than brights.
Seasonal Colour Analysis as a Slow Fashion Tool
Seasonal colour analysis is a slow fashion compass—a way to uncover the shades that make you feel luminous, at ease, and unmistakably yourself. By curating clothes, makeup, and accessories in tones that echo your natural colouring, you shop with intention, skip the impulse splurges, and build a wardrobe with staying power. Your palette becomes an anchor, guiding you towards pieces that not only flatter but also feel like home.
But let’s be clear: it’s a guide, not gospel. At The Slow Lane, we champion choice—because slow fashion is as much about joy as it is about longevity. If slipping into neon lifts your spirits, even when your palette whispers soft autumn, wear it boldly. The heart of slow fashion lies in a wardrobe you’ll reach for time and again—one stitched together with confidence, comfort, and your own kind of magic.
True Summer Colour Palette
(Cool, Soft, Elegant)
True Summer is the essence of cool refinement — think of morning mist over water, soft petals pressed in silk pages, or twilight skies brushed in watercolour. This palette is cool-toned, medium in depth, and delicately muted, never loud or stark. Colours feel blended, serene, and harmonious, with blue undertones running through every shade. Where Spring bursts with warmth and Autumn glows with earthiness, True Summer whispers in tones of dusty rose, slate blue, and dove grey — polished, poised, and quietly radiant.
True Summer at a Glance
Celebrities: Emily Blunt, Naomi Osaka, Liu Wen, Jada Pinkett-Smith
Best Colours: Lavender, dusty rose, mauve, soft navy, powder blue.
Dos:
- Do wear cool greys as neutrals.
- Do wear berry lipstick.
- Do lean into lavender knits.
- Do pick soft navy over black.
- Do accessorise with silver.
Don’ts:
- Don’t wear orange.
- Don’t wear golden yellow.
- Don’t wear camel.
- Don’t wear neons.
- Don’t wear earthy tones.
True Summer Make-Up Guidance
True Summer makeup should feel calm, soft, and harmonious — like colours washed in water. Everything is balanced and muted rather than sharp or warm.
Lips: Best shades are cool rose, soft raspberry, berry pink, and mauve. Satin and semi-matte finishes bring polish without harshness. Avoid orange-reds, brick tones, and peach-based nudes, which jar against the cool undertone.
Cheeks: Cool pink, soft plum, and muted rose blushes add natural brightness. Highlighter should be pearly or silvery rather than golden. Avoid bronze or apricot shades, as they appear too warm.
Eyes: Cool greys, slate blues, misty mauves, and soft lilacs flatter beautifully. Avoid copper, orange, or golden shades, which clash.
- Blue eyes: Slate and cool grey make blue sparkle softly.
- Green eyes: Mauve and soft plum shades enhance green tones.
- Brown eyes: Cool rose, grey, and soft navy add subtle definition.
- Hazel eyes: Lavender and dove grey balance out green and brown flecks.
Liner: Charcoal, navy, or cool brown.
Mascara: Charcoal, soft black, or navy. Avoid jet black, which can overwhelm.
Brows: Ash brown or soft taupe; avoid warm or reddish browns.
True Summer Hair Colour
True Summer hair should echo the palette’s softness: cool-toned, ashy, and refined.
Best shades include:
- Blondes: Ash blonde, sandy blonde, platinum-ash.
- Browns: Cool chestnut, mushroom brown, medium ash brown.
- Reds: Cool burgundy or plum-red (sparingly, as accents).
- Black hair: Natural soft black works when kept glossy and cool-toned.
Highlights & Toners
- Highlights in ash blonde, icy beige, or soft pearl.
- Toners should always lean ashy — never golden.
- Cool balayage works well for added dimension.
What to Avoid
- Warm copper, auburn, honey blonde.
- Overly golden or brassy highlights, which fight against the palette.
True Summer Jewellery & Accessories
Metals: Silver, platinum, white gold, and soft rose gold are best. Avoid yellow gold, which looks too warm.
Stones: Amethyst, aquamarine, moonstone, sapphire — all cool-toned gems that harmonise with the palette.
Accessories: Handbags and scarves in mauve, dusty rose, denim blue, or oyster elevate outfits while staying tonal.
True Summer Prints & Patterns
Best: Soft florals, watercolour effects, blurred geometrics, and subtle stripes. Stick to medium scale and low contrast—pair dove grey with mauve or denim blue, rather than stark black and white.
Avoid: Loud animal prints, bold contrasts, and warm, earthy patterns (such as camel, rust, or orange).
Light Summer Colour Palette
(Cool, Pastel, Airy)
Light Summer is airy elegance distilled — like seafoam fizzing on pale sand, rose petals floating in chilled water, or morning light glancing across silver silk. It’s the brightest and most delicate of the Summer family, defined by pastels, cool clarity, and an almost frosted sheen. Colours stay light and breezy, never heavy or earthy: think baby pink, powder blue, icy mint, and pearl. Unlike True Summer’s medium depth or Soft Summer’s smoky softness, Light Summer feels fresh, translucent, and sun-dappled — always luminous, never loud.
Light Summer at a Glance
Celebrities: Elle Fanning, Constance Wu, Rashida Jones
Best Colours: Powder blue, lilac, dusty rose, mint, and icy aqua.
Dos:
- Do wear sky blue shirts.
- Do choose silver jewellery.
- Do stick with light navy as a neutral.
- Do wear lavender or lilac.
- Do go for soft pink lipsticks.
Don’ts:
- Don’t wear black.
- Don’t wear warm oranges.
- Don’t go neon.
- Don’t wear mustard.
- Don’t choose earthy browns.
Light Summer Make-Up Guidance
Light Summer makeup should feel fresh, delicate, and luminous — enhancing without overwhelming.
Lips: The best shades are baby pink, rose quartz, frosted berry, or soft, cool coral. Avoid deep wines, brick reds, or heavy nudes.
Cheeks: Opt for cool pinks or soft coral-pink blushes. Highlight with pearly or silvery tones. Avoid bronze or warm apricot.
Eyes: Light blue, icy mint, pearl grey, and lavender work beautifully. Avoid dark chocolate, copper, or strong black.
- Blue eyes: Baby blue and pearl shadows enhance brightness.
- Green eyes: Lavender and soft pinks lift green undertones.
- Brown eyes: Icy mint and periwinkle add a fresh touch.
- Hazel eyes: Soft coral-pink and pale grey flatter both flecks.
Liner: Soft charcoal, slate, or grey-blue.
Mascara: Soft black, grey, or dark brown. Avoid jet black, which is too heavy.
Brows: Light ash blonde or cool taupe. Avoid overly dark or warm brows.
Light Summer Hair Colour
Light Summer hair should mirror the palette’s breezy delicacy: light, cool, and softly blended.
Best shades include:
- Blondes: Ash blonde, platinum-ash, cool champagne.
- Browns: Light mushroom brown or ashy light brown.
- Reds: Very cool strawberry-blonde or rose-gold (kept subtle).
- Black hair: Rare, but soft black can work if paired with cool, luminous highlights.
Highlights & Toners
- Icy champagne, pearl, or ash blonde highlights.
- Toners should lean cool — silver or pearl, never golden.
- Babylights or fine balayage keep hair luminous without heaviness.
What to Avoid
- Golden blonde, copper, or auburn tones.
- Overly dark or heavy shades that drown Light Summer’s delicacy.
Light Summer Jewellery & Accessories
Metals: Silver, platinum, and white gold, with delicate brushed rose gold for softness.
Stones: Aquamarine, peridot, moonstone, and pale amethyst — luminous, frosted stones.
Accessories: Handbags, scarves, and shoes in pearl, periwinkle, or icy mint echo the palette’s freshness.
Light Summer Prints & Patterns
Best: Airy florals, delicate stripes, soft polka dots, or pastel geometrics. Keep contrasts gentle and scale light-to-medium.
Avoid: Harsh black-and-white motifs, earthy autumnal colours, or overly bold patterns.
Soft Summer Colour Palette
(Muted, Cool-Neutral, Gentle)
Soft Summer is the most muted of the Summer family — a palette that feels like velvet shadows at dusk, sea glass smoothed by tides, and pressed lavender. It’s cool-neutral, smoky, and blended, with every shade softened by a veil of grey. Unlike True Summer’s fresh clarity or Light Summer’s airy pastels, Soft Summer carries a quiet depth — colours appear weathered, understated, and endlessly wearable. Think dusty cranberry, smoky teal, muted mauve, and charcoal taupe: tones that settle into harmony rather than demand attention.
Soft Summer at a Glance
Celebrities: Jennifer Aniston, Zendaya, Maya Rudolph, Halle Berry.
Best Colours: Sage, dusty rose, mauve, soft teal, slate blue.
Dos:
- Do wear taupe and mushroom neutrals.
- Do wear muted berry lipstick.
- Do wear sage knits.
- Do lean into dusty blues.
- Do embrace matte textures.
Don’ts:
- Don’t wear black.
- Don’t wear neons.
- Don’t wear warm rusts.
- Don’t wear heavy gold jewellery.
- Don’t wear strong contrast outfits.
Soft Summer Make-Up Guidance
Soft Summer makeup should feel smoky, muted, and seamless — gentle definition without stark edges.
Lips: Best shades are muted cranberry, mauve, cool rose, and dusty plum. Avoid bright fuchsias or warm corals that feel out of place.
Cheeks: Opt for soft rose, muted mauve, or plum blushes for a natural, harmonious look. Avoid overly warm peach or bronze.
Eyes: Work with taupe, blue-grey, smoky lavender, and muted teal. Avoid golds, oranges, or harsh blacks.
- Blue eyes: Smoky taupe or lavender makes them glow softly.
- Green eyes: Dusty plum and muted mauve bring out the green.
- Brown eyes: Cool charcoal and muted teal add depth without heaviness.
- Hazel eyes: Dusty cranberry or slate grey highlight the mixed tones.
Liner: Soft charcoal, slate, or muted navy.
Mascara: Grey-brown or soft black. Avoid jet black — it feels too harsh.
Brows: Soft ash brown or cool taupe. Steer clear of reddish browns.
Soft Summer Hair Colour
Soft Summer hair should echo the season’s blended, muted qualities.
Best shades include:
- Blondes: Ash blonde, mushroom blonde, soft sandy blonde.
- Browns: Cool medium brown, smoky brunette, ashy chestnut.
- Reds: Muted burgundy or plum-red (subtle, not vivid).
- Black hair: Soft black works if balanced with cool-toned highlights.
Highlights & Toners
- Highlights in ash, pearl, or soft silver.
- Toners should lean neutral-cool, avoiding golden tones.
- Balayage works beautifully when kept seamless and smoky.
What to Avoid
- Warm honey, copper, or golden blonde.
- Harsh platinum, which feels too stark.
Soft Summer Jewellery & Accessories
Metals: Soft silver, pewter, white gold, and brushed rose gold. Avoid bright yellow gold.
Stones: Smoky quartz, labradorite, muted amethyst, soft sapphire — stones with depth and haze.
Accessories: Scarves, bags, and shoes in muted aqua, dusty plum, or stone taupe bring quiet polish.
Soft Summer Prints & Patterns
Best: Watercolour florals, smoky stripes, blurred geometrics, and soft abstracts. Keep contrast low and scale subtle to medium.
Avoid: Neon brights, bold black-and-white prints, or earthy autumnal patterns (camel, rust, mustard).
The Summer Colour Palettes’ Shared DNA
The Summer family shares a signature DNA: cool undertones, softened contrasts, and colours that feel as though they’re part of that magical early morning mist — watercolours rather than oil paints. Whether True, Soft, or Light, each palette belongs to the same lineage of refinement, delicacy, and harmony. And while every Summer type has its own nuance, they can thoughtfully borrow from one another without discord.
A True Summer might reach for Light Summer’s pearl when dressing for a breezy August evening, or Soft Summer might lean into True Summer’s mauve for added depth in winter layers. The key is intention — borrowing only within the family ensures a wardrobe that feels cohesive, contemporary, and endlessly wearable, a slow and sustainable curation rather than a scatter of seasonal trends.
Explore more of our slow living and sustainable fashion hacks and finds.
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