Summer is a cool-undertone color season with soft, low contrast. If you're a Summer, colors that are muted and cool — rather than bright or warm — tend to make your skin look brightest and most even.
Colors that work for Summer
Summer's palette stays cool and gentle — nothing too saturated, nothing too warm. It's the softer, lighter member of the cool-undertone family (its higher-contrast counterpart is Winter).
Colors to approach carefully
These aren't "banned" — they're just harder to make work, and worth testing before you build an outfit around them.
All four share the same problem for Summer: they're either too warm or too saturated for a cool, muted palette, and tend to overpower rather than complement the skin.
Building a Summer capsule wardrobe
- Outerwear: a soft gray or dusty navy coat instead of black — softer, and it works with the rest of the palette.
- Tops: powder blue, soft lilac, or dusty rose in place of mustard or bright orange.
- Bottoms: dusty navy, soft gray, or muted plum as your neutral base.
- Jewelry and accessories: silver or rose-gold metals, gray or navy leather rather than tan or gold.
Frequently asked questions
What jewelry looks best on a Summer?
Silver, platinum, and rose gold. Summer's cool undertone makes silver-toned metals look brighter, while yellow gold can look slightly heavy or harsh in comparison.
Can a Summer wear bright red?
A true, warm red is a stretch — try a softer rose-red or raspberry instead. Summer's palette is muted and cool, so the brightest, warmest reds tend to overpower it.
What's the difference between Summer and Winter?
Both are cool undertones, but Summer is soft and low-contrast while Winter is saturated and high-contrast. Think powder blue vs. royal blue, dusty rose vs. true red.
What's the best neutral color for Summer?
Soft gray, dusty navy, or soft white work better than black, which tends to look harsh and heavy against Summer's gentler coloring.
More for cool undertones
Explore the other seasons
Not sure Summer is actually your season? Get a personalized read from a selfie.
Find My Color Season