Summer is full of color inspiration, from seaside landscapes and blooming gardens to striped beach huts and refreshing ice lollies. Whatever your tonal palette, there are summer color stories that naturally reflect the way your coloring works best. Think of these as your seasonal styling cues: simple ways to create outfits that feel harmonious, flattering and effortless.
Lights
Imagine a peaceful shoreline dotted with pale shells, soft aqua sea foam and sun-bleached driftwood. The beauty comes from the delicacy of the colors rather than strong contrast. With your natural blonde hair, light eyes and delicate skin tone, your most flattering looks work in much the same way. Of course, your palette is far more colorful, but keep in mind light and delicate and you’ll be on to a winner. Combine two light colors for a gentle, harmonious effect, or pair a light shade with a medium tone to add a little definition while maintaining the overall lightness.
Try: Light aqua with stone, pastel pink with ivory, or sky blue with light grey.
Style Tip: For an instant update choose pearl-toned shoes, pale metallics or soft taupe bags that will work with many things in your wardrobe.
Deeps
Think of a summer evening at a music festival: dark denim, black sunglasses, rich leather accessories and deep navy skies illuminated by bright stage lights. The lighter colors are there, but they’re grounded by deeper shades that give the scene impact and structure. Just like your coloring, lighter colors work best when balanced by something deeper nearby. Don’t be afraid to combine two deeper shades from your palette in summer, they can be quite striking.
Try: Damson with turquoise, dark navy with blush pink or pewter and scarlet.
Style Tip: When wearing a light summer dress, add a deeper accessory close to your face to maintain balance and definition.
Warms
Picture golden yellow sunflowers against rich green fields. Everything has a sun-kissed quality and feels naturally warmed by the summer sun. Warm palettes shine in colors with golden undertones, particularly in medium depths. When wearing deeper colors from your palette, balance them with the lighter or paler shades to keep your overall look medium in depth. Cooler neutrals such as navy can appear a little flat unless paired with something warmer.
Try: Daffodil with moss, amber with oatmeal, or turquoise with cream.
Style Tip: If your outfit feels a little dull, add a warm accent such as a coral necklace, gold jewellery or a tan accessory.
Cools
Imagine blue hydrangeas, cool lavender blooms and clear coastal waters. These colours feel fresh and beautifully blue-based. Cool palettes are enhanced by colors that share this cool quality, particularly in medium to deeper depths, and often benefit from a little contrast to keep the look vibrant. Avoid colors that have a warm, yellow tone, as these will make your skin appear sallow, even if you have a suntan.
Try: Baby pink with denim blue, icy blue with light teal or purple with light grey.
Style Tip: Silver jewellery and cool-toned accessories help reinforce the coolness of your palette.
Clears
Rows of brightly painted beach huts capture the essence of a Clear palette. The colors are vivid, fresh and energetic, with strong contrast between light and dark. Your dark hair and bright eyes naturally supports this clarity, so embrace combinations that create impact and avoid muted, blended or dusty shades that can dull your appearance. Lipstick is likely to be your best cosmetic. Don’t be afraid to afraid to try stronger shades.
Try: Chinese blue and white, blush pink with navy, or turquoise with crisp black.
Style Tip: A white top can be one of your most powerful wardrobe pieces when paired with a strong, vibrant colour.
Softs
Imagine a relaxed summer lunch on a shaded terrace, soft linen tablecloths, eucalyptus foliage and delicate blush flowers. The beauty lies in how effortlessly the colors blend together . Nothing feels stark or contrasting, yet the overall effect is elegant and sophisticated. Soft palettes work in exactly the same way, creating harmony through colors that sit closely together in tone and depth. Monochromatic and tone-on-tone outfits are particularly flattering, allowing your natural coloring to shine without being overwhelmed by contrast.
Try: Blush pink with pewter, sage with charcoal grey, or jade with taupe.
Style Tip: Build your outfit using shades from the same colour family or neighbouring colours on your palette. The less contrast between the colours, the more polished and effortless your look will appear.
