Guide to the True Summer Seasonal Color Palette
The True Summer Seasonal Color Palette
In the 12 Seasonal Color System, True Summer (also known as Cool Summer) is a season dominated by coolness, and softness or muted-ness. (Cool and Soft). True Summer falls between Light Summer (Light and Cool) and Soft Summer (Soft and Cool). The palette focuses on colors with lower chroma (more muted), a range of moderate to lighter values, with an emphasis on the cooler hues (blues, purple, cool red and pinks).
Overall, the palette is elegant, tranquil, and refined, . The colors bring to mind grey river rocks and cool blue waters, raw multi-colored druzy stones, and soft clouds tinged with pink and purple as they drift through the sky just before dusk.
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True Summer Skin Tones and Hair Colors
True Summer natives possess cool skin with undertones of blue, beige, rose and grey. True Summer hair ranges from ash blonde, bronze, cool brown, ash brown-black, and silver. Overall, True Summer contrast is low and the most prominent aspect to their overall coloring is the coolness and softness of their overall coloring.
Compared to Light Summer, True Summer is cooler and softer or more muted. Compared to Soft Summers, True Summers are also cooler but not quite as soft.
True Summer Celebrities
Possibe True Summer celebrities include Caitriona Balfe, Emily Blunt, Emily Deschanel, Jessy Mendiola, Paulina Porizkova, Constance Wu, Emily DiDonato, and Kaya Scodelario. Note that these are just possibilities; confirmation requires a more formal draping process. Please note that changes in hair color, brow color, and lighting can have a profound effect on color harmony and perception.
True Summer Seasonal Color Palette
True Summer Neutrals and Colors to Avoid
True Summer neutrals are delicate and cool- think soft white, light grey, and soft taupes. Deeper neutrals include charcoals, steely blues, and grey green. True Summers can enjoy a wide variety of blues to use as neutrals (such as jeans, chambray shirts or dresses, or trousers and outerwear). Cool blues in light to mostly moderate values work very harmoniously with their accent colors.
True Summers can preserve their moonstone glow by avoiding colors that are dark and rich or overly warm and bright.
True Summer Metals, Stones, and Materials
True Summers look best in semi-polished soft white golds, platinums, and gentle silvers. A slight bit of texture (light hammering) can work, and a satin finish is equally harmonious. Overly polished and shiny metals can read as too bright and severe next to their gentle coloring.
Matte to semi-polished gemstones like white jade, moonstone, opal, sea glass, angelite and calcite can match the colors of their palette almost exactly. Overly prismatic and polished gemstones can look a bit severe and high contrast.
When considering materials, True Summers can lean into their soft definition and pearly glow with softly metallic mesh or fishnets, light cashmeres, soft mohairs, and cream satins.
Natural and Dramatic Makeup Looks for True Summers
True Summers look the most natural with a subtle approach to color and definition. Due to the softness of their season, color is best dispersed in a very gradual way with no hard borders or extreme concentrations. Brows and eyes can be slightly shaded for definition, and the cheeks and lips looks lovely with the slightest dab of sheer color. An overall slightly dewy to slightly matte look maintains that homogenous look. Very powdery or very dewy finishes tend to overwhelm their features.
For a more dramatic makeup look, True Summers look beautiful in a smoky eye with a relatively nude face. The smoked out eyeshadow should be well blended and restrained- a little goes a long way. Alternatively, a more intensified lip and cheek color can be paired with a slightly shimmery eye for their version of “bright and fresh.”
True Summer FAQ
Q: What is the True Summer seasonal color palette?
A: True Summer, also called Cool Summer, is a season in the 12 Seasonal Color System defined by coolness and softness (muted tones). It sits between Light Summer (Light and Cool) and Soft Summer (Soft and Cool). Colors are gentle, slightly muted, and cool, emphasizing blues, purples, and cool reds and pinks. The overall impression is elegant, tranquil, and refined, reminiscent of soft clouds, grey river rocks, and calm blue waters.
Q: Why is True Summer sometimes called Cool Summer?
A: True Summer is called Cool Summer because the defining trait of the season is its cool undertone. The colors are soft, muted, and consistently cool, creating a harmonious and calming effect. The coolness is the strongest component, setting True Summer apart from neighboring seasons that may include warmer or brighter tones.
Q: What skin tones and hair colors are typical for True Summer?
A: True Summer skin is cool with undertones of blue, beige, rose, or grey. Hair tends to range from ash blonde, bronze, cool brown, ash brown-black, to silver. Overall, the coloring is low-contrast, soft, and cool, giving a delicate and harmonious presence.
Q: Which neutrals and colors work best for True Summer?
A: True Summer neutrals are soft and cool, including soft white, light grey, soft taupe, charcoals, steely blues, and grey-green. Cool blues in light to moderate values work beautifully as neutrals. Avoid overly warm, dark, or rich colors, which can overpower the gentle, pearly quality of the season.
Q: Which metals, gemstones, and materials harmonize with True Summer?
A: True Summers look best in semi-polished soft white golds, platinums, gentle silvers, and satin finishes. Gemstones with soft, muted tones like white jade, moonstone, opal, sea glass, angelite, and calcite align well. Materials like soft cashmere, light mohairs, cream satins, or softly metallic meshes enhance the season’s pearly, soft quality.
Q: Are there celebrity examples of True Summer?
A: Possible True Summer celebrities include Caitriona Balfe, Emily Blunt, Emily Deschanel, Jessy Mendiola, Paulina Porizkova, Constance Wu, Emily DiDonato, and Kaya Scodelario. They exemplify True Summer’s gentle, cool, and softly luminous coloring.
Q: How can I confirm if I am a True Summer?
A: Observing your natural coloring, undertones, and contrast can help, but for certainty, a structured approach is best. My Virtual Guide to Navigating the World of Seasonal Color offers a comprehensive understanding of seasonal palettes. For a personalized assessment, my Virtual Seasonal Color Analysis provides one-on-one guidance to identify your unique, fully customized palette.
xx
Nona
