The 4 Color Seasons
Explained in Full

The seasonal color system organizes all human colorings into four main groups - Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter - based on whether your natural coloring is warm or cool, light or deep, and bright or muted. Each season has a distinct set of colors that will make you look effortlessly put-together, and a set of colors that will work against you.

If you haven't already, start with our beginner's guide to what color analysis is and how it works. This guide goes deeper into each season.

How to Know Which Season You Are

Your season is determined by three key factors:

• Undertone - warm (yellow, peach, golden skin/veins) or cool (pink, rosy, bluish veins)
• Value/Depth - light (fair skin, light hair) or deep (dark skin, dark hair)
• Chroma - bright/clear (vivid natural coloring) or muted/soft (more blended, dusty features)

Spring - Warm, Light, and Clear

Spring colorings are warm and bright. Spring types have warm or peachy skin, often with golden undertones. Hair is typically blonde, strawberry blonde, light brown with golden highlights, or warm auburn. Eyes are commonly blue, green, hazel, or warm brown.

Best colors for Spring: Warm peach, coral, salmon, golden yellow, warm ivory, warm white, camel, warm olive green, warm turquoise, tomato red.

Colors to avoid: Cool, muted shades like dusty mauve, cool grey, black, cool navy, or anything with an icy or ashy quality.

Spring Subcategories

• True (Warm) Spring - The warmest and most vivid Spring. Clear, saturated warm tones.
• Light Spring - Lighter and slightly more delicate. Soft warm colors, not too deep or intense.
• Bright Spring - Shares clarity with Bright Winter but remains warm-toned. Clear, vivid shades.

Summer - Cool, Light, and Muted

Summer colorings are cool, soft, and understated. Summer types have cool or neutral-cool skin, often with rosy, pinkish, or beige-rose undertones. Hair ranges from ash blonde to cool light brown or mousy brown. Eyes are commonly grey-blue, cool blue, soft green, or cool hazel.

Best colors for Summer: Soft rose, dusty lavender, powder blue, cool mauve, sage green, soft teal, dove grey, cool navy, raspberry, pale plum.

Colors to avoid: Warm, intense shades - orange, golden yellow, bright coral, warm red, olive, camel, or anything with a strong yellow/golden undertone.

Summer Subcategories

• True (Cool) Summer - Classic cool Summer. Soft, dusty, muted shades in cool tones.
• Light Summer - Lighter and slightly warmer than True Summer. Very delicate coloring.
• Soft Summer - The most muted Summer. Softened, blended shades - avoids anything too vivid.

Autumn - Warm, Deep, and Muted

Autumn colorings are warm, rich, and earthy. Autumn types have warm, golden, or olive skin with yellow or peachy undertones. Hair ranges from auburn and copper to warm dark brown or golden brown. Eyes are typically warm brown, hazel, olive green, or dark with warm tones.

Best colors for Autumn: Terracotta, burnt orange, mustard yellow, olive green, warm forest green, camel, rust, deep teal (with warm base), chocolate brown, warm burgundy.

Colors to avoid: Cool, icy, or overly bright shades - pastel pink, cool grey, stark white, cool blue, vivid purple, or anything with a strong pink or blue undertone.

Autumn Subcategories

• True (Warm) Autumn - The warmest Autumn. Rich, medium-depth earthy tones.
• Soft Autumn - The most muted Autumn. Softer, more blended warm shades. Can sometimes be mistyped as Summer due to low saturation.
• Deep Autumn - The deepest Autumn. Rich, dark warm tones. Often mistyped as Winter due to depth. See: Soft Autumn vs. Deep Autumn.

Winter - Cool, Deep, and Clear

Winter colorings are bold, clear, and high-contrast. Winter types have cool or neutral-cool skin, typically with pink, olive, or neutral undertones. Hair is usually dark brown, black, or very ash. Eyes are commonly dark brown, cool blue, icy blue, or grey-green.

Best colors for Winter: True red, royal blue, stark white, icy pastels (icy pink, icy blue, icy lavender), black, jewel tones (emerald, sapphire, deep magenta), cool navy, bright fuchsia.

Colors to avoid: Warm, muted, or earthy shades - orange, warm brown, camel, terracotta, mustard, olive, or warm coral.

Winter Subcategories

• True (Cool) Winter - The most classic cool Winter. Loves high contrast and cool jewel tones.
• Bright Winter - The most vivid Winter. Shares some clarity with Bright Spring but remains cool. High-saturation clear colors.
• Deep Winter - The deepest Winter. Dark, rich, cool tones. Often mistyped as Deep Autumn.