Summer color type: colors and outfits for the summer palette

The summer color type goes with cool, light and muted colors such as rosé, lilac, dove blue, gray-blue, mint and gray. This is a guide, not a rule: in the end, what counts is what you like to wear.

If you recognize yourself in the summer type, you are probably looking for colors for tops, knitwear and jackets. This guide shows the palette, explains what cool, light and muted mean, and collects clothing examples and three outfits to copy.

Which colors go with the summer color type?

The summer palette is made up of shades with a cool, slightly bluish base tone. The shades are soft, not bright. They include:

• Rosé and dusty rose. Delicate pink shades, with a hint of gray in dusty rose. More in the guide What color goes with pink.
• Lilac and mauve. A light purple and a muted pink-purple. You can find partners for lilac in the guide What color goes with lilac and purple.
• Dove blue, gray-blue and light blue. Blues with a little gray, calm and clear.
• Mint. A cool, light green. You can find combinations in the guide What color goes with mint.
• Gray. From light gray to dark gray, a calm partner for all the other shades. More in the guide What color goes with gray.

White, cream in a cool shade and a soft navy are added. The colors should go together, not stand out one by one.

What is the summer color type?

Color type theory assigns color palettes to the four seasons. Summer stands for three qualities:

• Cool. The colors have a bluish undertone, not a yellowish one.
• Light to muted. The shades are light or slightly softened, never bright.
• Soft. The transitions between colors are gentle, and strong contrasts are rare.

How you find out which color type you belong to is explained in the guide Finding your color type. The spring type is also light, but warm and clear. It is described in the guide Spring color type.

Which clothes go with the summer color type?

These pieces from the shop match the colors of the palette.

Lilac. The muslin blouse in lilac is a light purple with a full button placket. Lilac goes with white, gray and denim, and the blouse is an easy way into the palette.

Pink. A ribbed knit sweater in pink brings color to fall and stays soft. Gray, white and beige go with it. You can find more styles among the knit sweaters.

Mint. The off-shoulder muslin blouse in mint green is a light, fresh green. White, light blue or gray are enough to go with it.

Light blue. The denim skort in light blue is a pale denim shade that goes well with white, beige and pink. You can find more styles among the skorts.

Gray. The bouclé jacket in gray with a zip is a calm shade that goes with pink and white. You can find more styles among the bouclé jackets.

How do you combine the colors of the summer palette?

Three basic ideas help you put outfits together:

• Tone on tone. Rosé, lilac and mauve are close to each other. A lilac blouse with pink pants stays calm and soft.
• One color, one calm partner. One colored piece in pink, mint or light blue, with gray, white or denim. An outfit rarely needs more color than that.
• Soft contrasts. Instead of harsh black-and-white contrasts, light gray with white or gray-blue with rosé suit the palette better.

Three outfits for the summer color type

Light and soft. Muslin blouse in lilac, white pants, light shoes. Two shades, and the blouse stays the only color.

Pink and gray. Pink knit sweater, gray pants and the gray bouclé jacket worn open over it. Both shades have a cool base tone and stay calm.

Mint and light blue. Mint green off-shoulder blouse with the light blue denim skort. White or light shoes keep the look airy.

Which colors appear less often in the summer palette?

Strong, warm shades such as orange, mustard yellow or rust red are not part of the palette. Very bright colors also suit the soft character less. Instead of pure black, many people who combine by color type theory choose a softer dark shade such as dark gray, gray-blue or navy. If you like a shade that is not in the palette, wear it anyway. The palette is a starting point.

Which jewelry goes with the summer color type?

In color type theory, silver and rose gold count as matching metals because they belong with the cool shades of the palette. Pearls and light stones in pink or blue are another option.

Matching items in the shop: muslin blouses and pink sweaters.

Frequently asked questions

Which colors go with the summer color type?

Rosé, dusty rose, lilac, mauve, dove blue, gray-blue, mint and gray. These are cool, light and muted shades.

Is the summer type a cool or a warm type?

The summer type is one of the cool color types. Its palette has a bluish undertone.

Can the summer type wear black?

Yes, nobody forbids it. In the palette, a soft dark shade such as dark gray or gray-blue is the more restrained choice.

What is the difference between the summer type and the spring type?

The summer type has cool, muted colors, the spring type warm, clear ones. You can read more in the guide to the spring type.

Which colors does the summer type wear in fall and winter?

Gray-blue, mauve, dusty rose and gray go well with knitwear. A pink knit sweater with gray pants is a simple starting point.