Light Summer: The Complete Guide
The Light Summer color palette is characterized by its fresh, fair and lively tones. This palette is known for its 'lightness,' which suits those with a light, radiant appearance. Enjoy this comprehensive guide that includes examples of Light Summers, outfit ideas, makeup, hair, denim, jewelry, and more!
Are you a Light Summer?
When you look into the mirror, you’ll notice that your overall appearance is light, with low contrast between your skin, eyes, and hair. As a Light Summer, your features are best complemented by cooler shades like soft white and gray, while warmer tones like ivory or chocolate brown may not suit you as well. You might be a light summer if you have these features:
Hair: blond, light brown, ash blond, platinum blond, soft/medium brown
Skin: You have cool/neutral undertones (both silver and light gold look nice)
Eyes: Your eyes may aqua, blue green, light green, or gray
Light Summer Examples
Here’s a selection of Light Summers with their natural hair color from my in-person color analysis consultations.
Were you analyzed correctly?
To ensure you were correctly identified as a Light Summer, here are some helpful tips to verify your results.
Photo Comparison: Do you see similarities with your coloring and the examples above? Does your personal coloring match the description? My Light Summers often have striking, light, and clear eyes that are usually the first feature I notice when they walk into my studio.
Compliments: Do you often receive compliments when wearing Light Summer colors?
Dark Colors: Do dark or muted shades make you look pale or tired?
Light Summer colors are fresh and breezy, reminiscent of a day at the beach—think sky blues, raspberry, and light aquas. These colors are light and cool, creating a refreshing look that's perfect for those with a Light Summer complexion. Unlike the warmer tones of Light Spring, or the slightly more soft and cooler shades of Cool Summer, Light Summer’s palette is light and soothing, offering a serene yet radiant appearance.
Want a free Light Summer color palette to save to your phone? Click here!
Light Summer colors have these characteristics:
Hue: The colors are cool but not extremely so, with more blue than yellow undertones. Even yellow shades will have a cooler, blue tint.
Value: The value of Light Summer colors is light which means they are lighter in intensity and brightness compared to Cool Summer. This is the defining aspect of the season. Colors like pastel blues, light pinks, and light aquas dominate, giving the palette a light and airy feel that flatters those with lighter hair, eyes, and skin tones.
Chroma: The colors have a medium level of chroma, so they are neither too muted nor too bright. They are brighter and more saturated than other Summer palettes, thanks to the influence of Spring.
Light Summer and Light Spring palettes are both light and airy, but they differ in their undertones:
Light Summer: Features light, cool shades, such as sky blues, bubblegum pinks, and aqua greens, all creating a refreshing and cool appearance.
Light Spring: Showcases light, warm, and delicate colors like peach, soft coral, and robin’s egg blue, offering a warm and fresh appearance that feels light and airy
While both seasons offer light colors, Light Summer leans towards light and cool shades, whereas Light Spring embraces light and warm tones.
To determine if you’re a Light Summer or Light Spring, consider the following:
Light Summer: If your natural coloring and hair tones are more of an ashy blonde, dishwater blonde, or soft brown, and you look great in soft whites, cool pinks, and light blues, you’re likely a Light Summer.
Light Spring: If your natural hair color leans towards lighter, warmer, and golden tones, and you find that you look radiant in ivory, camel, light peaches, and corals, you’re probably a Light Spring.
Light Summer and Cool Summer palettes both feature light and fresh colors, but they differ in their undertones:
Light Summer: Includes light, cool shades such as sky blues, bubblegum pinks, and aqua greens, creating a bright and radiant look.
Cool Summer: Showcases cool colors with a soft and refined quality, like powdery blues, soft lavenders, and misty grays, offering a calm and serene appearance reminiscent of a Monet painting.
While both seasons present colors, Light Summer leans towards light, cool hues, whereas Cool Summer emphasizes cooler, more muted tones.
To determine if you’re a Light Summer or Cool Summer, consider the following:
Light Summer: If both silver and light gold jewelry look equally stunning against your skin, you’re likely a Light Summer. This season embraces a range of light, cool hues that enhance your natural glow.
Cool Summer: If you find that only silver jewelry complements your skin and gold tends to look less flattering, you’re probably a Cool Summer. This palette focuses on cool undertones and softer, refined shades that bring out your natural elegance.
Discovered you’re a Light Summer and ready to shop?
ColorBook offers a unique real-time shopping experience tailored to your color season and style. Enjoy a fun and easy way to create your perfect Light Summer wardrobe!
Sweaters
Workwear
Casual
Tank Tops
Dresses
Beautiful neutrals
Perfect neutral colors include soft white, oyster, light gray, dove gray, cocoa brown, pewter, taupe
Neutrals to avoid
Dark Colors: Black and darker colors are too harsh and can make you look tired and older. Instead, choose cocoa brown or soft white.
Choose light & medium denim
These tones enhance the light, delicate, and cool undertones of the Light Summer palette, adding a refreshing and chic touch to your wardrobe.
Here are some tips to make the most of your Light Summer colors, keeping your look light, fresh, and balanced:
Denim + Color: Create a versatile wardrobe by pairing light denim with a top in your Light Summer colors and your favorite jewelry. This effortless combo is perfect for everyday wear!
Neutral + Accent: Combine a neutral shade with a Light Summer color for a chic and modern style. For instance, try soft white with aqua green or taupe with light blue to brighten up your outfit beautifully and naturally.
Light Summer makeup embraces light and cool tones that beautifully enhance your natural glow. Look for shades like light cool pinks, rose, raspberry, or a pink coral to create a harmonious, radiant look. Click here for a full list of Light Summer makeup recommendations, including blush, lipstick, eyeshadows, and mascara suggestions to complement your coloring.
Here’s a guide to help you choose the best metals, stones, and other accessories to complement your Light Summer palette.
Metals & Jewelry
Embracing the Light Summer palette extends to the choice of metals, where light gold, silver, and pewter reign supreme. These metals harmonize seamlessly with the season's light and refreshing vibe.
Stones
When it comes to gemstones, embrace the beauty of stones that complement your Light Summer palette. Think of turquoise for its refreshing blue-green hues, moonstone for its soft, iridescent glow, and aquamarine for its serene blue tones. Amethyst adds a touch of gentle purple, while opal offers a play of subtle colors. Pearl provides classic elegance, and beach glass captures the effortless, natural beauty of the shore. These gemstones will enhance your look with their light, cool, and radiant qualities, perfectly aligning with your Light Summer style.
For those with a Light Summer palette, embracing light and cool hues is essential. To keep your look fresh and radiant, consider avoiding:
Soft/Muted Colors: Dusty, muted tones can sometimes wash you out and diminish your natural glow.
Dark Colors: Deeper shades can be too intense, making you look pale or tired.
Here’s the hair advice I share with my Light Summer clients, along with examples of their natural hair color subtly highlighted by the sun.
Embrace Your Natural Color
Your natural hair color is perfectly suited to your palette! Trust the process and embrace your natural beauty as it will harmonize beautifully with your colors!
Opt for Light, Cool, Soft hues
If you choose to color your hair, opt for light and cool (ashy) tones that complement your Light Summer palette.
Light Summer Hair Characteristics
Hair color can range from blonde, light brown, ash blond, platinum blonde, to soft/medium brown.
These photos of Light Summer gray hair highlight its natural beauty, providing perfect inspiration to embrace gray hair with confidence and style!
When adding patterns and prints to your wardrobe, consider these tips to ensure they complement your natural coloring.
Suggested Patterns
Opt for patterns that feature over 75% of Soft Autumn colors. Look for natural and soft patterns, like oval shapes, leaves, and earthy textures. Small floral prints are also a great choice, especially if they feature delicate flowers.
Patterns to Avoid
Avoid geometric patterns, large motifs, and ordered arrangements, as they may clash with your soft, gentle appearance.
