A complete styling guide if you're a light summer.

Picture baby blue skies dotted with fluffy clouds or a misty garden of pastel flowers. This is light summer. 

This colour palette sits in between light spring and true summer on the seasonal flow chart and is characterised by its soft, muted cool tones and delicate pastels. 

How to tell if you're light summer.

Light summer is categorised as the following: medium-cool hue, light value and neutral chroma.

Medium-cool hue: Colours lean towards the cooler end of the scale but aren't extremely cool. This means you’ll find more blue tones than yellow (the warmest colour of all), and when yellow tones do appear, they, too, will contain a hint of blue. 

Light value: Dark colours simply do not exist in a light summer's palette. There are some medium shades but these are just supporting colours for the light shades. 

Neutral chroma: Colours are neither extremely muted nor extremely vibrant. However, they are more saturated when compared to soft summer and true summer because this palette has spring's influence. 

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What is light summer's colour palette?

Light summer's best colours include:

• Muted neutrals: Soft taupe, cool beige and light grey

• Soft cool tones: Baby blue, lavender, light rose and pale grey

• Pastels: Powder pink, mint green and light lilac

• Desaturated rich tones: Dusty plum, washed-out mauve and soft teal

On the flip side, the colours to avoid if you're light summer include:

• Warm and bright colours: Bright orange, golden yellow and warm coral. 

• Highly saturated hues: Any neon, electric or fluorescent shades that scream intensity and vibrancy.

Building a light summer colour palette is an easy process when you focus on this season's best colours. Here's an example of what a light summer's colour palette might look like:

Base colour: Soft cloudy grey

Light neutral: Light taupe

Dark neutral: Dusty blue

Main colour: Powder pink 

Accent colours: Light lavender, soft mint green or pale grey

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Celebrities with a light summer colour palette.

Some notable people with a light summer colour palette include Gwyneth Paltrow, Reese Witherspoon, Amy Poehler, Naomi Watts, Kirsten Dunst, Margot Robbie, January Jones, Cate Blanchett, Lili Reinhart, Sophie Monk and Michelle Pfeiffer. These individuals are often associated with this colour palette because their cool-toned features enhance their harmonious and muted appearance. Of course, this is only a guide and their colour palettes will change depending on their styling choices.

Styling tips for light summer.

Mix and match pastels: Go crazy with pastels! Pair pastel tops with pastel bottoms, or layer different pastel pieces together — yes, all pastels cohesively work together so don't be afraid to mix and match. Prioritise pastels within your colour palette, like soft blue, light lilac, powder pink and icy mint green. 

Start with subtle neutrals: You'll want to begin by building the base of your wardrobe with staples in subtle neutrals like light taupe, cool beige and soft ivory. These will provide a versatile backdrop for all your outfits and allow you to layer, layer and layer. 

Invest in light layers: Fabrics like chiffon, linen, organza and lace will add softness to your style and keep you looking effortlessly chic. 

Opt for soft and flowy pieces: To add to your effortlessly chic style, you're guaranteed to look drop-dead gorgeous in soft and flowing clothing. Prime examples of these include dresses with gentle draping, skirts with soft pleats and tops with billowy sleeves. 

Play with delicate patterns: Avoid bold, abstract and geometric prints — instead, opt for subtle florals, soft stripes or delicate polka dots that don't overpower your outfits. 

Invest in dainty accessories: Delicate jewellery in silver or muted rose gold will enhance your femininity. A petite pendant, dainty stacking rings and stud earrings are all great examples of light summer jewellery. Other accessories to invest in include scarves in pastel hues and handbags made from soft leather or suede. 

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Beauty tips for light summer.

Base: Aim for a soft matte finish with your foundation and concealer. The smooth and refined look this finish creates will complement your natural softness. You'll want to go easy on the contouring and only use a subtle amount of highlighter on the high points of your face for a natural-looking glow. 

Eyes: Forego the black eyeliner and select one in soft brown or charcoal grey, which will define your eyes without adding too much intensity. This application should carry out into your eyeshadow palette — colours like soft blue, lavender and pale grey will create an elegant eye makeup look. Then, you can add definition with a black or dark brown mascara. 

Blush: With a light hand, apply a soft pink blush with cool undertones — you want just enough to add a natural flush of colour to your cheeks. 

Lipstick: Skip the bold lip and opt for soft pink shades like rosy pink, mauve or soft berry. 

Final thoughts on light summer.

Wondering if you're a light summer? If soft, muted cool tones and delicate pastels enhance your natural light-contrast features, you might fall into this colour palette. Of course, this shouldn't deter you from wearing colours you love but aren't classified as light summer. After all, your unique colour palette should naturally uplift your appearance and confidence. 

If you're looking to expand your palette, you can also consider borrowing colours from the sister seasons of light summer: light spring and true summer. 

Want to know what season you are? Take our free quiz below. 

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