What all Autumns have in common
Autumn colors are warm and grounded, with a golden or brown base. Compared with Spring colors they’re earthier and less sparkly; compared with Winter colors they’re warmer and softer. On an Autumn these colors bring out warmth in the skin and the golden flecks in the eyes. Cool, icy colors — icy pink, snow white, cool gray — tend to make Autumn skin look gray.
Most Autumns look good in gold, bronze and copper, in cream or ecru instead of white, and in chocolate brown instead of black. What separates the three Autumns is how muted or how deep the colors should be.
Soft, True or Deep Autumn: how to tell them apart
Dominant quality
- Soft Autumn
- chroma (soft)
- True Autumn
- temperature (warm)
- Deep Autumn
- value (deep)
Typical coloring
- Soft Autumn
- light-to-medium brown or dark blonde hair, low contrast
- True Autumn
- red or golden-brown hair, warm skin
- Deep Autumn
- dark brown hair, warm or olive skin
Best colors
- Soft Autumn
- taupe, olive, peach, sea green
- True Autumn
- camel, rust, olive, mustard
- Deep Autumn
- chocolate, bottle green, rust, burgundy
Neutrals
- Soft Autumn
- taupe, ecru, mocha, khaki
- True Autumn
- camel, chocolate, cream
- Deep Autumn
- chocolate, black, cream
Watch out for
- Soft Autumn
- black, bright fuchsia, snow white
- True Autumn
- icy pink, cool gray
- Deep Autumn
- pastels, icy pink
| Soft Autumn | True Autumn | Deep Autumn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dominant quality | chroma (soft) | temperature (warm) | value (deep) |
| Typical coloring | light-to-medium brown or dark blonde hair, low contrast | red or golden-brown hair, warm skin | dark brown hair, warm or olive skin |
| Best colors | taupe, olive, peach, sea green | camel, rust, olive, mustard | chocolate, bottle green, rust, burgundy |
| Neutrals | taupe, ecru, mocha, khaki | camel, chocolate, cream | chocolate, black, cream |
| Watch out for | black, bright fuchsia, snow white | icy pink, cool gray | pastels, icy pink |
A quick test: compare chocolate brown with taupe. If chocolate looks rich and taupe looks pale, lean toward Deep Autumn. If taupe looks harmonious and chocolate looks heavy, lean toward Soft Autumn. If rust and mustard win over both, try True Autumn.
Autumn neutrals
- Instead of black: chocolate brown or mocha (Deep Autumn can wear black away from the face, and sometimes near it).
- Instead of snow white: cream, ecru or ivory.
- Instead of cool gray: khaki, taupe or olive.
- Denim: medium and dark washes with a warm, slightly faded tone.
Common Autumn mistakes
- Gray office basics. A gray blazer or sweater near the face drains an Autumn. Swap for camel, olive or chocolate.
- Only beige. Autumn neutrals need an accent — rust, mustard or bottle green — to come alive.
- Confusing Autumn with Spring. Both are warm. If coral and turquoise look loud while rust and olive look natural, you’re an Autumn.
Not sure which Autumn you are? Take the free color analysis quiz.
