soft autumn

This subtype is the most muted of the Autumn season. Their colours are mixed with grey to soften and yellow to warm, which creates a palette reminiscent of a wildflower meadow at golden hour.

characteristics

Soft Autumn is found between Soft Summer and Warm Autumn on the seasonal flow. This subtype features a low to moderate contrast level meaning their best colours are similar to those in their own palette in either hue or value. Their palette includes dusty tints like lichen green, natural indigo and harvest gold.

CONTRAST

Soft Autumn individuals have low levels of contrast. Their hair and eyes may be deeper than their skin but this level is still reduced by the softened chroma across their appearance. They may have a naturally matte or sheer complexion, grey pigmentation in their eyes and a glistening hair shine.

SKIN TONE

We see Soft Autumn individuals with fair through to tan skin tones in either warm or neutral-warm hue. This means their veins may appear green or blue beneath the skin and warm metals such as bronze, brass and yellow gold work best for them. However, they can wear cool metals such as pewter provided they balance this with warm neutrals and accents in their clothing. Their complexions also tend to be matte or naturally powdered. They may also have freckles but tend to burn then tan.

EYES

Typical examples of eye colours we see across Soft Autumn include blue, green and light hazel as well as light and medium brown. However, any colour which is somewhat warm is possible. Due to their soft chroma these colours tend to have a touch of grey pigmentation, which reduces their reflectivity in contrast tests. We may also see soft separation on the outer iris edge as well as swirling borders on the inner section and an Aztec sun shape around the pupil. Some may have iris freckles.

HAIR

Despite their low contrast level, Soft Autumn individuals have medium to deep coloured hair due to the dark influence of their season. We see medium blondes through to dark brunettes as well as light auburn. Colours are typically golden, honey or red in tone but, as they border Summer, it is sometimes possible to see a mix of cooler ash. They also tend to have glistening finishes meaning individual flecks reflect the light rather than one strip as seen in brighter seasons.

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Soft Autumn: Hair Dye

Soft Autumn hair dye should be blonde, brunette, auburn or copper in medium depths to maintain both warmth and the subtype's contrast level.

Soft Autumn

Soft Autumn: Lipstick

Soft Autumn lipsticks are dusty and warm with a moderate depth to balance their natural contrast level.

Soft Autumn

colour palette

Soft Autumn colours are reminiscent of a journey into a whimsical mushroom forest. Its towering fungi forming a canopy of earthy umber and sienna, their caps streaked with faded terra cotta. Delicate strands of lichen drape like curtains from the stalks, contrasting with the muted blue shadows of the undergrowth. Wild rabbits hop through the scene, their fur blending with the khaki tones of fallen leaves and the golden carpet of harvest gold mushroom spores.

metals

As a neutral-warm subtype, Soft Autumn can wear cool metals but these need to be balanced with warm neutrals or accents in sartorial choices. Yellow gold, bronze, brass and blush rose gold will always be more effective. These should be light or medium depth and in either brushed or hammered finishes. They should avoid dark metals as these are jarring against a delicate appearance. Similarly, polished finishes clash with soft chroma and look unnatural.

neutrals

Soft Autumn individuals cannot wear true black as it clashes with their warmth and gives their skin a green tinge. Greyish dark browns are better suited. Similarly, light greyish beiges are better than pure white. This bright neutral is harsh on muted individuals and can blanch the appearance making them look pale and unwell.

accents

Due to its neutral-warm hue, the Soft Autumn palette contains more reds, yellows and oranges. These include marsala red, burnt sienna and light ochre. This subtype borders Summer so there are some blues but these are mixed with grey to soften as well as yellow to warm resulting in muted variations.

combinations

As their contrast level is low to high, colour combinations need to reflect what is in the Soft Autumn individual’s natural palette. In the first two examples, we have shown how neighbouring hues on the colour chart pair well. Similarly, you can select multiple colours of varying depths from one column to create a monochromatic mix, as shown in the last two examples. Alternatively, light neutrals can be paired with dark accents to achieve a similar effect. This is what we have demonstrated in the third and fourth examples.

colours to borrow

Depending on which way the Soft Autumn individual flows, they may be able to borrow colours from neighbouring Soft Summer or Warm Autumn. Soft Summer shares Soft Autumn's muted chroma but has a neutral-cool hue. This means Soft Autumn must select the warmer colours from this palette in order to maintain balance. Similarly, Warm Autumn is much richer than Soft Autumn so the cooler, softer colours need to be selected from this palette. Please note that the colours marked with an asterisk above are taken from the Soft Summer and Warm Autumn palettes respectively.

colours to avoid

As a soft and warm subtype, Soft Autumn’s worst colours are bright and cool, such as those seen in Bright Winter. The cool jewel tones in the examples above clash with Amber's muted chroma and reflect white on her skin, making her look pale and unwell. This demonstrates that they are not suitable for her delicate appearance. Again, the colour codes above marked with an asterisk are taken from the Bright Winter sample palette.

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