Cool Summer: The Complete Guide
The Cool Summer color palette is characterized by its soft, cool, and muted tones. This palette is known for its 'coolness,' which suits those with a gentle, refined appearance. Enjoy this comprehensive guide that includes examples of Cool Summers, outfit ideas, makeup, hair, denim, jewelry, and more!
Are you a Cool Summer?
When you look into the mirror, you’ll notice that your overall appearance is cool, with low to medium contrast between your skin, eyes, and hair. As a Cool Summer, your features are best complemented by cooler shades like soft blue and gray, while warmer tones like orange or golden brown may not suit you as well. You might be a Cool Summer if you have these features:
Hair: Ash blonde, light to medium ash brown, or soft gray
Skin: Cool undertones with a pink or rosy hue
Eyes: Soft blue, gray, or cool green
Cool Summer Examples
Here’s a selection of Cool Summers with their natural hair color from in-person color analysis consultations.
Were you analyzed correctly?
To ensure you were correctly identified as a Cool 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? Cool Summers often have a harmonious blend of features with cool undertones.
Compliments: Do you often receive compliments when wearing Cool Summer colors?
Warm Colors: Do warm or bright shades make you look pale or tired?
Cool Summer colors are soft and elegant, reminiscent of a misty morning—think lavender, soft rose, and cool aquas. These colors are cool and muted, creating a harmonious look that's perfect for those with a Cool Summer complexion. Unlike the brighter tones of Cool Winter, or the slightly warmer shades of Light Summer, Cool Summer’s palette is gentle and soothing, offering a serene yet sophisticated appearance.
Want a free Cool Summer color palette to save to your phone? Click here!
Cool Summer colors have these characteristics:
Hue: The palette leans decidedly cool, with blue undertones dominating across the board. Even warmer colors like pinks and purples maintain a cool, blue-based feel.
Value: Cool Summer sits in the medium-to-light range. The colors aren’t as light as Light Summer or as deep as Deep Winter—they strike a soft, balanced middle ground that complements those with soft, cool features.
Chroma: The chroma is soft to medium, meaning the colors are more muted than bright. This subtle softness gives the palette an elegant, refined look that harmonizes well with naturally low-contrast coloring.
Both Cool Summer and Light Summer belong to the Summer family, so they share softness, cool undertones, and a refined, gentle feel. But here’s how they differ:
Cool Summer is the coolest of all the Summer seasons. Its palette leans fully cool, with shades like blue-gray, rose, and soft navy. The colors are more muted and balanced in value, making them ideal for those with cool, low-contrast coloring.
Light Summer is the lightest Summer season. Its colors are soft and delicate with a touch more brightness—think pastel blue, light pink, and aqua. While still cool, the palette is slightly lighter and fresher, influenced subtly by Spring.
Cool Summer and Soft Summer both belong to the Summer family, so they share cool undertones, soft edges, and an overall muted elegance. But their key differences lie in temperature and clarity:
Cool Summer is the coolest and most balanced of the Summer seasons. The colors are soft but clear, with a noticeable coolness—think raspberry, powder blue, and steel gray. It’s ideal for those with cool skin, eyes, and hair, often with a touch more contrast than other Summers.
Soft Summer is the most muted of the Summer seasons. The palette leans slightly cooler than warm but stays very soft and gentle—imagine dusty rose, sage green, and smoky blue. It works beautifully for those whose features blend together with little contrast.
Discovered you’re a Cool 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 Cool Summer wardrobe!
Sweaters
Workwear
Casual
Tank Tops
Dresses
Cool Summer Neutrals - Some of the most flattering options include:
Soft white (not stark white), Cool gray, Oyster or pearl, Pewter, taupe, Cocoa brown (with a cool undertone)
These shades complement your naturally cool coloring without overpowering it.
Neutrals to Avoid
Harsh black can feel too heavy on Cool Summer skin, pulling focus and creating unwanted shadows.
Instead, opt for softer, cool-toned alternatives like pewter, cool cocoa, or soft white—they enhance your natural contrast and keep your look fresh and harmonious.
Opt for medium, washed out, cool-toned denim.
Think soft indigo, faded blue, or cool gray washes—these shades harmonize beautifully with Cool Summer’s subtle, cool undertones and add a polished, effortless vibe to your wardrobe.
Here are a few ways to make the most of your Cool Summer palette—keeping your look soft, refined, and balanced:
Denim + Color: Pair soft, cool-toned denim (like medium-wash or gray-blue) with a top in one of your Cool Summer colors—think rose, soft navy, or dusty periwinkle. Add silver or pewter jewelry for an easy, elevated everyday outfit.
Neutral + Accent: Combine a Cool Summer neutral with a gentle pop of color for a modern, understated look. Try dove gray with soft lavender, or cool taupe with muted teal to create a naturally polished feel.
Cool Summer makeup highlights soft, cool tones that enhance your natural beauty without overpowering it.
Look for shades like rose, mauve, soft plum to create a fresh, refined look that stays true to your coloring.
Click here for a full list of Cool Summer makeup recommendations—including blush, lipstick, eyeshadow, and mascara picks designed to flatter your cool-toned palette.
Here’s a guide to help you choose the best metals, stones, and accessories to complement your Cool Summer palette.
Metals & Jewelry
Cool Summer shines in cool-toned metals that mirror the season’s soft and serene energy. Look for platinum, soft silver, and pewter—these understated finishes harmonize beautifully with your natural coloring and won’t overpower your delicate contrast.
Stones
For gemstones, choose soft, muted tones with a cool undertone to enhance your look. Some ideal options include:
Aquamarine – a soft, serene blue that reflects Cool Summer's water inspiration
Jade – in cooler shades, offering a subtle, earthy elegance
Rose quartz – gentle pink for a natural flush of color
Moonstone and opal – for their iridescent, ethereal glow
Pearl – timeless and refined, perfect for Cool Summer’s classic elegance
Amethyst – adds soft purple tones that pair beautifully with your palette
These gemstones echo the season’s essence: refreshing, gentle, and serene—and effortlessly elevate your everyday style.
For those with a Cool Summer palette, sticking to soft, cool, and balanced tones is key to looking fresh and harmonious. To keep your natural glow, it’s helpful to avoid:
Overly warm colors: Shades with heavy yellow or golden undertones—like mustard, warm orange, or tomato red—can clash with your cool undertones and appear out of place.
Bright, saturated colors: Intense hues (like neon pink or bright cobalt) can overwhelm your naturally soft contrast and take center stage instead of you.
Very dark shades: Deep blacks, rich browns, or charcoal navy may feel too harsh, pulling the light from your face and making you appear tired or washed out.
Here’s the hair advice I share with my Cool 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 Cool, Soft hues
If you choose to color your hair, opt for cool (ashy) tones that complement your Cool Summer palette.
These photos of Cool 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 Cool Summer 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.
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