In the realm of men’s style and image consulting, seasonal colour analysis is the most powerful, and cheapest, tool for enhancing your look and building confidence fast.
Seasonal colour theory states that natural colours harmonise with individuals’ unique colour complex and when properly matched can enhance appearance by creating a cohesive, flattering look.
According to the theory, the 4 main seasons (Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter) are further detailed into 3 sub-seasons to a total of 12 unique colour palettes that complement different skin, hair, and eye colours.
Seasonal Colour Analysis Key Components
To find out your seasonal colour palette and which seasonal colours match you best, the analysis examines the following 3 aspects of your natural colouring complex:
- Skin Undertone – The underlying hue of your skin, which can be warm, cool, or neutral. The undertone is distinct from the surface tone of the skin and remains constant regardless of tanning or skin conditions.
- Hair Colour – Your natural hair colour, including the interplay of highlights and lowlights, plays a crucial role in determining your seasonal colour. Even if you have grey hair or are balding, the natural pigmentation is relevant to the seasonal colour analysis.
- Eye Colour – The combination of colours in your iris, including the primary colour, secondary hues, and unique patterns or variations, contributes to your overall seasonal colour profile.
The interplay between these features determines the level of contrast, depth, and clarity that characterises your natural colouring.
If you want to find out fast your main seasonal colour, take our free colour quiz for men.
Now let’s have a look in detail at the Summer colour season and its 3 subseasons: Light, True/Cool, and Soft.
- Light Summer – Soft and light colours with a cool undertone, pastel and muted.
- True/Cool Summer – The coolest version of summer colours, blue-based and purely cool.
- Soft Summer – Cool but muted tones, with a more gentle and greyish appearance (not too bright or clear).
Summer – The Soft Hues of Serenity
The Summer season in colour analysis is characterised by coolness, softness, and a gentle muted quality.
Men who fall into the Summer category have a cool undertone to their skin, hair, and eyes, creating a harmonious and serene appearance.
Before we delve into the specific sub-seasons, let’s explore the general characteristics of Summer colouring:
- Cool undertones in the skin, with a pink or blue cast
- Hair colours ranging from ash blonde to cool brown, sometimes with a hint of grey or silver
- Soft, cool eye colours such as blue, grey, or cool brown
- An overall gentle and refined appearance
The concept of colour temperature is crucial in understanding Summer palettes.
Summer colours are cool, reflecting the natural coolness of Summer-type colouring.
This coolness harmonises with the wearer’s complexion, enhancing their natural elegance.
The Summer season is further detailed into three sub-seasons, each with its unique colour palette:
1) Light Summer – Blends the softness of Summer with a touch of Spring’s lightness
2) True/Cool Summer – Embodies the heart of the Summer season with cool, muted colours
3) Soft Summer – Combines Summer’s coolness with a hint of Autumn’s softness
1) Light Summer
Light Summer represents the transitional palette between Spring and Summer, combining the lightness of Spring with the coolness of Summer.
The Light Summer palette comprises soft, cool, and light colours. These colours reflect the naturally delicate colouring of this season. Key colours in this palette include:
- Powder blue
- Soft pink
- Lavender
- Sage green
- Periwinkle
- Cool light grey
Light Summer Male Celebrities
Daniel Craig – Fair skin with cool undertones, light blue eyes, and blonde hair.
Alexander Skarsgard – Very fair skin, blue-green eyes, and naturally blonde hair.
Ryan Gosling – Fair skin with cool undertones, blue eyes, and dark blonde to light brown hair.
Men in the Light Summer colour category have the following characteristics:
Skin tone
Cool undertones with a delicate, translucent quality. The skin is light with a subtle pink or peach cast.
Hair colour
Ranges from light ash blonde to light cool brown, with a subtle shimmer or silver quality.
Eye colour
Light and cool, with colours such as blue-grey, cool green, or light hazel. There’s a crystalline brightness to the eyes.
The most prominent feature of Light Summers is the delicate, ethereal quality of their colouring, which imparts a gentle, fresh appearance.
This softness allows them to wear light, cool colours without being overwhelmed.
Styling Recommendations for Light Summer Men
Light Summer men can enhance their natural delicacy through their wardrobe choices. Consider the following suggestions:
Suits
Opt for suits in soft, cool greys or light navy. Pair with shirts in crisp white or soft cool colours from your palette.
Casual Wear
Incorporate light, cool colours into your casual wardrobe. A powder blue polo shirt or a light grey sweater can create a fresh, approachable look.
Accessories
Use soft-coloured accessories to add subtle accents to neutral outfits. A lavender tie or a sage green pocket square can add a gentle touch of colour.
Patterns
Choose soft, watercolour-like patterns or subtle stripes in your palette colours.
Grooming
When choosing hair products or fragrances, opt for those with light, fresh, or aquatic notes that complement your cool palette.
Colours to Avoid
Very dark or highly saturated colours can overwhelm Light Summer’s delicate colouring. Steer clear of harsh black, bright orange, or deep burgundy.
Outfit Ideas for Light Summer Men
For a professional setting, a Light Summer man might combine a crisp white shirt with a light grey suit.
A powder blue tie and silver cufflinks could add complementary accents, creating a polished yet gentle look that harmonises with his natural colouring.
Light Summer colours can be easily incorporated into a professional wardrobe. Use your softer colours in shirts, ties, and accessories.
Opt for lighter versions of traditional business colours like navy and grey for suits.
Remember, the key is to maintain a soft, cool palette that doesn’t overwhelm your natural colouring.
2) True/Cool Summer
True Summer represents the heart of the Summer season, embodying coolness and softness in its purest form.
The True Summer palette consists of cool, muted, and medium-intensity colours. These colours are soft and sophisticated, lacking any brightness or warmth. Key colours include:
- Steel blue
- Rose pink
- Soft fuschia
- Cool mint green
- Plum
- Blue-grey
True/Cool Summer Male Celebrities
Matt Bomer – Cool-toned fair skin, light blue eyes, and dark brown hair.
Andrew Garfield – Light beige skin with cool undertones, brown eyes, and medium brown hair.
Orlando Bloom – Light to medium skin tone, dark brown eyes, and dark brown hair.
True/Cool Summer men have the following characteristics:
Skin tone
Cool undertones, with a pink or blue cast as the skin appears porcelain-like, almost translucent.
Hair colour
Ranges from ash blonde to cool brown, without any warm highlights. Grey hair in this season tends to be a cool, steely shade.
Eye colour
Cool and clear, including blue, grey, cool green, or cool brown. There’s a serene, misty quality to the eyes.
True Summers have the coolest colouring within the Summer family, with no trace of warmth in their features.
Their appearance is serene and elegant, reminiscent of a cool, misty summer morning.
Styling Recommendations for True/Cool Summer Men
True/Cool Summer men should embrace cool, soft colours across the entire wardrobe.
Suits
Wear suits in cool navy, blue-grey, or soft charcoal and pair with shirts in white or soft cool colours from your palette.
Casual Wear
Incorporate cool, muted colours into your everyday wardrobe. A steel blue sweater or cool mint green chinos can add a sophisticated touch to your look.
Layering
Experiment with layering different shades from your palette. A soft plum jacket over a light blue shirt creates a harmonious, refined look.
Accessories
Opt for cool-toned metals like silver or white gold for watches and jewellery. Choose leather goods in cool grey or navy shades.
Grooming
Select grooming products with cool, fresh scents that complement your cool colouring.
Colours to Avoid
Warm or bright colours can clash with True Summer’s cool, muted colouring. Avoid oranges, bright yellows, and warm browns.
Outfit Ideas for True/Cool Summer Men
For a smart-casual event, a True Summer man might pair cool grey trousers with a soft blue shirt.
A steel blue blazer could add a complementary layer, while navy leather loafers and a silver watch complete the ensemble, creating a look that’s both refined and serene.
In a professional setting, True Summers must use cool-toned neutrals like navy, grey, and cool blue and softer colours (from their palette) in shirts, ties, and accessories.
A navy suit with a light blue shirt and a tie featuring small patterns in your palette colours is ideal to create a professional yet harmonious look.
3) Soft Summer
Soft Summer represents the transitional palette between Summer and Autumn, combining the coolness of Summer with a touch of Autumn’s softness.
The Soft Summer palette comprises muted, cool colours with a touch of greying.
These colours reflect the naturally soft colouring of this season and key colours in this palette include:
- Dusty blue
- Mauve
- Soft teal
- Sage green
- Dusty rose
- Soft plum
Soft Summer Male Celebrities
Michael Ealy – Medium brown skin with cool undertones, striking light blue eyes, and black hair.
Mark Ruffalo – Light olive skin, dark brown eyes, and dark brown curly hair.
Ashton Kutcher – Fair skin with neutral undertones, hazel eyes, and dark brown hair.
Soft Summer men showcase the following similar features and characteristics:
Skin tone
Neutral-cool undertones, with a subtle grey or mauve cast. The skin has a soft, muted quality.
Hair colour
Ranges from dark ash blonde to soft cool brown, with a slightly muted or ashy quality. Grey hair tends to be a soft, dove grey.
Eye colour
Soft and cool, including blue-grey, green-grey, or soft brown. There’s a gentle, misty quality to the eyes.
The most prominent feature of Soft Summers is the muted quality of their colouring, which imparts a gentle, sophisticated appearance.
This softness allows them to wear muted, cool colours beautifully.
Styling Recommendations for Soft Summer Men
Soft Summer men can enhance their natural look through smart colour choices in line with the garments, footwear, and accessories.
Suits
Wear suits in muted navy, soft charcoal, or grey teal. Pair with shirts in soft white or muted cool colours from your palette.
Casual Wear
Incorporate soft, muted colours into your casual wardrobe. A dusty blue polo shirt or sage green chinos can create a refined, approachable look.
Accessories
Use muted-coloured accessories to add subtle accents to neutral outfits. A mauve tie or a soft teal pocket square can add a gentle touch of colour.
Patterns
Choose soft, muted patterns or subtle textures in your palette colours.
Grooming
When choosing hair products or fragrances, opt for those with soft, green, or woody notes that complement your muted palette.
Colours to Avoid
Bright or highly saturated colours can overwhelm Soft Summer’s muted colouring. Steer clear of bright red, vivid yellow, or electric blue.
Outfit Ideas for Soft Summer Colour Men
For a professional setting, a Soft Summer man might combine a soft white shirt with a muted navy suit.
A dusty rose tie and pewter cufflinks could add complementary accents, creating a polished yet gentle look that harmonises with his natural colouring.
Soft Summer colours can be easily incorporated into a professional wardrobe. Use your muted colours in shirts, ties, and accessories.
Opt for softer, more muted versions of traditional business colours like navy and grey for suits.
Remember, the key is to maintain a soft, cool palette that enhances your natural colouring without overwhelming it.
By understanding and embracing your Summer colour palette, whether Light, True, or Soft, you can create a wardrobe and personal style that truly allows your natural colouring to shine.
Remember, these guidelines are a starting point – feel free to experiment and adjust based on your personal preferences and lifestyle needs.
Styling Beyond Seasonal Colours
Knowing you are a summer colour is just a small step towards dressing like a successful, confident gentleman.
To dress like a wealthy gentleman you must know your body shape/type and have an understanding of what to shop for and how to match relevant garments, footwear, and accessories, from classic, heritage fashion brands.
Last but not least you must know how to dress not only according to your body body shape and colour palette, but also according to the occasion, location, time of the day, and even your unique lifestyle!
And if you feel a bit overwhelmed, worry no more as we’re here to help you, step by step.
First, take our free expert quiz to find your body shape.
1. Find Your Body Shape
Different garments flatter different physiques so discover your body shape now by taking our free body shape quiz for men.
Follow up with our next free quiz to find out your unique seasonal colour palette:
2. Find Your Seasonal Colors
Fashion comes in a wide range of colours, but not every hue will complement your natural colouring so find out your ideal colours with our free seasonal colour quiz for men.
Third, learn how to dress by occasion, location, season, and even time of the day.
Knowing how to choose and style garments from various heritage brands, and style them by occasion, season, location, and body shape is crucial.
From casual weekends to formal events, each occasion requires a unique approach to styling.
To save time, headaches, and even money, get in touch with The VOU’s expert stylists now.
3. Find Your Ideal Style
Take our comprehensive fashion style analysis for men, and let our expert stylists guide you in selecting and curating items of maximum impact in a wardrobe that communicates success and confidence.
Remember, owning luxury brands isn’t enough; to look stylish, confident, and successful you must know your body type, and colour palette and how to style according to the occasion, location, time of the day, and season.
With these tools and expert guidance, you’ll not just wear the brand—you’ll master it, creating a wardrobe that truly reflects a unique fashion taste and many achievements.
