Lavender is a soft, delicate shade often associated with cool, fresh tones, somehow clashing with the warm, muted, and earthy colours, of the Soft Autumn palette.
So, at first sight, lavender can seem like a tricky colour to pull off by the Soft Autumns but is that really the case?
The answer lies in understanding how this cool shade interacts with the warmth and subtlety of the Soft Autumn palette.
Is Lavender Part of the Soft Autumn Colour Palette?
Lavender, by nature, is a pastel shade with cool, blue undertones.
Since Soft Autumn is a season defined by muted, warm tones with a hint of coolness, traditional lavender doesn’t naturally fit into this palette.
The typical lavender is too cool and light and can clash with the earthy warmth essential to Soft Autumn colouring.
However, there are variations of lavender that, when slightly muted or warmed up, can work within the Soft Autumn palette.
A dusty lavender or lavender-grey, which leans more towards a muted and soft tone, may harmonise better with Soft Autumn men’s warm undertones.
Why Lavender Doesn’t Work for Soft Autumn
Traditional lavender, which is cool and pastel in nature, presents three core challenges for Soft Autumns wishing to incorporate it into their wardrobes.
Cool Undertones
Lavender has cool blue undertones, which are in direct contrast to the warm, earthy tones of Soft Autumn.
Too Bright
While lavender may appear soft, it’s still too light and bright for the muted palette of Soft Autumn, which favours colours with more depth and subtlety.
High Contrast
The sharp contrast between lavender and the natural warmth of Soft Autumn can make the skin look washed out or tired.
Because too cool and vivid for the season’s muted, warm aesthetic, standard lavender is not recommended for Soft Autumn men.
Lavender-like Colours for Soft Autumns
While traditional lavender isn’t ideal, Soft Autumn men don’t have to completely avoid purple hues.
Muted and earthy variations of purple, such as dusty lavender, lavender-grey, or muted plum, can work beautifully within the Soft Autumn palette.
These shades maintain the softness of lavender but are toned down to complement your natural colouring.
Here are some Soft Autumn-friendly shades of lavender you can safely incorporate into your look.
Dusty Lavender
A more muted, greyish version of lavender, dusty lavender has a softness that complements the warmth of Soft Autumn. It works particularly well in casual shirts or lightweight jumpers.
Lavender-Grey
With its grey undertones, lavender-grey is less intense than traditional lavender, making it easier to wear as a Soft Autumn. It’s perfect for jackets, scarves, or accessories.
Muted Plum
Muted plum has a deeper, more earthy base than lavender and fits snugly within the Soft Autumn palette. It’s great for business casual wear, such as blazers or knitwear.
3 Ways Soft Autumns Can Wear ‘Lavender’
Here’s how you can incorporate lavender-like shades into your wardrobe while staying true to your Soft Autumn palette.
1. Formal – Lavender-Grey Suit with Soft Ivory Accents
A muted lavender-grey suit can add subtle sophistication to your formal wardrobe.
Paired with soft, warm accents, this look can bring the delicate touch of lavender into a more muted and wearable context.
Outfit Idea
- Suit: Lavender-grey wool suit, with soft, warm undertones, fitted to your body shape or silhouette
- Shirt: Soft ivory or cream shirt, which softens the coolness of the lavender
- Tie: Muted rose or dusty burgundy tie, adding warmth to the overall outfit
- Shoes: Warm medium brown leather brogues (avoid black, which would create too much contrast)
This formal look balances the soft coolness of lavender-grey with warm, earthy accents, ensuring it remains within the Soft Autumn palette.
2. Business Casual – Dusty Lavender Jumper with Olive Trousers
For a business casual setting, a dusty lavender jumper can be paired with muted olive trousers to create a harmonious, autumnal look.
The muted lavender brings a subtle pop of colour without overwhelming the earthy warmth of the outfit.
Outfit Idea
- Jumper: Dusty lavender cotton or wool jumper
- Trousers: Muted olive chinos, adding warmth and depth to the look
- Shoes: Warm tan suede loafers, keeping the outfit balanced and casual
By combining dusty lavender with earthy tones like olive and tan, this business casual outfit stays true to the muted, warm essence of the Soft Autumn palette while incorporating a lavender-like hue.
3. Casual – Muted Plum T-shirt with Warm Taupe Trousers
A muted plum t-shirt provides a deeper, earthier alternative to lavender, and paired with warm taupe trousers, it creates a relaxed yet refined look for casual outings.
Outfit Idea
- T-shirt: Muted plum cotton t-shirt, keeping the look soft and warm
- Trousers: Warm taupe chinos or cargo trousers, grounding the look with earthy tones
- Shoes: Warm brown suede trainers or boots for a casual, comfortable finish
- Accessories: Add a soft camel scarf for additional warmth and cohesion with the Soft Autumn palette
This casual outfit utilises muted plum, a perfect alternative to lavender, and combines it with taupe and brown tones to maintain a grounded, earthy look.
When Lavender Doesn’t Work for Soft Autumn
Despite the options to work with muted lavender tones, there are situations where lavender simply doesn’t work for Soft Autumn men.
If the lavender is too bright, cool, or pastel, it will clash with your natural warmth, making your skin appear sallow or washed out.
It’s important to avoid any lavender that leans too far into the blue spectrum, as it creates a stark contrast with the warm, muted tones of Soft Autumn.
In such cases, it’s best to stick to earthier tones like soft rust, warm taupe, or muted burgundy.
Conclusion
Traditional lavender is not part of the Soft Autumn colour palette due to its cool, bright nature.
However, with the right adjustments, Soft Autumn men can wear variations of lavender by opting for more muted, earthy versions such as dusty lavender, lavender-grey, or muted plum.
By carefully selecting these softer, warmer alternatives, you can introduce purple tones into your wardrobe without sacrificing the balance and harmony of your Soft Autumn palette.
Remember to pair these muted purples with warm, earthy neutrals like taupe, olive, and warm browns to create a cohesive and flattering look.
Style Like A True Gentleman
Before we say goodbye, here’s one of the best-kept secrets in men’s styling circles, a secret that only a few expert image consultants know or are willing to share.
First and foremost, professional styling requires knowing your unique body shape and seasonal colour palette – paramount factors in choosing perfectly fitting clothes in colours that complement your skin, eyes, and hair.
Only then can a stylist engage in styling by occasion, location, season, and time of day, with garments, footwear, and accessories from stylistically relevant, heritage fashion brands to depict high confidence and success.
Best part? You can find your body shape, seasonal colour palette, and ideal fashion style, in less than 5 minutes, by yourself, for free, thanks to our 4 simple steps:
1. Find Your Body Shape
Different garments flatter different silhouettes, so knowing your body shape is the first step in dressing like a confident man.
To find out your unique body shape, take our free body shape quiz for men.
Once you know your unique body shape, take the second free quiz to discover your unique colour palette.
2. Find Your Unique Colour Palette
Remember, the garments that compose your outfits come in various colours and you have to make sure that each hue complements your natural colour.
For that, you have to find out your seasonal colour palette, and you can do it by taking our free seasonal colour quiz for men.
3. Find Your Ideal Fashion Style
By now, you should already know your body shape and unique colour palette; the next step is to discover your ideal personal fashion style.
The fastest and simplest way is to take our free fashion style quiz for men; it includes your ideal style, outfit ideas, relevant fashion brands, and much more.
4. Professional Image Consultancy with The VOU
And if you want to style like a professional, by occasion, location, season, and time of the day, you can always ask our expert image consultants and fashion stylists for help.
Our styling services for men are the most comprehensive and detailed on the market, backed up by leading stylists who will guide you step by step in creating looks that communicate affluence, elegance, and endless accomplishments.
Remember, wearing luxury brands isn’t enough; to look stylish, confident, and successful, you must first know your body shape, colour palette, and ideal personal style, and only then style by occasion, location, season, and time of day.
Contact us today to save headaches, time, and money – it’s time to dress like a confident, successful gentleman of exquisite fashion taste –Â the first styling assessment is on us!