Seasonal colour analysis is the most powerful, and cheapest, tool for enhancing men’s look and building their confidence fast.
Seasonal colour theory states that natural colours harmonise with individuals’ unique colours and when properly matched will enhance their 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 Components
To find out your unique colour palette and the colour combinations that match you best, the analysis examines 3 aspects of your natural look.
Skin Undertone
It looks at 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
It looks at your natural hair colour, including the interplay of highlights and lowlights. Even if you have grey hair or are balding, your natural hair pigmentation is the one relevant to the seasonal colour analysis.
Eye Colour
It looks at the combination of colours in your iris, including the primary colour, secondary hues, and unique patterns or variations.
The interplay between these 3 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.
Summer Season – The Sweet 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.
Now let’s have a look in detail at the Summer colour season and its 3 subseasons: Light Summer, True/Cool Summer and Soft Summer.
- 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).
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 popular celebrities and their seasonal colours is a small step towards dressing like a confident and successful gentleman.
Perfect men’s styling starts with your unique body type and colour palette and only then, with the occasion, location, season, and time of the day – and this is a men’s styling secret that only expert image consultants know.
And if you want to learn, we’re here to help; start by knowing your body type and unique colour palette so you can select clothes for your body shape in colours that match your skin, eyes, and hair.
You must also know which fashion brands to shop from and, more importantly, how to style these garments, footwear, and accessories to create a look of subtle luxury and success.
After learning to choose fashion from heritage fashion brands according to your body shape and colour palette, you’ll have to master styling by occasion, location, season, and even time of day.
If you feel overwhelmed, worry no more – we’re here to help you in three easy and free steps:
1. Find Your Body Type
Different garments flatter different physiques, so knowing your body type is the first step in dressing like a confident man – free body shape quiz for men.
Once you know your unique body type, take the second free quiz to discover your unique colour palette.
2. Find Your Unique Color Palette
Remember, fashion comes in various colours, but not every hue complements your natural colour. Take our free seasonal colour quiz for men to find the most suitable colours for you.
3. Find Your Ideal Fashion Style
By now, you should already know your body type and unique colour palette, so 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, multiple outfit ideas, the most relevant fashion brands for your unique look, and much more.
4. Professional Image Consultancy with The VOU
Last but not least is mastering how to style according to occasion, location, season, and time of the day; this is where our professional styling services for men, created by our expert image consultants and fashion stylists, come in.
Our paid styling packages are the most comprehensive and detailed on the market. Each is backed up by expert stylists who will guide you step by step in creating a personal wardrobe that communicates affluence, elegance, and endless accomplishments.
Remember, owning luxury clothes 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, season, and time of day.
Contact us today and save headaches, time, and money; the first styling assessment is on us!
It’s time to show the world the confident and successful you, a gentleman of exquisite fashion taste.