The Soft Autumn colour palette consists of warm, muted tones that reflect autumn’s gentle transition from Summer to Winter.
For gentlemen with a Soft Autumn complexion, understanding which colours to avoid is as crucial as knowing which colours to wear, helping you create a fashion style that matches your skin, eyes, and hair.
In this article, we’ll show you 10 Soft Autumn colours you should avoid, explain why they’re unflattering, and provide expert tips on how to blend these challenging hues in work or school situations.
10 Soft Autumn Colours to Avoid
1. Stark White
Stark white creates too harsh a contrast against the soft, muted complexion of Soft Autumn men. This colour can wash out your natural colouring and appear jarring.
Replace with: Soft whites, cream, or ivory.
Styling tip: For a more harmonious loo, replace stark white dress shirts with ivory or ecru options from Turnbull & Asser.
2. Bright Yellow
Vibrant, sunny yellows overpower the subtle warmth in Soft Autumn skin tones and will make you look sallow or tired.
Replace with: Muted gold, amber, or mustard tones.
Styling tip: For a flattering casual look, wear fine merino wool sweaters in soft gold rather than bright yellow.
3. Neon Pink
Neon pink is far too intense and cool-toned for the Soft Autumn palette. It clashes with the natural warmth and subtlety of your colouring.
Replace with: Muted rose, salmon, or terracotta shades.
Styling tip: For a pop of colour, select a Drake’s pocket square in muted rose rather than neon pink.
4. Electric Blue
Electric blue is too bright and cool for Soft Autumn complexions. It can overpower your natural colouring and appear disconnected from your overall palette.
Replace with: Muted teal, dusty blue, or slate blue.
Styling tip: Wear an Emma Willis shirt in dusty blue instead of electric blue for a more complementary look.
5. Bright Red
Vivid, true reds are too intense for the Soft Autumn palette. They can overwhelm your muted colouring and draw attention away from your face.
Replace with: Warm burgundy, rust, or terracotta shades.
Styling tip: Choose a Loro Piana cashmere scarf in warm burgundy rather than bright red for a luxurious accent piece.
6. Cool Lavender
Cool lavender, with its blue undertones, clashes with the warm undertones of Soft Autumn skin. It can make you appear washed out or sickly.
Replace with: Warm mauve or soft plum shades.
Styling tip: If you’re drawn to purple hues, select a Bigi Cravatte Milano tie in a warm mauve tone instead of cool lavender.
7. Icy Pastels
Icy pastels, such as mint green or baby blue, are too cool and light for the Soft Autumn palette. They can make your complexion appear dull or grey.
Replace with: Warmer, more muted versions of these colours, such as sage green or dusty blue.
Styling tip: Replace an icy mint green polo with a Brunello Cucinelli sage green cotton-piqué polo for a more flattering casual look.
8. Black
While not entirely off-limits, pure black can be too harsh and contrasting for Soft Autumn complexions. It can drain colour from your face and appear severe.
Replace with: Soft black, charcoal, or deep brown shades.
Styling tip: Choose a Tom Ford O’Connor suit in charcoal instead of pure black for formal occasions.
9. Bright Orange
Vivid orange is too intense and warm for the muted Soft Autumn palette. It can overpower your natural colouring and appear garish.
Replace with: Muted terracotta, peach, or warm coral tones.
Styling tip: Select an Incotex cotton-twill chino in muted terracotta rather than bright orange for a subtle nod to warm hues.
10. Cool Emerald Green
Cool, vivid emerald green is too intense and lacks the softness necessary for Soft Autumn complexions. It can clash with your warm undertones.
Replace with: Olive green, sage, or muted forest green.
Styling tip: Wear a Barbour Ashby waxed jacket in olive rather than emerald green for outerwear that complements your colouring.
Seasonal Colour Shift Analysis
While certain colours are unflattering for Soft Autumn men, the changing seasons can affect how these colours interact with your complexion.
Summer
During summer, brighter colours become more prevalent and Soft Autumn men should incorporate small doses of ‘previously unflattering’ bright colours:
– Instead of neon pink, wear a pocket square in a muted coral.
– Replace electric blue with a dusty cornflower blue in a linen shirt.
– Swap bright yellow for a soft gold in lightweight summer knitwear.
Autumn
Autumn is the ideal season for Soft Autumn men, as most seasonal colours naturally complement their palette. However, some autumn trends might still pose challenges:
– Instead of bright orange, wear terracotta or burnt sienna.
– Replace cool emerald green with olive or sage in autumn layering pieces.
Winter
Winter colours can be particularly challenging for Soft Autumn men and here’s how to adapt:
– Instead of stark winter white, wear cream or ivory in knitwear and accessories.
– Replace icy pastels with their warmer, more muted counterparts in winter accessories.
– Swap black for deep brown or charcoal in winter coats and formal wear.
Spring
Spring colours can be vibrant and challenging but you can adapt by:
– Wearing muted sage instead of bright mint green in spring jackets.
– Replacing cool lavender with warm mauve in spring accessories.
– Opting for soft coral instead of bright orange in spring knitwear.
Colour Correction Techniques
In certain cases, you may need to wear colours that aren’t ideal for your Soft Autumn palette, such as in uniforms for work, school, or even gifted garments.
Here are some techniques to balance out unflattering colours:
Layering
Use layering to minimise the impact of unflattering colours:
– Wear a camel or olive green cardigan over a stark white shirt.
– Layer a warm brown blazer over a cool lavender shirt.
Accessories
Employ accessories in flattering colours near your face:
– Add a warm-toned scarf when wearing a cool-toned coat.
– Use a muted gold tie to balance a bright blue shirt.
Grooming
Enhance your natural colouring to minimise the impact of unflattering hues:
– Maintain a warm-toned facial hair style to balance cool colours near your face.
– Use a subtle self-tanner to enhance your warm undertones when wearing cooler colours.
Styling Advice by Body Type
1. Triangle Body Shape
Formal Outfit Idea
Wear a Canali charcoal single-breasted suit (drop 7 for a more tailored waist) and a Turnbull & Asser ivory cotton twill shirt.
Accessorise with a Hermès tie in muted teal and Allen Edmonds ‘Park Avenue’ dark brown calf leather oxfords.
Casual Outfit Idea
Wear Ralph Lauren olive stretch-cotton chinos (regular fit) with a James Perse henley shirt in warm taupe.
Match with a Loro Piana cashmere-blend bomber jacket in camel, and finish the look with Astorflex ‘Greenflex’ dark brown suede desert boots.
2. Inverted Triangle Body Shape
Formal Outfit Idea
Select a Thom Sweeney warm grey wool-mohair blend suit with an Emma Willis cream silk evening shirt.
Add a Tom Ford silk knit tie in muted burgundy and complete with George Cleverley dark brown leather oxford shoes.
Casual Outfit Idea
Combine Incotex dusty blue cotton-stretch chinos (slim fit) with a Sunspel long-sleeve polo in soft gold.
Layer with a Boglioli unstructured blazer in warm taupe and complete with Carmina brown suede loafers.
3. Rectangle Body Shape
Formal Outfit Idea
Choose an Ermenegildo Zegna warm brown wool suit (Milano fit for a slightly nipped waist) with a Thomas Pink ecru cotton poplin shirt.
Add a Drake’s muted sage green silk grenadine tie and Crockett & Jones ‘Connaught’ cognac calf leather oxfords.
Casual Outfit Idea
Select Polo Ralph Lauren dark indigo selvedge denim jeans with a Gitman Vintage brushed-cotton shirt in muted coral.
Layer with a Filson olive green waxed cotton ‘Mackinaw Cruiser’ jacket and complete with Viberg Service boots in brown chromexcel leather.
4. Oval Body Shape
Formal Outfit Idea
Choose a Kiton warm taupe single-breasted suit (with a slightly looser fit for comfort) paired with an Eton light blue cotton-twill shirt.
Add a Drake’s wool-silk tie in muted forest green and Edward Green ‘Chelsea’ oxford shoes in dark oak.
Casual Outfit Idea
Select Corneliani olive wool-blend trousers (pleated for comfort) with a John Smedley merino wool polo shirt in warm grey.
Add a Valstar ‘Valstarino’ suede bomber jacket in camel and finish with Alden ‘LHS’ penny loafers in snuff suede.
5. Trapezoid Body Shape
Formal Outfit Idea
Opt for a Cesare Attolini warm burgundy wool suit (Napoli fit to showcase the balanced proportions) with a Finamore 1925 ivory cotton poplin shirt.
Add a Bigi Cravatte Milano silk tie in muted teal and Gaziano & Girling ‘Gable’ oxford shoes in dark brown.
Casual Outfit Idea
Select Incotex slim-fit chinos in warm taupe with a Luca Faloni fine silk-cotton knit polo in sage green.
Layer with a Private White V.C. waxed cotton field jacket in olive and complete with Common Projects Original Achilles low-top sneakers in warm grey.
6. Hourglass Body Shape
Formal Outfit Idea
Opt for a Cifonelli warm grey double-breasted dinner jacket with black trousers, worn with a Charvet soft ivory silk evening shirt.
Accessorise with a Rubinacci silk jacquard pocket square in muted burgundy and Gaziano & Girling ‘Canterbury’ whole-cut shoes in dark brown.
Casual Outfit Idea
Select Officine Générale New Fisherman chinos in muted teal with a John Smedley fine merino wool sweater in soft gold.
Layer with a Barbour ‘Bedale’ waxed jacket in rustic brown and complete with Tricker’s ‘Stow’ country boots in acorn antique calf.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the worst colours for Soft Autumn men to wear?
The worst colours for Soft Autumn men include stark white, bright yellow, neon pink, electric blue, bright red, cool lavender, icy pastels, pure black, bright orange, and cool emerald green. These colours can clash with Soft Autumn skin tones and overpower their natural colouring.
Why should Soft Autumn men avoid bright colours?
Soft Autumn men should avoid bright colours because their natural colouring is muted and warm. Bright colours can overpower their subtle complexion, creating a harsh contrast that can make them appear washed out or tired.
Can Soft Autumn men ever wear black?
While pure black isn’t ideal, Soft Autumn men can wear softer black hues, charcoal, or deep brown as alternatives. For formal occasions, consider midnight blue or deep burgundy as sophisticated substitutes for black.
What colours should Soft Autumn men wear instead of white?
Instead of stark white, Soft Autumn men should wear softer whites like ivory, cream, or ecru. These warmer, muted tones complement their natural colouring better than bright white.
How can Soft Autumn men wear blue without choosing electric blue?
Soft Autumn men can wear blue by choosing muted, warmer versions such as dusty blue, slate blue, or muted teal. These shades complement the Soft Autumn palette without the harshness of electric blue.
Are there any typically “summer” colours that Soft Autumn men should avoid?
Yes, Soft Autumn men should avoid typical summer colours like icy pastels, bright coral, and vivid turquoise. Instead, they should opt for warmer, muted versions of these colours, such as soft peach, muted coral, or dusty teal.
Can Soft Autumn men incorporate red into their wardrobe but not bright red?
Soft Autumn men can incorporate red by choosing warmer, muted versions such as burgundy, rust, or terracotta. These shades provide the warmth of red without overwhelming the Soft Autumn complexion.
What should Soft Autumn men do if they must wear unflattering colours for uniforms or dress codes?
When required to wear unflattering colours, Soft Autumn men should try to keep them away from their faces. Use Soft Autumn-friendly colours in accessories or layers close to the face to counteract the effects of less flattering hues.
Can Soft Autumn men wear neon colours in small amounts?
It’s generally best for Soft Autumn men to avoid neon colours, even in small amounts, as they can clash harshly with their muted, warm colouring. Instead, opt for more muted, warm versions of bright colours for accents.
How can Soft Autumn men choose the right shade of green to wear?
Soft Autumn men should choose warm, muted greens like olive, sage, or muted forest green. These shades complement their colouring better than cool or bright greens like emerald or lime.
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.
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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 – the first styling assessment is on us!