The Light Summer

The Light Summer is the epitome of soft delicate elegance. As the lightest of the Summer sub-seasons, Light Summers thrive in delicate, cool tones that enhance their subtle, ethereal coloring. This season’s palette mirrors the freshness of a misty morning or a summer garden in soft bloom- think pale pink roses or light blue hydrangeas.

The basics of the Light Summer season.

Temperature: Cool, primarily

Value: Light

Chroma: Soft

Sister Season: Light Spring

Sample Best colors: Light grey, Soft White, Sky Blue, Pastel Pink, Light Lavender, Light Navy

Worst Colors: Black; dark colors, bright colors, overpowering reds and blues; golden browns, oranges and yellows.

Light Summers are a blend of Summer and Spring (or Summer 'flowing' into Spring.) Some of the more neutral colors of Spring will be in this palette as will soft greys, soft blues, dusty rose and other light, elegant colors.

The Spring influence is very evident.

Monochromatic colors will look fantastic. For example: a light navy jacket, a soft blue blouse and a sky blue scarf.

Because of its delicate coloring, its easy to get overpowered and avoiding too much contrast is smart.

Colors can be a mix of cool and warm light colors, or they can be neutral in temperature.

Hallmarks of the Light Summer

Light Summers are characterized by their cool undertones, light value, and soft chroma. Their delicate coloring creates a harmonious and understated look, thriving in colors that are gentle and fresh.

Eyes: Typically light blue, grey-blue, or light green. Eyes are often muted and powdely looking (there are exceptions, of course).
Skin: Usually light with cool or neutral undertones. Sometimes their skin appears soft and powderly, but can be quite neutral. Sometimes there is a definite warm overtone to their skin.
Hair: most often blonde - white blonde, beige blonde, or ash blonde. Sometimes hair is dark blonde with ashy highlights. Warm highlights, though, are common.
Overall Look: Gentle, soft, and cool, and a touch of luminosity you don't often see in a Summer (this is the Springs effect).

Building Your Light Summer Wardrobe

A wardrobe tailored to Light Summer colors ensures a confident and cohesive look, with every piece working effortlessly.

Core Neutrals

Soft white, dove grey, and cool taupe are excellent foundational colors. Darker neutrals include medium grey, light navy, and deep teal.

Power Colors

Add variety to your core wardrobe with your best power colors like pastel blue, lavender, aqua, or powder pink.

Wardrobe Tips

Replace black with grey or light navy for a much softer alternative.
Instead of stark white, choose soft white, like whipped cream.
Invest in timeless pieces like tailored blazers, dresses, and pants to ensure a carefree working wardrobe that saves you countless time and money.

Accessories for the Light Summer

The right accessories can highlight and add polish to your delicate look.

Metals/Jewelry: Silver is recommended, but gold is fine, too, due to your blended undertones.

Gemstones: Pearls, aquamarine, moonstones, and light pink quartz are ideal gemstone choices.

Eyewear: Frames in light grey, silver, or soft blue are ideal. But as long as colored frames are in one of your best colors, any palette color will be fine.

Likewise, accessories close to your face like scarves and hats should also be in one of your best palette colors.

Buy Here

For a comprehensive guide to the Light Summer season —including detailed palettes, expert styling tips, and advanced insights—explore my Light Summer eBook. Note: this ebook talks about both the classic Light Summer and the Icy Light Summer.

More Examples of the Light Summer

fyi: If you haven't noticed yet, many images I use on this site are marked "ColorBreeze Art." This is part of my new artwork and visuals I have created with the help of AI, among other digital photo software. I will be slowly adding more images over time. Here are some for this season. Please share on Pinterest if you like them!