The Smokey Soft Summer

Smokey Soft Summers are a study in understated beauty, exuding a cool, muted elegance. This sub-season of Summer is defined by its all-cool undertones and richly muted palette, creating a sophisticated yet natural look. As a deeper variation of the traditional Soft Summer, Smokey Soft Summers thrive in colors that mirror serene dusky landscapes and soft, natural textures.

Here are the basics of the Smokey Soft Summer

Temperature: Cool
Value: Medium to Medium Deep
Chroma: Soft
Sister Season: Smokey Soft Winter

Best colors: Charcoal (most shades of grey) navy, cadet blue, raspberry wine, antique violet, bordeaux, steel blue.

Worst Colors: Anything too bright, especially warm colors.

Smokey Soft Summers are cool in undertone and soft in chroma, making them one of the most blended and neutral sub-seasons. Their need for extra rich, muted tones set them apart from the other Summer sub-seasons.

The Smokey Soft Summer needs to wear rich, cool colors that are muted. Little to no warmth is found in this season's. In fact, wearing too much warmth can make one look sallow or even sick.

Monochromatic colors are always a great look for Soft seasons. There will be a range of lighter to deeper soft colors in the palette but most are colors on the deeper side. Wearing colors that are too pale will not be strong enough for this season and can create a washed out look.

From the many shades of grey and charcoal to navy and cool taupe, rich neutrals are always a great color for the Smokey Soft Summer.

This season gets mistaken for a Winter sometimes since the value can appear quite deep. But while charcoal will look terrific, black will appear too heavy.

Hallmarks of the Smokey Soft Summer

Eyes: Relatively deep grey, grey-blue, or grey-green eyes are common, often described as “smokey” or “muddy.” Brown eyes can also be present but they are without any golden warmth.
Skin: Typically cool or neutral in overtone, with no obvious golden or yellow hues. Their skin blends harmoniously with muted, cool tones.
Hair: Hair is usually brunette or medium brown. Sometimes the hair is relatively light in value, and it is the depth of the person's eyes that put her into the deeper Soft Summer category.

Accessories for the Smokey Soft Summer

Choose accessories to enhance your cool, muted tones.

Jewelry: Silver and pewter are ideal metals.

Gemstones: pearls, moonstone, turquoise, and rose quartz beautifully reflect your soft coolness. Avoid overly shiny or sparkly pieces in favor of subtle shimmer.

Eyewear: Frames in muted tones such as charcoal, soft blue, or soft purple are excellent options.

For additional accessories closer to your face, like hats and scarves, ideally choose only the best colors from your palette.

Building the Smokey Soft Summer Wardrobe

Creating a wardrobe in Smokey Soft Summer colors ensures effortless styling and a polished appearance. Start with versatile neutrals and build out with muted accent colors for variety.

Core Neutrals

Charcoal, pewter, navy, and soft white are perfect foundational colors for pants, suits, dresses and other core wardrobe items.

Power Colors

Add some of your best unique palette colors like mulberry, deep plum, grey-blue, or dusty teal. These cool shades will harmonize with your blended coloring while adding richness to your look.

Wardrobe Tips

Replace black with charcoal or navy for a softer alternative.
Opt for soft white instead of stark white to harmonize with soft look.
Invest in timeless pieces such as tailored blazers, dresses, and skirts in your favorite dark neutrals, around which all additional pieces will work together beautifully.

For a more comprehensive guide to mastering the Smokey Soft Summer style—including detailed palettes, styling tips, and expert insights—explore my Smokey Soft Summer eBook.

This resource is your ultimate companion for embracing your season and creating a wardrobe that reflects your unique beauty.

More examples of the Smokey Soft Summer

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!