The Soft Autumn Palette - Everything you need to know by expert London Stylists

With years of experience styling clients in our London studio and virtually worldwide, we understand that seasonal color analysis can be complex.

However, there are key factors to ensure accuracy. To conduct a precise seasonal colour analysis, it is crucial to consider three factors: the temperature of your undertones, the value of your features, and the chroma of your hair, skin tone, and eye colour.

The goal is not for clothing to overpower, but for the individual to shine. The outfit should complement, not detract from, your eyes and smile. It's not about the clothes, it's about you in them.

Kindly note that these characteristics are not rigid rules to determine if you belong to this season. They are merely general traits that are commonly associated with this season. 

Therefore, if your appearance differs from another person who is categorised as a Soft Autumn, there is no need to worry. 

It is possible to have the Soft Autumn colour analysis result but still possess some qualities that do not align with the typical Soft Autumn characteristics.

This is particularly true for people of colour as most seasonal colour analysis advice is centred around white skin tones. 

As stylists from a mixed raced background ourselves, we can relate to this nuance on a personal level!

Whilst we must take into consideration room for individuality, here are 5 common characteristics of a Soft Autumn:

1. Your natural appearance is neutral and slightly warm with either neutral or golden undertones. 
2. Your eyes are neither particularly light or dark, and have a warm look to them, as opposed to cool or bright.  
3.  There is a low contrast between your hair, skin and eye colour. 
4.  Your lips have a natural orange rather than pink appearance.
5.  Your hair is warm and soft rather than light and cool

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The Soft Autumn colours have a warm, subtle and understated feel to the palette.

The Soft Autumn palette reflects the colours you would see in nature at the very beginning of the autumnal season, right after the Summer season.

Looking at the overall palette you will notice there are no bright or icy colours.

As a Soft Autumn, these colours neither overpower nor drain you, they will work in harmony with you.  

Therefore you can expect to look radiant naturally and effortlessly when wearing these colours!

As your undertone is neutral leaning slightly warm, you are in harmony with both gold and silver, however, the property of the metal is very important. 

To best accentuate your soft features, choose metals that have a brushed or hammered look to them rather than anything that is highly polished or dark in colour. 

In other words, think of these metals as matte rather than polished.  White gold, rose gold, soft yellow gold or champagne gold are the best metals to harmonise with your Soft Autumn features.. 

To look effortlessly coherent, we recommend using your best metals for all of your jewellery and hardware, such as zips, bag clasps, buttons, belt buckles etc.

To achieve a Soft Autumn makeup look, opt for colours that complement your gentle contrast and slightly warm skin tone. Think subtle warm apricots, soft browns and champagne gold colours.

Steer clear of cool-toned cosmetics since they have blue undertones that is not in harmony with you. 

Avoid striking colours such as black and ruby red, which can weigh down your facial features. As a Soft Autumn, these shades won't highlight your innate features but rather mask your inherent color characteristics.

Although it is tempting to gravitate towards colours we like, wearing colours that look in harmony with your neutral-warm undertones is far more effective. 

Whilst warm-toned makeup has been on trend in recent years, stay away from very warm colours (such as highly yellow or orange-based colours) and opt for neutral, golden makeup that leans slightly warm. Think subtle champagne gold instead of yellow gold.

In order to look coherent, we must pay attention to the details that are often overlooked.

Nail polish is a good example of these details that can contribute to looking well put together. 

It’s not surprising that the best way to complement your Soft Autumn look is by choosing nail polish colours from your palette. Consider subtle browns, sage greens and old rose for your best look. 

It can be tempting to deviate from your palette and experiment with a cooler, lighter or brighter colour, however, this will either clash or look jarring against a head-to-toe Soft Autumn look. 

To create a look that flows from head to toe, stick to Soft Autumn colours for your next mani-pedi.

If you are considering changing your hair colour, we highly recommend that you opt for another Soft Autumn hair colour to best enhance your natural beauty. 

Ultimately, we all look our best when we are working with our natural features, rather than drastically changing ourselves to fit into a trend.

Flattering shades for you include honey or subtle golden blonde balayage, medium golden brown and hazlenut brunette.

Be sure to avoid cool colours such as jet black or ash blonde as they can drain your colouring and they will not work with your striking features.

Be mindful that dying your hair slightly lighter or slightly darker can throw off your contrast levels, so, It's essential to seek professional advice when choosing a new hair colour.

The perfect shade for you depends on a combination of the surface colour of your skin (which varies across all Soft Autumn clients) as well as your undertone, value and contrast level.

Stay away from bright and cool hues as these colours are the direct opposite of the warm and muted Soft Autumn colours that look best on you.

More specifically avoid, white, black and grey.

These cool colours will drain your soft, warm colouring rather than bring it to life. 

In nature, each season has a beginning, a middle and an end, and in colour analysis things are no different.  For the warm autumn season, the colour palettes are Soft Autumn (early autumn), True Autumn (the middle of autumn) and Dark Autumn (the end of autumn). 

As a Soft Autumn, consider yourself as the beginning of the Autumnal season. 

At this time of year, the colours you'll see in nature are not as intense as they are in the middle of autumn, as the autumn season has just started. There is a hint of autumn in the air, and the colours are only just starting to become warm. 

Soft Autumn has the most muted colours of the three palettes, whereas True Autumn can take colours with more yellow mixed into them, and Dark Autumn colours are darker rather than muted.  

Dark and Soft Autumns are not as warm in their undertones as True Autumns, as both of these seasons neighbours a cool season ( winter and summer seasons).

Whilst you fit into the autumn season, it’s advised to stick to your Soft Autumn colours as these are the most in harmony with your natural beauty.

However, should you wish to wear more colours, then these two autumn types are your second-best options.

As a classic staple in many wardrobes, black is often considered a go-to colour. 

However, Soft Autumns should note that black is not present in their palette. 

Instead, options such as charcoal and black coffee offer similar alternatives. For those who tend to wear black frequently, there's no need to worry.

It's not that black looks unflattering, but rather, Soft Autumn shades are simply more flattering.

We encourage you to experiment with dark-coloured alternatives from your Soft Autumn palette to add dimension to your wardrobe.

For those who find wearing non-black colors intimidating, we suggest taking small steps by incorporating dark-coloured accessories like a bag or a phone case to gradually get used to wearing new hues.

With time, you may feel more comfortable trying out colourful clothing as you gain confidence with different hues. 

However, if the idea of giving up black seems daunting, we suggest incorporating it into the lower half of your outfit to avoid any negative effects on your complexion.

However, we must warn you that this will have an impact on how well put together your outfit will look, as your best option is to dress head to toe in Soft Autumn colours.

Having the correct colour palette as a guide for your wardrobe radically improve the way you put outfits together whilst reducing the time it takes to do so.

Incorporating a colour scheme can significantly alter your shopping habits.

Instead of making impulsive purchases, which we all have done, only to realize that it doesn't match anything in your closet, you can purchase clothing items that are versatile and can be paired with various pieces in your wardrobe.

Here are 6 main benefits of using the Soft Autumn colour palette as a wardrobe guide:

• Save time getting ready - quickly putting outfits together that look good is a huge time saver. When you choose colours from the Soft Autumn palette, you’ll be able to create a variety of looks without having to spend hours trying on different items.

• Save a staggering amount of money - say goodbye to the days of buying clothes that you never wear. When curating your wardrobe with Soft Autumn colours, you will eliminate buyer's remorse as your purchases will be highly flattering on you.

• Look effortless without trying hard- The secret to looking effortless is to find clothes that are harmonious with your colouring and your body shape. By dressing head to toe in Soft Autumn colours, your outfits will look well-put-together, without looking try-hard.

• Less stress, more confidence - By using the Soft Autumn palette, you don’t have to second-guess your outfits. Knowing that all the items you’ve chosen are highly flattering on you and look great together will give you more confidence in your wardrobe.

• More outfits with fewer items - When you build a wardrobe based on your colour palette, everything will mix and match easily, meaning the versatility of each garment will increase.

• More sustainable - Knowing that your colour season will never change is reassuring. It means that you can invest in a wardrobe designed for longevity, therefore needing to by fewer items over time.

As a Soft Autumn, building your wardrobe using the Soft Autumn colour palette is the perfect solution to help you achieve a wardrobe that works with ease.

To improve your Soft Autumn wardrobe, try using these colours in different fabrics. This will alter how you perceive the colours. 

For instance, English Red might look great in silk but not in cotton or linen. Similarly, Old Rose may be your favourite in leather but not as knitwear.

You may find that you gravitate towards different colours at different times of the year. What you may enjoy wearing at the beach, you may find uninspiring in winter. 

Also, you may discover that you gravitate towards different colours for your workwear wardrobe vs your date night outfits. Allow yourself to experiment with as many colours as possible across different climates and environments.

For many, light neutrals like white and grey and darker neutrals like black are the go-to options when it comes to neutral colours in their wardrobes. 

However, as a Soft Autumn, these colours are not the most flattering against your skin tone.

Instead, Soft Autumn neutrals favour brown, off-white, biscuit, and cappuccino.

No matter how muted your colours may be, you can still create an eye-catching look.

Our Soft Autumns clients understand that their warm-toned shades of pink and purple are the perfect way to make a statement.

To make sure that the look is truly yours, select an accent shade that resonates with you. This could be a blue or green - allow yourself to gravitate towards colours that make you feel like the best version of yourself. 

Out of all the autumn palettes, you have the lowest contrast level, meaning that your features come to life when dressed in low-contrasting colour combinations.

The good news is that all the colours you have in your palette can mix and match with each other, so when it comes to outfit building, Soft Autumns can expect easy and fast outfit building. 

Below are some of our favourite Soft Autumn combinations:

When using these colour combinations, think head-to-toe with your outfit, rather than focusing on the colours worn closest to your face. 

Whilst a cream and sand combination is considered a classic Soft Autumn combination, there are many options that will work for you.

Soft Autumns have a distinct color scheme that may not align with traditional business colors, yet a formal appearance can still be attained.

Opt for shades such as cream, or navy blue in lieu of black, white, or grey.

To infuse some character into your workwear wardrobe, utilise removable accessories like bags or scarves in preferred accent colours.

For a noticeable look, experiment with green or warm brown as substitutes for the typical black.

Many clients initially find it difficult to tell the difference between Soft Summer and Soft Autumn while shopping, it's easy to assume that Soft Summer colors clash with the Soft Autumn palette. However, this is not true.

Soft Summer and Soft Autumn are adjacent on the color season flow chart and are considered sister seasons.

Both palettes are muted and ideal for individuals with low contrast and medium value features.

Nonetheless, there is a difference in the warm and cool colors they use. Soft Summers prefer cool, soft, muted tones like dusty or cloud grey, whereas Soft Autumns can wear warm, soft, muted colors like camel or latte.