Colour analysis sorts people into four seasons and then twelve, and each has a palette of colours that works with that person’s natural colouring. This page lays out the best colours for your season side by side across all twelve — useful for comparing two seasons you are torn between, or for seeing where yours sits in the wider system.
It is an overview rather than the full palette. Each season below has its signature colours and a link to the complete guide. If you do not know your season yet, start with the quiz rather than here. More guides are in our Colour Analysis section.
Every palette below assumes you know your season. The quiz takes three minutes and needs no photo.
How the Twelve Seasons Work
The four families — spring, summer, autumn and winter — are defined by two things: whether your undertone is warm or cool, and whether your overall colouring is light or deep, clear or soft. Spring and autumn are warm; summer and winter are cool. Spring and summer are lighter; autumn and winter are deeper.
Each family then splits into three. Most people sit closer to one edge of their family than the middle, and the twelve-season system names that edge: light, true, bright, soft or deep. If you are unsure whether you are warm or cool at all, the undertone test is the place to start.
The Best Colours for Each Season
Spring — Warm and Light
Light Spring
Pale, warm and delicate. Colours that look sunlit rather than bright. See the Light Spring palette.
| Swatch | Name | Hex |
|---|---|---|
| Peach | #F4B393 | |
| Light Aqua | #8FD3C8 | |
| Buttercream | #F3E3A0 |
True Spring
Warm, clear and bright, with golden undertones throughout. See the True Spring palette.
| Swatch | Name | Hex |
|---|---|---|
| Coral | #F26B4E | |
| Warm Turquoise | #1FB5A6 | |
| Golden Yellow | #F2B33D |
Bright Spring
Clear, warm and high contrast — the most saturated of the springs. See the Bright Spring palette.
| Swatch | Name | Hex |
|---|---|---|
| Poppy Red | #E8413C | |
| Bright Turquoise | #00A6A6 | |
| Clear Yellow-Green | #8CC63F |
Summer — Cool and Soft
Light Summer
Pale, cool and gentle, with a slightly powdery quality. See the Light Summer palette.
| Swatch | Name | Hex |
|---|---|---|
| Powder Blue | #A7C4DD | |
| Soft Rose | #E8B4BC | |
| Lavender | #C3B1D9 |
True Summer
Cool, soft and blended, with blue undertones throughout. See the True Summer palette.
| Swatch | Name | Hex |
|---|---|---|
| Soft Navy | #3E4E6E | |
| Raspberry | #B04A6D | |
| Blue-Grey | #7E93A8 |
Soft Summer
Muted, cool and low contrast — colours with grey mixed in. See the Soft Summer palette.
| Swatch | Name | Hex |
|---|---|---|
| Mauve | #A68499 | |
| Dusty Teal | #5F8A8B | |
| Soft Grey | #9A9A9E |
Autumn — Warm and Rich
Soft Autumn
Muted, warm and gentle — the quietest of the autumns. See the Soft Autumn palette.
| Swatch | Name | Hex |
|---|---|---|
| Sage | #9CAF88 | |
| Camel | #C19A6B | |
| Dusty Coral | #D08770 |
True Autumn
Warm, rich and earthy, with golden undertones. See the True Autumn palette.
| Swatch | Name | Hex |
|---|---|---|
| Pumpkin | #D2691E | |
| Olive | #6B7A2F | |
| Warm Gold | #C9A227 |
Deep Autumn
Warm, dark and rich — the deepest of the autumns. Read the full Deep Autumn palette.
| Swatch | Name | Hex |
|---|---|---|
| Rust | #8B3E2F | |
| Burgundy | #722F37 | |
| Olive Green | #556B2F |
Winter — Cool and Clear
Deep Winter
Dark, cool and high contrast. See the Deep Winter palette.
| Swatch | Name | Hex |
|---|---|---|
| Black Cherry | #5A1F2E | |
| Emerald | #046A4A | |
| Charcoal | #2E2E33 |
True Winter
Cool, clear and vivid, with pure blue undertones. See the True Winter palette.
| Swatch | Name | Hex |
|---|---|---|
| True Red | #C8102E | |
| Royal Blue | #1D4ED8 | |
| Pure White | #FFFFFF |
Bright Winter
Clear, cool and intense — the most striking of all twelve. See the Bright Winter palette.
| Swatch | Name | Hex |
|---|---|---|
| Fuchsia | #D1127B | |
| Icy Blue | #BFE3F2 | |
| Cobalt | #0047AB |
When You Are Between Two Seasons
Neighbouring seasons share a lot of colours. A Soft Autumn and a Soft Summer both wear muted, greyed shades; a True Winter and a Bright Winter both wear clear, cool ones. If you are torn between two, the middle of both palettes is safe territory.
The difference shows at the extremes of each palette rather than the middle. Wear the shared colours first and pay attention to which edge you find yourself reaching for — the answer usually becomes obvious over a few weeks.
From Season to Wardrobe
Three colours per season is a starting point, not a wardrobe. The palette generator turns your season into twenty-four swatches — neutrals, main colours, accents and metals — that you can shop with.
Then read building a wardrobe from your colour palette and how to shop with a colour palette. For putting colours together in an outfit, the outfit colour combination generator filters its combinations by season. And if you want the neutrals and metals that suit you, see the best whites and neutrals for each undertone and gold or silver for your undertone.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best colours for my season?
Each of the twelve seasons has its own palette, set by undertone and depth. The signature colours for all twelve are above, with a link to the full palette for each.
How do I find my colour season?
Take the colour analysis quiz, which uses your natural colouring to place you in one of the twelve seasons in about three minutes. Our guide on how to take a colour analysis quiz explains how to get an accurate result.
What if I am between two seasons?
Wear the colours the two seasons share. The difference between neighbouring seasons shows at the edges of each palette, not the middle.
Are the twelve seasons scientific?
No. Seasonal colour analysis is a styling convention with no peer-reviewed evidence behind it. It is a useful way to narrow a palette, not a measurement.
Can my colour season change?
Your underlying colouring changes little, but hair colour, a tan or greying hair can shift which colours work. See hair colour by colour season, and retake the quiz after any significant change.
For the colour theory underneath all of this, the Munsell colour system explains hue, value and chroma, and the history of colour analysis covers where the seasonal approach came from.