Base/neutral/accent: for example in an outfit, “should” the base be what I wear the most of? I don’t quite understand how to approach base, neutral, accent (since it also says all colors in my palette can be mixed nicely)
Soft Summer is a season that can easily be mistaken for Winter because it includes several cool base colors like black and navy blue. It’s still the muted and soft overall impression that makes the color palette unique and harmonious.
How do base, neutral, and accent work?
Base colors are the hues you wear most often and that form the foundation of your wardrobe. For a Soft Summer, this often means muted blues, grays, and taupe tones. Here are some examples:
- soft navy blue
- cool gray-beige
- misty burgundy
Neutral colors tie the palette together and work with both base and accent colors. They can overlap with base colors, but think of them as soft mid-tones: lighter gray, dusty pink, or mild lavender.
Accent colors are used in smaller doses to create focus. It can be a scarf, hat, jewelry, or even nail polish. Choose the brighter tones in the palette – perhaps teal, soft plum, or muted fuchsia – to bring life to an otherwise toned-down outfit.
How should you think about patterns?
Patterns work well as long as the contrast doesn’t become too strong. Aim for prints where the colors flow together, like watercolor florals or small subtle checks. Avoid large blocks of black and white, as they can create harsh lines against the soft summer palette.
Why are neutral colors missing from the list?
Sometimes only base and accent colors are presented because neutral shades are considered obvious within the season’s color scale. A Soft Summer palette contains several neutral options – from misty gray to cool taupe – and they can be combined freely. The overall look is usually most harmonious when the base makes up the larger portion of garments and accent colors are used as details.
Read more in Soft Summer: black and white. For personal guidance, you can book our digital color analysis.