When thinking about “white colors,” is ivory a warm or cool tone?

Ivory, or off-white, is considered a warm white because it contains a slight yellow or beige tone. It therefore usually works best in warm seasonal palettes like Spring and Autumn.

If you’re a Light Summer, cooler white shades typically work better. Examples include:

• Snow white: a very pure and clear white.
• Ice white: has a slight blue undertone.
• Pearl white: leans slightly toward gray.

These cooler variants create a fresher, more blue-toned effect that harmonizes well with the skin tone of Summer types. Try different white shades near your face and compare how they affect your radiance and the clarity of your eyes.

At the same time, personal taste is important. If you love a color and feel radiant in it, it matters less whether it’s warm or cool. Use color analysis as a guide, but also trust your own instincts.

For more tips on white, read Patterns and white for True Summer. Want help finding the right shades? Read more about our Bespoke Analysis.