Summer vs Autumn
No selfie. No photo. Your season comes from your answers, so lighting and filters can’t move it.
Undertone, at similar softness. Both can look muted; Summer is cool-muted and Autumn is warm-muted. Rose test. Dusty rose against soft rust. One makes your skin look even; the other makes it look ruddy or grey.
Side by side
| Summer | Autumn | |
|---|---|---|
| Undertone and depth | dusty rose, mauve and soft blue sit right. | rust, olive and camel sit right. |
| Best colors | Powder #BCD4EF · Lilac #C7B3E5 · Rose pink #E58FB1 · Soft blush #F6C9CF · Sea glass #9FD3C7 · Dove gray #B8B8C2 · Cornflower #6F8FD9 · Soft white #F4F4F0 | Rust #B5522B · Olive #708238 · Camel #C19A6B · Honey #E0A526 · Teal #2A7F7F · Espresso #4A2C20 · Terracotta #C8674A · Cream #F3E5C8 |
| Colors to avoid | Burnt orange #CC5500 · Mustard #D1A520 · Espresso #4A2C20 · Tomato #F25C54 | Pure white #FFFFFF · Icy pink #F5D6E6 · Hot pink #FF3E9A · Powder blue #BCD4EF |
Three tests to tell them apart
- Rose test. Dusty rose against soft rust. One makes your skin look even; the other makes it look ruddy or grey.
- Metal test. Brushed silver against antique gold. Summer takes the silver, Autumn the gold, and neither looks right in the other.
- Neutral test. Pewter grey against warm taupe. Your better neutral is the faster answer than any bright colour.
Summer colors
- Powder
- Lilac
- Rose pink
- Soft blush
- Sea glass
- Dove gray
- Cornflower
- Soft white
Autumn colors
- Rust
- Olive
- Camel
- Honey
- Teal
- Espresso
- Terracotta
- Cream
Still not sure?
Ten quick picks between two colors decide it for you. No photo, no sign-in.
Other pairs people get stuck on
Winter vs Summer
Depth and clarity. Both are cool; Winter is deep and clear, Summer is light and soft.Winter vs Autumn
Undertone. Winter is cool, Autumn is warm. This is the cleanest split of the four.Winter vs Spring
Undertone. Both are clear and bright; Winter is cool and Spring is warm.Summer vs Spring
Undertone, at similar lightness. Both are light; Summer is cool and Spring is warm.Autumn vs Spring
Depth and clarity. Both are warm; Autumn is deep and muted, Spring is light and clear.Soft Summer vs Soft Autumn
Undertone, at identical softness. This is the hardest pair in the system: both are muted and mid-depth.Deep Winter vs Deep Autumn
Undertone, at identical depth. Both are dark; one is cold, one is warm.Light Spring vs Light Summer
Undertone, at identical lightness. Both are pale and low-contrast.Bright Spring vs Bright Winter
Undertone, at identical brightness. Both wear saturated colors most people cannot.Winter vs Bright Winter
Clarity, at the same cool undertone. Winter is deep and clear; Bright Winter is lighter overall but more saturated.
Depth and clarity. Both are cool; Winter is deep and clear, Summer is light and soft.Winter vs Autumn
Undertone. Winter is cool, Autumn is warm. This is the cleanest split of the four.Winter vs Spring
Undertone. Both are clear and bright; Winter is cool and Spring is warm.Summer vs Spring
Undertone, at similar lightness. Both are light; Summer is cool and Spring is warm.Autumn vs Spring
Depth and clarity. Both are warm; Autumn is deep and muted, Spring is light and clear.Soft Summer vs Soft Autumn
Undertone, at identical softness. This is the hardest pair in the system: both are muted and mid-depth.Deep Winter vs Deep Autumn
Undertone, at identical depth. Both are dark; one is cold, one is warm.Light Spring vs Light Summer
Undertone, at identical lightness. Both are pale and low-contrast.Bright Spring vs Bright Winter
Undertone, at identical brightness. Both wear saturated colors most people cannot.Winter vs Bright Winter
Clarity, at the same cool undertone. Winter is deep and clear; Bright Winter is lighter overall but more saturated.