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 colours 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 colours like black and navy blue. Its muted, soft overall impression is what makes the colour palette unique and harmonious.
How do base, neutral, and accent work?
Base colours are the hues you wear most often; they form the foundation of your wardrobe. For a Soft Summer, this often means muted blues, greys, and taupe tones. Here are some examples:
- soft navy blue
- cool grey-beige
- misty burgundy
Neutral colours tie the palette together and work with both base and accent colours. They can overlap with base colours, but think of them as soft mid-tones: lighter grey, dusty pink, or mild lavender.
Accent colours are used in smaller doses to create a focal point. This could be a scarf, hat, piece of jewellery, or even nail polish. Choose the brighter tones in the palette – perhaps teal, soft plum, or muted fuchsia – to add colour to an otherwise toned-down outfit.
How to use patterns
Patterns work well as long as the contrast isn’t too strong. Aim for prints where the colours flow together, like watercolour 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 colours missing from the list?
Sometimes only base and accent colours are presented because neutral shades are considered self-evident within the season’s palette. A Soft Summer palette contains several neutral options – from misty grey to cool taupe – and they can be combined freely. The overall look is usually most harmonious when base colours make up most of the outfit and accent colours are used as details.
Read more in Soft Summer: black and white. For personal guidance, you can book our digital colour analysis.