• 25 January 2024
All twelve colour seasons in one place: what defines each one, the shades they love, and how to spot which is yours.
The twelve-season system takes the original four (Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter) and gives each one three variations. The result is a lot more accurate, because it covers the full range of human colouring instead of lumping everyone into four buckets. Each main season gets a True/Bright version (the balanced one), a Light version, and a Deep/Dark version, or it flows toward a neighbouring season.
Springs share warmth and clarity, they just differ in depth. Every Spring has warm undertones and looks best in clear, warm colours.
The lightest, most delicate Spring. Think light hair (usually blonde or light brown), light eyes (blue, green or light hazel), and fair skin with warm undertones. Best colours: warm pastels like peach, coral, warm beiges and light aqua.
The classic Spring with obviously warm colouring. Medium-light features with clear golden tones. Best colours: coral, turquoise, warm greens, golden yellow, and bright warm shades that don't go too deep.
A Spring with higher contrast and real clarity. Often has darker hair than the others, but keeps those warm undertones and bright, clear eyes. Best colours: warm but clean and bright, like warm red, bright coral and clear aqua.
Summers share coolness and softness, differing in depth. Every Summer has cool undertones and looks best in soft, cool colours.
The lightest Summer, delicate and a little ethereal. Very fair with ash tones in the hair, soft eyes and pink undertones. Best colours: soft pastels like powder blue, soft pink, lavender and cool beiges.
The classic Summer, clearly cool and soft. Ash blonde to ash brown hair, soft blue or grey eyes, pink undertones. Best colours: all the soft, cool shades, think dusty pink, soft blue, mauve and sage.
The most muted Summer, flowing toward Autumn. Gentle contrast with greyish, neutral-cool undertones. Best colours: complex, greyed shades like dusty rose, soft teal and muted purples.
Autumns share warmth and softness, differing in depth. Every Autumn has warm undertones and looks best in warm, muted colours.
The most muted Autumn, flowing toward Summer. Warm but gentle, with soft, blended features. Best colours: soft, warm neutrals like camel, olive, soft rust and warm greys.
The classic Autumn, clearly warm and earthy. Rich auburn or brown hair, warm eyes, golden undertones. Best colours: all the warm earth tones, rust, olive, camel and warm browns.
Winters share coolness and clarity, differing in depth. Every Winter has cool undertones and looks best in clear, cool colours.
The brightest Winter, all clarity and contrast. Often has very bright, clear eyes against dark hair. Best colours: high-contrast and clean, like black and white and bright jewel tones.
The classic Winter, high contrast and cool. Dark hair, bright eyes, cool undertones. Best colours: pure cool shades like true red, royal blue, emerald green, black and white.
The deepest Winter, flowing toward Autumn. Very dark features with cool undertones. Best colours: deep cool shades like black, midnight blue, deep purple and burgundy.
The twelve seasons live on a continuous spectrum, not in rigid boxes. Each one flows into its neighbours and shares a trait or two. Light Summer and Light Spring, for instance, are both light and mainly differ in temperature. That flow is why you can often borrow colours from the season next door, as long as you keep your dominant characteristic front and centre.
FAQs
Related Reading
26 March 2026
Summer and Winter are both cool, but one's soft and hazy while the other's bright and bold. Here's how to tell.
20 February 2024
The colour analysis slip-ups almost everyone makes, and the simple fixes that keep you on the right track.
The deepest Autumn, rich and warm. Dark hair and eyes with warm undertones. Best colours: deep warm shades like chocolate, deep teal, forest green and burnt orange.
