Founding cohort now enrolling · Groups of 12 students · Taught by ESR, Paris, since 2010 See the certification
Summer family · Muted & soft

Muted Summer (Soft Summer) color palette

Hazy, gentle and refined. Muted Summer, called Soft Summer in other systems, has softness as its dominant and a cool secondary. The palette is dusty, blended and sophisticated, like colors seen through a light mist.

DominantMuted
SecondaryCool
TemperatureCool
Mauve grey
Sage
Dusty rose
Slate blue
Taupe
Smoky plum
Soft teal
Rose brown
Heather
Blue spruce
Soft raspberry
Pewter

What is Muted Summer? Muted Summer, called Soft Summer in other systems, has softness as its dominant and a cool secondary. The palette is dusty, blended and sophisticated, like colors seen through a light mist. It is also called Soft Summer in other 12-season systems.

What does a Muted Summer look like?

Mousy or ash-brown hair; grey-green, grey-blue or soft hazel eyes; neutral-cool skin; very little contrast between features. Every person is unique: coloring is confirmed by draping, never by hair or eye color alone.

Best neutrals

Taupe, rose-brown, soft charcoal, grey-blue, oyster.

Best metals

Brushed silver, pewter and soft rose gold.

Makeup

Dusty rose lips, soft mauve blush, taupe and grey-brown eyeshadows.

Colors to avoid

Bright, pure colors and strong black and white contrast.

The Muted Summer palette

Mauve grey, Sage, Dusty rose, Slate blue, Taupe, Smoky plum, Soft teal, Rose brown, Heather, Blue spruce, Soft raspberry, Pewter.

Close seasons

Muted Summer is often confused with Cool Summer, Muted Autumn. The difference lies in the dominant: a professional analyst compares the seasons side by side with fabrics to see which one truly lights up the face.

Learn to recognize every season.

Become an ESR Certified Color Analyst and learn the draping method used in our schools in 9 countries.

Discover the certification
Free quizEnroll