Seasonal color analysis can be both empowering and limiting in some ways (as we talked about in this post). Today, we’re embracing the fun side of it. This post is for the girls who are saying, “Just show me what looks good already!”
Seasonal color analysis can be a great starting point when you feel overwhelmed by style decisions. So, we’ve broken it down by season using pieces from Mae Threads and a few celebrity examples to bring each palette to life.
Meet the Seasons
The seasonal systems out there come in different varieties, ranging from 4 categorizations up to 27 plus—phew! We’re just going to focus on the 4-category version today:
Autumn: warm, earthy, deep
Winter: bold, high contrast, cool
Spring: light, fresh, warm
Summer: soft, dusty, cool
Not sure what your season is? Use this post as a quiz—notice which colors harmonize the best with your natural coloring.
What Each Season Looks Like in Real Life
The seasons are based on undertones (yellow-based/blue-based), depth (dark/light), and clarity (clear/muted)—but each of these is a spectrum where you could fall anywhere. So here are some examples of what distinguishes each season and what that might look like.
Autumn
Autumns have golden tones on the deeper side. Hair colors range from rich brown to deep red, auburn, or golden blonde. Eye colors include green-blues, mossy greens, and warm browns. Skin typically has warm, earthy undertones like golden beige, olive, or bronze.
Celebs who likely fall in this category include Elizabeth Olsen, Brenda Song, Shailene Woodley, Drew Barrymore, Eva Mendez, and Zendaya. Think golden glints, olive tones, and a certain depth to the look.
Signature colors include plum, rust, deep gold (like the Gisborne), and olive (like the Tenley).
Winter
Winters are cool, clear, and deep. Hair is usually dark—black, deep brown, or cool dark blonde. Eyes are sharp and intense: icy blue, deep brown, or striking gray. Skin has cool undertones and can range from very fair to very deep, often with a porcelain or espresso finish.
Celebs who likely fall in this category include Lucy Liu, Selena Gomez, Lily Collins, Lupita Nyong’o, Billie Eilish, and Dua Lipa. Think high contrast, icy cool tones, and bold, striking features.
Signature colors include true black, white, cobalt blue, cherry red, and hot pink (like the garnet gingham dress above).
Spring
Springs have warm, golden tones with a light and fresh quality. Hair colors often include light golden blonde, strawberry blonde, or light auburn. Eyes are typically clear and bright—think blue, green, or light hazel with a warm sparkle. Skin tends to look peachy or ivory with a gentle glow.
Celebs who likely fall in this category include Taylor Swift, Amy Adams, Zoe Saldaña, Florence Pugh, Elle Fanning, and Reese Witherspoon. Think warmth, lightness, and a fresh, glowing appearance with peachy or golden tones.
Signature colors include coral, turquoise, butter yellow, and warm ivory. You can’t go wrong with a peach-and-mint combo (like the Birdie dress above) and a pink-and-tan combo (like the Margot Striped Tee above).
Summer
Summers are cool-toned and soft, with an overall muted and blended appearance. Hair ranges from ashy blonde to light brown, sometimes with a silvery cast. Eye colors include gray-blues, soft hazels, and muted greens. Skin often appears rosy, cool beige, or neutral with a gentle softness.
Celebs who likely fall in this category include Emily Blunt, Margot Robbie, Rihanna, Cate Blanchett, Jennifer Aniston, and Dakota Fanning. Think cool tones, soft contrast, and an overall powdery or delicate appearance.
Signature colors include dusty rose, soft navy, lavender, cool sage (like the Mint Colored Tee above), and cool gray (like the Melvin Dress above).
Outfits by Season
Now let’s put all that info into practice and build some outfits! Each season definitely has its own vibe. See which one resonates with you.
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Autumn
These outfits show how colors from the autumn palette can look put-together and cozy-yet-bold. Notice the soft, deep colors. If you were to mix these colors up with paint, you’d probably use a bit of yellow.
The Allie Pullover Sweater | The Raffin Woven Set in Olive
The Louis Ribbed Sweater Dress | The Leon Fleece Jacket
The Rose Hoodie Set | The Meg set in Rust
Winter
Winter color combos look bold, chic, and rich. These colors lean blue-based and bright rather than yellow-based and soft.
The Melon Textured Dress | Indy Sandals in White
Lucy Puff Sleeve Top | The Bruges Drawstring Gingham Pant
The Rae Butter Jacket | Rae Active Butter Skort
Spring
Spring outfits strike a lovely balance between bright yet still delicate. These colors lean yellow-based and bright rather than blue-based and soft.
Tibby Floral Dress in Pink | Gemma Sandals
Dijon Blouse | Aaron Cargo Skirt
Summer
Summer’s palette is so pretty, demure, and some may even say mermaid-like. If you were to mix up these colors with paint, you would be using some blue in most of them and you’d keep the hues soft.
The Lexi Button Knit Midi | The Lulu Patterned Maxi Dress
Linsey Sweatshirt | The Washed Denim Cargo Pants
The Terry Oversized Long Sleeve Tee | Boyfriend Jeans
A Permission Slip to Break the Rules
Remember: seasonal color analysis is a tool, not a test. Even if you’re a summer, you don’t have to wear those cool, soft colors if you don’t like them. Let's say you love wearing warm autumn browns—there are always ways to make it work! Use it in accessories, wear it away from your face, or just wear it proudly because you love it.
The point isn’t to restrict your creativity—it’s to help you build a wardrobe that supports the life you want.
At Mae Threads, we have colors for every season or preference. Shop the collection now!