Looking to dress a light spring color palette? This guide will teach you all the secrets you need to know for how to create light spring outfits.
A light spring color palette is one of the 12 seasonal color analysis classifications. Seasonal color analysis uses a combination of a person’s skin tone, eye color, hair color, and feature contrast to determine their best colors to wear.
The wrong colors can make your face and skin look washed out, and even sickly. If you’ve ever experienced a day where people kept asking you if you were sick (despite your best efforts to look good), you might have dressed in the wrong color. We see these types of style failures all the time on the red carpet, unfortunately. Every good stylist should be properly trained in color analysis.
Color analysis took hold in the fashion world when American fashion designer, Suzanne Caygill, began using color palettes with her clients and while teaching. Since then, several books related to styling and color analysis were published. However, the concept was still elusive to the mainstream.
Carole Jackson’s successful book in 1980, Color Me Beautiful, brought seasonal color analysis to the doorsteps of everyday women, with a simplified approach to determining one’s seasonal color palette.
In this post, we’re exploring the color season: light spring. You will learn about light spring characteristics, how to determine whether you’re a light spring, light spring celebrities, light spring color analysis, what colors to avoid, and light spring outfits.
This post is all about the light spring color palette.
Light Spring Color Analysis
What Is A Light Spring?
A light spring color palette is known for light colors that lean towards the warm side of the spectrum. From a chronological standpoint, light spring occurs in the second half of spring.
The colors of the light spring season are cheery and fresh, delicate, and light, and warm neutral. Light spring season represents the longest days of spring with an increase in lightness and softness before heading into summer.
Light spring is the lightest of the three spring seasons and the sunny palette includes lighter shades that aren’t too warm or bright.
In contrast, a true spring color palette falls in the middle of the season with an array of bright and saturated colors when the tulips are in full bloom and the greens of the forest come alive. True spring is warmer than light spring. The difference between true spring and light spring is warmth and saturation where overly pigmented shades would overwhelm the light spring palette.
Bright spring occurs at the beginning of the season, influenced by the coolness of winter, though still warm and bright. Bright spring is brighter than light spring, so overly bright colors will overwhelm a light spring.
Light Spring Color Characteristics
The 12 seasonal color palettes are characterized by the following factors: hue, value and chroma.
A color’s hue defines how warm or cool the color is. Warm tones have a yellow or beige undertone while cool tones have a blue or pink undertone. True hues are colors that are neutral, neither warm nor cool-toned, such as the primary colors red, yellow, and blue.
A color’s value defines how light (white values) or dark (black values) the color is.
A color’s chroma, or intensity, defines how soft/muted or bright/clear the color is.
Light spring colors are slightly warm, light, and slightly bright or saturated. This is one of the lightest seasons of the 12-season color palette.
Light Spring Characteristics
There are several physical characteristics that define a person who is a light spring. Most importantly, light springs are classified as having light colouring (eyes, skin, hair, lips), even ethereal at times.
Their appearance leans warm rather than cool, with warm or neutral skin undertones. The facial features on a light spring are similarly light with a low contrast level.
Every person is unique, so don’t expect to hit every light spring characteristic exactly to a “T” (although you might). Experimentation with different colors is the most accurate way to find the color palette that suits you best.
Related Post: How To Find My Style In 5 Easy Steps
Light spring skin is light, ranging from fair to medium. People of color will fall on the light side of the spectrum if they are a true, light spring.
Light Spring Features: Skin Undertone
Since light spring is considered a slightly warm season, a light spring’s skin undertone is neutral to warm-learning. In general, slightly warm colors suit a their complexion better than cool colors. Peachy or gold undertones may be present in the skin of a light spring as well as freckles.
You can perform the following tests to determine your skin undertone. Do these tests in natural light without wearing makeup.
Test 1: The Blank Sheet Of Paper
Hold a blank sheet of paper next to your face. Does it brighten your face or make it look dull? If it brightens, your skin’s undertone is cool. If it dulls, your skin’s undertone is warm. If you can’t tell, you may be neutral.
Test #2: The Color Of Your Veins
Examine the veins on the underside of your wrist. Blue/purple veins indicate a cool undertone and green veins indicate a warm undertone. If you can’t tell, you may be neutral.
Test #3: Gold Vs. Silver Jewelry
Compare holding of gold and silver jewelry against your face. The metal that shines and brightens your face is the winner. Gold jewelry looks best on warm skin tones while silver jewelry looks best on cool skin tones. If you’re not sure, you may have a neutral skin tone.
Lastly, does your skin usually tan or burn out in the sun? Skin that tans easily is typically warm while skin that always burns is typically cool. Skin that both burns and tans leans toward neutral.
Side note: I score in the middle for the first three tests (meaning I can’t tell either way) and my skin burns if I don’t wear SPF, but also develops a nice tan. My skin has a neutral undertone.
Light Spring Features: Eye Color
Light spring eye colors are light and delicate and slightly cool-toned. Eye color can be light blue, light green, hazel, or light brown. Eye color is bright as opposed to muted and may contain warm undertones.
Light Spring Features: Contrast
Because the overarching characteristic of a light spring is having light features with regards to eyes, hair color, skin color, and lips, they are considered to have a low contrast level. This means there isn’t a major difference in contrast between different facial features as opposed to someone who has both light and dark characteristics.
Related Post: How To Style Your Clothes Using Juxtaposition
Determine your level of contrast by taking a clear photo of yourself using a photo editor to change the coloring to “black and white” or grayscale.
Light Spring Features: Hair Color
Your natural hair color is what’s used to determine whether you’re a light spring. Light springs will have lighter hair colors in shades of blonde, strawberry blonde, copper, and golden brown. The hair always contains light, golden undertones or natural highlights.
Many light springs are born with natural blonde hair that darkens over time. In this case, light spring brunettes with dyed-blonde hair may look like natural blondes.
- Light blonde
- Golden blonde
- Golden strawberry blonde
- Dark golden blonde
- Light copper
- Light golden brown
- Medium golden brown
Can light springs have dark hair? Women of color that identify as “light spring” may have medium to dark golden brown hair, but would also have light, low contrast features elsewhere. Hair will always be lighter as opposed to darker and may obtain golden highlights in the sun.
Light Spring Vs. Light Summer
Are you a light spring or a light summer? Sometimes it’s hard to tell, but the overarching difference is in the palette’s undertones.
Light spring sits next to light summer on the color analysis wheel, which makes them sister seasons. Light spring can easily be confused with light summer because both palettes emphasize lightness and low-contrast features. The glaring difference between the two is found in the hue: the light spring palette is warm while light summer palette is cool.
A light spring has neutral-warm undertones (gold or peach) and looks best in slightly warm colors while a light summer has neutral-cool undertones (blue and gray) and looks best in slightly cool colors. Additionally, light springs look best in gold and rose-gold jewelry while light summers look best in silver jewelry.
A light summer will have golden undertones or highlights in their hair while a soft summer will have ashy undertones.
Light springs look best in light, slightly warm shades while light summers look best in light, slightly cool shades.
Related Post: Style Types Fashion | What’s Your Style Personality?
Light Spring Celebrities
These celebrities have characteristics that may classify them as candidates for a light spring color palette. A professional color analysis would officially confirm them as light spring celebrities.
Light Spring Color Palette
The colors for light spring are fresh and slightly warm, with the lightness of the sun increasing in strength during the latter half of the season. This color palette is pastel-oriented, delicate and beautiful, complimenting the light features and complexion of a light spring.
The emphasis for a wardrobe guide is always on the light and gentle versions of these colors as opposed to overly saturated, high contrast, muted, or dark hues.
Related Post: The Secret To Elegant Classy Style
The following colors make up the light spring color fan at a high level:
- Warm Ivory
- Cream
- Beige
- Warm Taupe
- Khaki
- Chocolate Brown
- Pale Gold
- Light Peach
- Light Yellow
- Rose Pink
- Sky Blue
- Light Violet
- Grass Green
- Medium Blue
- Blue-Green
Light Spring Palette: Neutrals
When planning a light spring wardrobe, slightly warm neutrals are the way to go. Opt for delicate hues with a peachy or gold undertone.
- Cream
- Meringue
- Nude
- Beige
- Sand
- Khaki
- Hazelnut
- Champagne Gray
- Taupe
- Mocha
- Chocolate Brown
- Taupey olive
- Denim Blue
Related Post: How To Shop For A New Wardrobe
Each person’s features are unique, so the draping method is the most effective way to determine your most flattering colors. The draping method is where you sit in front of a mirror or camera in natural light and drape a solid-colored fabric over your front area, like a scarf or poncho.
If your face looks washed out or blotchy, it isn’t a good color for you. If your face looks bright and your skin tone appears more even, you’ve found one of your best colors.
Related Post: 10 Elegant Style Tips To Look More Sophisticated
Light Spring Colors To Avoid
Since light spring’s emphasis is light and low contrast, high contrast colors and shades should be avoided. This includes colors that are cool (having blue undertones), too bright, muted, or dark. Dark colors overwhelm a light spring, so opt for softer versions when planning a light spring wardrobe.
Classic neutrals such as white, gray, and black are either too bright, too cool, or too dark for a light spring wardrobe and cause a tired, washed out appearance. Warm neutrals with peach or gold undertones look best on a light spring.
For the most part, it’s hard to avoid wearing black in a light spring wardrobe, especially if you love a capsule wardrobe. Instead, opt for a soft neutral such as a warm beige or taupe. If styling with black, balance with darker colors from the light spring color palette to avoid too much contrast. Stick to wearing dark colors on the bottom while your your top and jacket both less darker tones.
Light springs should steer clear of colors that are too bright, too saturated, too warm, cool, muted, or too bold. Opt for medium blue or denim blue instead of navy.
The light spring palette prefers light and delicate shades, so anything too much will overwhelm one’s appearance. Keep color palettes in line with the gentle, light colors of mid-late spring.
The same goes for light spring makeup, which can cause a ghosty appearance if too much black is used or the lip color is too bright or dark. Opt for brown mascara and eyeliner over black for this light season.
Additionally, neons and saturated primary colors should be avoided. Anything stark and intense will not complement the gentle features of a light spring.
Related Post: 21 Everyday Fashion Tips To Elevate Your Style
Light Spring Color Analysis
The best method for styling a light spring is to avoid too much contrast (light vs dark) with color. If styling with a light shade base, choose light shades as your secondary and accent colors and vice versa if styling with a dark shade. Tonal color palettes also help minimize contrast if styling with both light and dark colors.
Jewelry looks best in rose gold or light gold–warm, light metals. However, some light springs can also wear silver due to having neutral undertones, but I would opt for a light silver or white gold instead. Avoid antiqued or oxidized finishes as this can dull the complexion. Choose your jewelry after styling your outfit to determine which metal is the most flattering as it will depend on the warmth of the colors (warm = gold and rose gold; cool or cool-leaning = silver and platinum).
Creamy or pinkish pearls, coral, opal, jade, turquoise and other gemstones that aren’t overly saturated or sparkly looking fantastic with the rest of the palette.
Light Spring Color Palette Swatches
These color palettes reflect the light spring personality and can be used for a wardrobe guide. Light springs look great in multicolor outfits. Start with two or three colors or match your colors to a print in your outfit. Add contrast with a fourth color through small accessories and accent pieces.
Related Post: How To Put An Outfit Together
Softer, delicate hues complement a light spring without being too muted.
Bottom Palette: Pale Rose, Soft Peach, Light Muted Red, Stem Green
Multicolor prints look great on a light spring. Experiment with florals, polka dots, stripes, paisley, and other exotic prints to see what best compliments your features. Many light colors look beautiful.
Bottom Palette: Ivory, Pale Peach, Soft Turquoise, Milk Chocolate
Spring seasons are full of color as opposed to the icy shades of winter. Stick to lighter, warmer neutrals when styling and always incorporate color as it will brighten your skin tone.
Bottom Palette: Cream, Soft Yellow, Medium Coral, Medium Peachy Pink
Bottom Palette: Cream, Pale Rose, Medium Violet, French Blue
Tonal Color Palettes For Light Spring
While a monochromatic look will not flatter a light spring, a tonal color palette can look nice. The best way to style with tonal shades is with contrast–meaning ensure you pair at least one light color with one darker color. Your overall look should be more contrasting in different shades as opposed to blended and muted.
Opt for one color that’s a little different from the rest of the shades for a nice contrast. Always style a light color with a much darker shade as opposed to an all-dark or all-light outfit.
Related Post: How To Dress Simple But Stylish | 7 Easy Tips
Light Spring Wardrobe
Light spring outfits include styling with color, prints and neutrals.
Prints are a great way to get more color in your outfit, as are sunglasses and jewelry. Rose gold and light yellow gold jewelry look the best. However, those with a neutral skin undertone can also wear white gold or silver.
Colorful outfits are the best for a light spring, even at the office. They represent the delicate beauties of new life, just like in spring time.
Different shades of medium to light blue look amazing on a light spring. Style with beige, greige or ivory when pairing with neutrals for that casual chic look.
Regarding light shoes, your go-to color is beige (as opposed to traditional black, which is too harsh). Beige or a neutral skin color is universally flattering against all colors for footwear.
Don’t be afraid to style complementary colors together to create chic light spring outfits.
Light Spring Neutral Outfits
Neutrals look best paired with a colorful print or accent piece.
Related Post: 12 Capsule Wardrobe Essentials To Jumpstart Your Style
When styling with neutrals, use a few different colors to avoid an overly blended look. Jewelry can also help to break up a neutral outfit and pop of color in a handbag or an eyeshadow certainly does the trick, too.
Light Spring Dresses
Evening gowns and dresses look best in light spring colors or the lightest neutrals for light spring (ivory, cream, and beige).
Style LBDs and black gowns light-colored footwear and accessories. Add a pop of color to your lips, cheeks, and eyes so you don’t look washed out. A light bronzer and contour can also help when styling with black.
Related Post: How To Dress Nice Everyday: 7 Seriously-Good Tips
Light Spring Prints
Light and cheery florals are perfect for a light spring wardrobe. Style with light neutrals like ivory cardigans and jackets, light straw hats and accessories. Matching footwear (or beige as a neutral) are your best bet for styling.
Choose one color in a print and add other pieces and accessories to enhance the effect of color, making it the main color of your outfit. This can help to ground your look. Rather than a black jacket or black shoes, go for something different like a suede peach jacket or a light blue shrug.
Are you a light spring? I absolutely love this color palette! Happy styling, friends!
TIP YOUR STYLIST?
If my style tips and fashion guides have inspired you, or you’re simply loving it here, consider leaving a tip. Any amount is greatly appreciated and supports my creative work on What Is She Wearing.
This post was all about the light spring color palette
Related Posts:
Such a thorough post and very relatable (green eyes, freckled, formerly strawberry blond now grey of Irish decent)! The only issue I have is truly my problem, as with a French minimalist’s wardrobe from many years living in Montreal, the majority of my neutrals are black. Oh well! C’est la vie!
I hear you, Kathy…black is such a staple color in most of our wardrobes, especially French minimalist! If you can pair your black pieces with lighter pieces so the whole look is more balanced, that may help. But hey, what’s most important is wearing what you love. Thanks for reading. <3
When I have to wear black, I choose one of the brighter spring lipsticks in my palette. If you go with a bright lipstick, though, be sure and wear minimal makeup on the rest of your face. We can look like clowns, otherwise, haha!
Most helpful and thorough guidance on how to dress for light spring that I have read on the internet! THANK YOU!
Christine,
It makes me very happy that you enjoyed the article and that it was helpful. Light spring is beautiful palette and I wish you the best of luck on your style journey.
~ Laura