Tonesy Take the test
The Spring family

Spring Color Palette

The spring color palette is the warm, clear side of seasonal color analysis. In the twelve-season system the spring color season splits into three: Light Spring, True Spring and Bright Spring. All three lean warm, and each is led by a different trait: lightness, warmth or brightness.

Find out which season you are

The three Spring seasons

Warm undertones and clear, lively color. Springs look best in shades with sunlight in them: peach, coral, warm aqua, golden cream.

Colors the Spring seasons share

Each of these colors sits in at least two of the three Spring palettes. Tap a color to copy its hex code.

Spring color palette for clothes

The capsule wardrobe of each Spring, by color

Each Spring season builds its wardrobe on a few neutrals, then adds color on top. Light Spring starts from camel and cream, True Spring from camel, chocolate and ivory, and Bright Spring from crisp white, taupe and near-black.

The color comes next: peach, coral and soft turquoise for Light Spring; coral, golden yellow and grass green for True Spring; hot pink, bright turquoise and warm red for Bright Spring.

Prints and denim follow the same logic. Light Spring suits small, delicate prints and light to medium washes. True Spring suits rounded, playful prints and clear medium blue denim. Bright Spring holds up in bold graphic prints and clear, bright washes.

Spring skin tone and complexion

Undertone and contrast of each Spring, next to its neutrals

Spring skin leans warm: clearly warm and golden in True Spring, neutral or neutral-warm in Light and Bright Spring. Depth varies: True Spring runs from fair to dark, Light Spring from fair to medium, and Bright Spring from fair to tan. Freckles are common in Light and True Spring.

Contrast and clarity separate the three. Light Spring has very low contrast and tans lightly. True Spring has medium contrast and tans to a golden bronze. Bright Spring has high contrast and a clear complexion that reads vivid rather than soft.

Hair and eyes add clues. Golden blonde and copper shades appear in all three, and a sunburst pattern around the pupil is listed for every Spring.

Spring vs autumn color analysis

Signature colors side by side

  • True Spring Coral · Dandelion · Green Flash · Bachelor Button · Bird Of Paradise
  • True Autumn Fall Leaf · Cardinal · Spinach Green · Butterum · Mustard Gold

Spring and Autumn are the two warm families, both with a yellow-based undertone. The difference is clarity: Spring colors are bright and clear, Autumn colors are muted and earthy.

True Spring and True Autumn show it best. They share the same strongly warm undertone, but True Spring is brighter and clearer while True Autumn is deeper and more muted. Hold a clear grass green and a deep olive green to your face: if the clear green suits you more, lean True Spring.

On the color wheel, no Spring season borders an Autumn one. The Spring family meets Summer through Light Spring and Winter through Bright Spring.

Spring colors to wear

Signature colors of each Spring

  • Light Spring Impala · Salmon · Daiquiri Green · Cockatoo · Popcorn
  • True Spring Coral · Dandelion · Green Flash · Bachelor Button · Bird Of Paradise
  • Bright Spring Honeysuckle · Blazing Yellow · Green Flash · Blue Curacao · Beetroot Purple

Each Spring season has five signature colors, shown here next to the colors at least two Springs avoid.

Light and True Spring skip dark, cool or stark colors such as Jet Black and Bright White. True and Bright Spring also skip dusty, grayed colors such as Quiet Shade and Fungi.

Colors to skip

Spring makeup, hair color and more

Lip shades and hair colors from each Spring guide

Each Spring season has its own guides to makeup shades, hair colors, nail colors, outfits and celebrity examples. Men use the same seasonal palettes, mostly through suiting neutrals, shirts and ties.

Spring color analysis: which Spring are you?

Start with your strongest trait. If lightness stands out most, look at Light Spring; if warmth, True Spring; if clarity and contrast, Bright Spring.

The free color test weighs hue, value, chroma and contrast and names your closest season when your answers point clearly to one.

FAQ

Spring color palette questions

Can a spring wear black?

It depends on the Spring. Light and True Spring both list Jet Black as a color to avoid; warm dark brown, chocolate or a warm-cast charcoal do the same job. Bright Spring usually wears black best of the three thanks to its high contrast, ideally paired with a vivid color.

Is the spring color palette warm or cool?

Warm. Light and Bright Spring sit closer to warm-neutral, while True Spring is the warmest of the family.

Should Springs wear gold or silver?

Gold is on all three Spring lists, as shiny yellow gold or rose gold. Light Spring can wear silver if it stays light and bright, and Bright Spring also suits polished silver and platinum.

Free color test

Which Spring are you?

Put it into practice: 16 questions in about 4 minutes, free, no photos, no sign-up.

Take the free test