True Autumn at a glance
- Also called
- Warm Autumn
- Family
- Autumn: warm, soft and medium to deep
- Strongest trait
- Warm
- Hue
- Warm
- Value
- Medium
- Chroma
- Soft to medium
- Best neutrals
- Cream, warm beige, camel and olive brown
- Black?
- Not near the face
What makes True Autumn different
True Autumn is defined by warmth first. Every colour in it has a yellow or golden base, so blue-based shades such as fuchsia, icy blue and cool grey look out of place. As a Autumn season it also shares the family traits: warm, soft and medium to deep. Put together, the best colours for a True Autumn are rust, burnt orange, pumpkin and terracotta.
Are you a True Autumn?
Often auburn, copper, golden-brown or warm medium-brown hair, warm hazel, amber, green or brown eyes, and golden, peachy or bronze skin that tans easily. Freckles are common.
Colouring alone does not decide your season, because many people share the same hair and eye colour. What you see when colours sit next to your face matters more. You are likely a True Autumn if most of these are true:
- Gold looks far better on you than silver.
- Black and cool grey drain your face.
- Rust, olive and mustard look natural on you.
- Icy pastels and fuchsia look out of place.
Not sure? Take the quiz, then compare this palette with your neighbours in the drape mirror.
The True Autumn color palette
Neutrals first: these are the base of a wardrobe, for coats, trousers, knits and bags.
Then the colours, for tops, dresses, scarves and anything near your face.
Tap a colour to copy its hex code. Screens show colour differently, so treat these as a guide and compare real fabric in daylight.
Colors a True Autumn should avoid
These fight True Autumn colouring most. They are not banned: keep them away from your face, in trousers, skirts, shoes and bags.
Can a True Autumn wear black?
Black tends to drain warm colouring. Chocolate, coffee and dark olive make better dark neutrals.
Best metals and jewelry
Yellow gold, bronze, copper and brass, in brushed or antique finishes as easily as polished. Your metal is the easiest colour decision you will make, because jewellery sits right at your face. If you are choosing gold, our guide to 14k vs 18k gold explains which one to buy for every day.
True Autumn makeup
- Lips: Brick red, terracotta, warm brown-nude, burnt orange and rust.
- Cheeks: Terracotta, warm peach and bronze.
- Eyes: Bronze, copper, olive, khaki and warm brown, with teal or olive liner.
Your season guides the colour of lipstick, blush and eyeshadow. Foundation is different: it should match your skin's depth and undertone exactly, whatever your season. See how to match your foundation shade.
True Autumn nail colors
Nails are the easiest place to wear your palette, since they sit near your face whenever you talk with your hands.
Hair color for a True Autumn
Copper, auburn, warm chestnut, golden brown and caramel. Ash, platinum and blue-black usually fight your skin.
Outfits, contrast and prints
Medium contrast. Earthy prints such as paisley, tweed, animal print and autumn florals; texture such as suede, corduroy and chunky knit suits the palette.
Three outfit formulas in True Autumn colours:
- Camel coat, cream roll-neck, olive trousers, gold chain.
- Rust knit, chocolate jeans, cognac boots.
- Teal dress, camel belt, brick red lipstick.
True Autumn vs similar seasons
- True Autumn or Soft Autumn? Soft Autumn is more muted. If dusty peach and sage look better than rust and pumpkin, compare it.
- True Autumn or Deep Autumn? Deep Autumn is darker. If espresso, deep teal and burgundy look better than camel and pumpkin, look there.
- True Autumn or True Spring? True Spring is warm too, but brighter and lighter. If coral and clear green beat olive and rust, compare it.
Your True Autumn palette card
Save the palette as an image for your camera roll, to check colours while you shop.
A 1080 by 1350 image, the size of a portrait phone post. It is drawn on your screen; nothing is uploaded.
