The Worst Colors for Each of the 12 Seasons in Color Analysis
- Soul of Colour
- Dec 27, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Nov 26
Color analysis is a powerful tool to help you discover the hues that enhance your natural beauty. However, just as there are colors that make you shine, there are also shades that can clash with your season’s unique characteristics. These are colors that generally do not harmonize well with your natural features. That said, though, this doesn't mean you can never wear these colors - sometimes wearing your opposite colors can make a bold statement and give you a slightly edgy look (if that's what you're going for). Plenty of celebrities do this to create a strange, uncanny bold eye-catching look.
There is great value in knowing your opposite season and worst colors. Once you know these, you can use them to your advantage and play around with your appearance. Overall, once you know your home season, I'd advise getting to know your opposite season as well.
Here’s a quick guide to the worst colors for each of the 12 seasons. For more information on the best and worst colors for each season, check out the in-depth palete guides.
True Spring
Avoid muted, dark, and cool tones. These can dull your vibrant, warm glow.
Opposite seasons: True Summer and True Winter
Colors to Avoid For True Springs:
Black
Charcoal Gray
Cool muted Brown
Cool Mauve
Dusty Rose
Cool muted Blue
Cool muted Green
Light Spring
Steer clear of dark and cool colors, as they overpower your delicate, warm essence.
Opposite season: Deep Winter
Colors to Avoid for Light Springs:
Black
Cool dark brown
Royal Purple
Deep Red or Burgundy
Emerald Green
Navy Blue
Magenta
Light Summer
Dark and warm shades can overwhelm your soft, cool radiance.
Opposite Season: Deep Autumn
Colors to Avoid for Light Summers:
Black
Burnt Orange
Mustard
Deep Olive Green
Deep Warm Brown
Warm Burgundy
Eggplant Purple
True Summer
Warm, bright, and dark tones clash with your natural coolness and subtlety.
Opposite Seasons: True Autumn and True Spring
Colors to Avoid for True Summers:
Black
Any type of Orange
Warm Yellows
Warm Brown
Cream
Warm Greens
Soft Summer
Bright and warm hues can clash with your soft, cool undertones.
Opposite Season: Bright Spring
Colors to Avoid for Soft Summers:
Black
White
Bright Red
Bright Orange
Bright Yellow
Bright Green
Magenta and other Bright Pinks
Bright Purple
Soft Autumn
Bright and cool colors are too harsh for your muted, warm palette.
Opposite season: Bright Winter
Colors to Avoid for Soft Autumns:
Black
White
Bright Red
Cobalt Blue
Magenta and other Bright Pinks
Bright Purple
Bright Yellow
True Autumn
Light, cool, and bright colors can look unnatural against your rich, warm complexion.
Opposite seasons: True Summer and True Winter
Colors to Avoid for True Autumns:
Black
White
Cool Blue
Cool Pink
Cool Purple
Cool Green
Deep Autumn
Light and cool tones don’t harmonize with your deep, warm coloring.
Opposite season: Light Summer
Colors to Avoid for Deep Autumn:
Icy pastels
Pastel pink
Pastel blue
Pastel yellow
Pastel green
Light gray
Light silver
Deep Winter
Light and warm hues can detract from your striking, cool depth.
Opposite season: Light Spring
Colors to Avoid for Deep Winter:
Warm pastels
Pastel Yellow
Cream
Apricot
Salmon Pink or Coral
Light Apple Green
True Winter
Warm, muted, and light colors can make your vivid, cool features appear dull.
Opposite season: True Spring and True Autumn
Colors to Avoid for True Winter:
Burnt Orange
Warm Muted Brown
Apricot
Cream
Salmon Pink or Coral
Marigold or Butterscotch.
Bright Winter
Muted and warm tones can make your bold, cool features appear washed out.
Opposite season: Soft Autumn
Colors to Avoid for Bright Winter:
Muted Olive
Beige
Brick Red
Terracotta
Toffee
Warm Camel
Bright Spring
Avoid muted and cool shades, as they don’t complement your lively, warm energy.
Opposite season: Soft Summer
Colors to Avoid for Bright Spring:
Gray
Dusty Blue
Dusty Rose
Muted Purple
Muted Green
Mauve
Understanding which colors to avoid can help you refine your wardrobe and ensure your outfits always complement your season’s unique beauty.
It can be tough to figure out which color belongs to your palette when shopping. That's why I created the Color Scanner App, where you can scan a color, and see which palettes it matches the best.