True Autumn Color Palette

What True Autumn coloring looks like

True Autumn, also called Warm Autumn, is the warmest of the autumn seasons. Warmth is the trait that stands out, and it comes with a slightly soft, earthy richness. The coloring looks golden, warm and grounded.

Typical True Autumn coloring includes the following.

• Skin with a clearly warm, golden or peachy undertone, from fair to deep. It may have warm freckles, and it often tans to a golden bronze.
• Hair in warm shades, such as red, auburn, copper, golden brown or warm medium brown.
• Eyes that are warm, such as hazel, amber, golden brown, olive green or warm teal.
• Contrast that is medium, with a warm, blended look.

How to tell if you are a True Autumn

• Earthy colors such as rust, olive, mustard and camel look natural on you.
• Gold, brass and bronze look better than silver.
• Cream and ivory flatter you more than pure white.
• Cool pinks, icy blues and purples make your skin look gray or tired.

If deeper, darker earthy colors look even better, you may be a Deep Autumn. If softer, more muted colors suit you best, you may be a Soft Autumn. If clear, fresh warm colors outshine the earthy ones, compare with Warm Spring. Our free color analysis checks all three traits from one photo.

How to wear the True Autumn palette

The True Autumn palette is the classic autumn look. It includes Clay, Paprika, Terracotta, Rust, Cinnamon, Honey, Dijon, Moss, Avocado, Fern, Spruce, Petrol and Copper.

• Near your face, wear golden, earthy colors. Terracotta, Honey and Moss bring out warm eyes.
• For neutrals, choose Linen and Putty for light pieces, and Mushroom, Mink, Truffle and Espresso for darker ones. Camel and olive are excellent extra neutrals.
• Use texture. Tweed, suede, knit and linen in your colors look richer than shiny, synthetic fabrics.
• For prints, earthy prints such as paisley, plaid, animal prints and botanical patterns.
• For accessories, yellow gold, bronze, brass, tortoiseshell and stones such as amber, topaz and carnelian.

A simple True Autumn capsule wardrobe

A small wardrobe in your colors means almost everything goes with everything else. Start with these pieces and add color from your palette over time.

• A Linen or cream shirt and a camel knit.
• Olive and chocolate trousers instead of black.
• A Terracotta or Rust top for golden warmth.
• A Moss or Spruce dress for any season.
• A camel coat or a tweed jacket in warm browns.
• Cognac leather shoes, a tan bag and yellow gold jewelry.

Common True Autumn mistakes

• Black and stark white as basics. Chocolate, olive and cream are softer and warmer.
• Cool jewel tones such as fuchsia and royal blue near the face.
• Ashy hair color, which can make warm skin look gray.

True Autumn at every skin depth

People of every skin depth can be a True Autumn. The season describes how your coloring fits together, not how light or deep your skin is. Within the palette, though, skin depth still guides which tones look best right next to your face.

• If your skin is on the lighter side, lean on the lighter tone of each color family, such as Clay, Honey, Lagoon and Lupine.
• If your skin is on the deeper side, the stronger tones carry more presence, such as Paprika, Dijon, Spruce and Grape.

Either way, the test is the same. Hold the color under your chin in daylight and keep it if your skin looks smoother and your eyes look brighter.

Makeup for True Autumn

• Foundation with a golden or warm undertone.
• Lips in terracotta, brick, warm brown and burnt orange. A brick red is a classic True Autumn lip.
• Blush in peach, warm bronze or terracotta.
• Eyes in bronze, olive, copper, warm brown and teal. Brown liner suits you better than black.
• Brows in warm brown or soft auburn.

Hair colors for True Autumn

Auburn, copper, golden brown and rich caramel suit you. Copper and red tones in particular look natural against warm skin. Avoid ash, platinum and blue black, which cool the face and make warm skin look sallow. Our guide to the best hair colors for warm undertones has more ideas.

True Autumn compared with its neighbours

True Autumn sits between Deep Autumn and Soft Autumn on the season wheel.

• True Autumn and Deep Autumn are both warm. Deep Autumn is darker and can carry deeper colors and more contrast.
• True Autumn and Soft Autumn are both warm. Soft Autumn is more muted and gentle. True Autumn can carry more saturated earthy color.

The colors to avoid come from True Winter, the season furthest away. They are cool, clear jewel tones, the opposite of warm and earthy.

True Autumn at a glance