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How to combine colours for your colour season
Knowing your palette is the first step; the second is putting it together. Here are the rules we use at CARO and, for each of the 12 seasons, its neutrals, its metals, its level of contrast, four ready-to-wear combinations and what is best avoided.
Choose your season
Tap your season to see its colours, neutrals, metals and four ready-to-wear combinations. Not sure of it yet? Take the free colour test at the end of this page.
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter
Warm Spring
Your main colours
- Sand
- Lime green
- Pistachio
- Champagne
- Camel
- Green
- Aqua green deep
- Coral
- Aqua green light
- Vanilla light
- Vanilla deep
- Coral red
Your neutrals
- Sand
- Nude light
- Camel
- Camel
- Hazelnut
- Chocolate
- Navy
Ivory, nude and camel as a light base; hazel and chocolate instead of black; navy as the one cool dark allowed.
Your metals
- Yellow gold
- Rose gold
- Copper
- Metals to avoid
- Cold, shiny silver; chrome.
- Contrast
- Medium
Combinations
Neutral + accent
Camel and ivory with a touch of coral near the face.
Camel · Sand · Coral red
Complementary
A navy base, ivory and coral: the blue makes the warm shade glow.
Navy · Sand · Coral
Sunny tonal
Vanilla, apricot and camel: from light to medium, all golden.
Vanilla light · Apricot mid · Camel
Fresh analogous
Aqua green and lime green with ivory: fresh and luminous.
Aqua green deep · Lime green · Sand
- What to avoid
- Pure black, cool grey, optic white, powdery or dull colours.
Light Spring
Your main colours
- Dusty pink
- Nude light
- Nude deep
- Champagne
- Lime green
- Soft teal
- Aqua green
- Aquamarine
- Pale yellow
- Nude mid
- Salmon deep
- Salmon light
Your neutrals
- Sand very light
- Sand mid
- Champagne
- Beige deep
- Taupe
- Hazelnut
Light sands, champagne and beiges; taupe and hazel as the darkest. No black or deep navy.
Your metals
- Champagne gold
- Rose gold
- Yellow gold
- Metals to avoid
- Dark metals (gunmetal, dark bronze) and antique gold.
- Contrast
- Low
Combinations
Neutral + accent
Champagne and sand with a soft salmon.
Champagne · Sand very light · Salmon deep
Peach tonal
Three warm nudes, from most to least intense.
Nude deep · Nude mid · Nude light
Water analogous
Aquamarine and aqua green with light sand.
Aquamarine · Aqua green · Sand very light
Soft complementary
Denim blue, sand and a pale yellow accent.
Denim blue · Sand mid · Pale yellow
- What to avoid
- Black, very dark browns and blues, harsh contrasts, dull colours.
Bright Spring
Your main colours
- Bubblegum pink
- Lime green
- Pistachio
- Green
- Soft aqua
- Aquamarine
- Vanilla
- Apricot deep
- Salmon
- Coral red
- Orchid pink
- Apricot light
Your neutrals
- Bone
- Cream light
- Beige
- Grey
- Taupe
- Navy deep
- Charcoal deep
Light bone and cream, mid grey and taupe; navy and charcoal as crisp darks.
Your metals
- Yellow gold
- Rose gold
- Silver
- Metals to avoid
- Matte or aged metals (antique gold, matte bronze).
- Contrast
- High
Combinations
Neutral + accent
Navy and bone with a vivid coral: clean contrast.
Navy deep · Bone · Coral red
Complementary
Turquoise and salmon: the two opposites, in their bright version.
Turquoise light · Cream light · Salmon
Green tonal
Green and lime green with bone.
Green · Lime green · Bone
Neutral base + pop of colour
Beige and cream with a fuchsia accent.
Beige · Cream light · Fuchsia
- What to avoid
- Dull, powdery or greyish colours, earthy browns.
Cool Summer
Your main colours
- Bone
- Magenta
- Plum
- Mid grey
- Slate grey
- Forest green
- Pine green
- Wine
- Slate blue
- Aubergine
- Raspberry
- Burgundy
Your neutrals
- Bone
- Light grey 2
- Grey mid
- Mid grey deep
- Slate grey
- Slate blue
- Wine
Bone and cool greys; slate grey and slate blue instead of black; muted wine as a dark.
Your metals
- Silver
- White gold
- Platinum
- Metals to avoid
- Yellow gold, copper, bronze.
- Contrast
- Medium
Combinations
Neutral + accent
Slate grey and bone with raspberry.
Slate grey · Bone · Raspberry
Blue tonal
Slate blue, ice blue and bone.
Slate blue · Ice blue · Bone
Pink and plum analogous
Plum, soft magenta and bubblegum pink.
Plum · Magenta · Bubblegum pink
Complementary
Forest green and light grey with a raspberry accent.
Forest green · Light grey 2 · Raspberry
- What to avoid
- Oranges, golden yellows, camel, warm browns, pure black.
Light Summer
Your main colours
- Jade
- Light grey
- Grey
- Turquoise
- Cream light
- Cream deep
- Ice blue
- Cerulean
- Mist blue
- Denim blue
- Bubblegum pink
- Bright pink
Your neutrals
- Cream
- Beige light
- Light grey
- Light taupe
- Grey
- Steel blue
- Slate grey
Cream, beige and light greys; steel blue and slate grey as the darkest.
Your metals
- Silver
- White gold
- Rose gold
- Metals to avoid
- Intense yellow gold, copper, bronze, gunmetal.
- Contrast
- Low
Combinations
Neutral + accent
Grey and light grey with bubblegum pink.
Grey · Light grey · Bubblegum pink
Blue tonal
Mist blue, ice blue and a touch of cream.
Mist blue · Ice blue · Cream deep
Water analogous
Jade and aqua green with light beige.
Jade · Aqua green light · Beige light
Soft dark base
Steel blue and cream with a vivid pink near the face.
Steel blue · Cream deep · Bright pink
- What to avoid
- Black, dark brown, very intense or warm colours (orange, mustard).
Soft Summer
Your main colours
- Eucalyptus
- Nude pink
- Soft teal
- Pink
- Mist blue light
- Mist blue deep
- Bubblegum pink light
- Bright pink
- Mauve
- Dark mauve
- Bubblegum pink deep
- Orchid pink
Your neutrals
- Bone
- Beige deep
- Light taupe light
- Mid grey light
- Taupe
- Slate blue
- Slate grey deep
Bone, beige and greyish taupes; slate blue and slate grey instead of black.
Your metals
- Matte silver / pewter
- White gold
- Rose gold
- Metals to avoid
- Shiny yellow gold, chrome, highly polished metals.
- Contrast
- Low
Combinations
Neutral + accent
Taupe and bone with old rose.
Taupe · Bone · Old rose
Blue tonal
Steel blue, mist blue and light grey.
Steel blue · Mist blue light · Light grey light
Pink and mauve analogous
Mauve, orchid pink and nude pink.
Mauve · Orchid pink · Nude pink
Muted greens
Eucalyptus green and blue-green with beige.
Eucalyptus · Soft teal · Beige deep
- What to avoid
- Black, optic white, bright or neon colours, orange.
Warm Autumn
Your main colours
- Salmon
- Nude
- Champagne
- Olive green
- Pistachio
- Peach light
- Coral light
- Turquoise
- Apricot
- Burnt orange
- Peach deep
- Coral deep
Your neutrals
- Sand light
- Sand mid
- Camel
- Hazelnut mid
- Brown
- Chocolate
- Muted petrol
Light sand and cream, mid camel and hazel; chocolate and brown instead of black; petrol blue as a coloured dark.
Your metals
- Yellow gold
- Antique gold
- Copper
- Bronze
- Metals to avoid
- Shiny silver, platinum, chrome.
- Contrast
- Medium
Combinations
Neutral + accent
Petrol blue and sand with intense coral.
Muted petrol · Sand light · Coral deep
Spiced tonal
Camel, burnt orange and peach.
Camel · Burnt orange · Peach light
Green analogous
Olive green, pistachio green and champagne.
Olive green · Pistachio · Champagne
Chocolate + colour
Chocolate and apricot with a turquoise accent.
Chocolate · Apricot · Turquoise
- What to avoid
- Black, cool grey, optic white, cool pinks and fuchsia.
Deep Autumn
Your main colours
- Lime green
- Pistachio
- Apricot
- Camel
- Coral red deep
- Coral red light
Your neutrals
- Sand very light
- Sand deep
- Camel deep
- Tobacco
- Ink blue
- Wine
- Charcoal deep
Sand and camel; tobacco, ink blue and dark wine as deep bases; charcoal instead of pure black.
Your metals
- Antique gold
- Yellow gold
- Bronze
- Copper
- Brass
- Metals to avoid
- Shiny silver, platinum, white gold.
- Contrast
- High
Combinations
Neutral + accent
Tobacco and sand with a warm coral.
Tobacco · Sand very light · Coral red deep
Complementary
Ink blue with camel and apricot.
Ink blue · Camel · Apricot
Red tonal
Burgundy, toasted coral and peach.
Burgundy deep · Coral red deep · Peach
Greens and golds
Khaki green, pistachio green and golden apricot.
Khaki green · Pistachio · Apricot deep
- What to avoid
- Pastels, icy colours, cool light greys.
Soft Autumn
Your main colours
- Salmon
- Pink
- Sage green
- Greyish green
- Sand deep
- Clay
- Jade light
- Jade deep
- Cream
- Sand light
- Vanilla
- Khaki
Your neutrals
- Cream
- Pearl grey
- Beige
- Light taupe
- Hazelnut deep
- Moss
- Slate grey
Cream, pearl grey and beige; mid taupe, hazel and moss; slate grey as the darkest.
Your metals
- Antique gold
- Rose gold
- Bronze
- Metals to avoid
- Polished silver, chrome, very shiny metals.
- Contrast
- Low
Combinations
Neutral + accent
Light taupe and cream with soft salmon.
Light taupe · Cream · Salmon
Sand tonal
Clay, sand and light sand.
Clay · Sand deep · Sand light
Muted greens
Jade and sage green with khaki.
Jade deep · Sage green · Khaki
Soft complementary
Dark denim blue, cream and vanilla.
Dark denim · Cream · Vanilla
- What to avoid
- Black, optic white, very bright colours, strong contrasts.
Cool Winter
Your main colours
- Magenta
- Black
- Wine
- Plum deep
- Purple
- Aubergine light
- Plum light
- Plum mid
- Midnight blue
- Aubergine deep
- Ink blue
- Charcoal
Your neutrals
- Optic white
- Pearl grey light
- Light grey deep
- Mid grey
- Ink blue
- Charcoal
- Black
Optic white, pearl grey and greys; ink blue, charcoal and black as bases.
Your metals
- Silver
- Platinum
- White gold
- Steel / gunmetal
- Metals to avoid
- Yellow gold, copper, bronze.
- Contrast
- High
Combinations
Neutral + accent
Black and white with magenta.
Black · Optic white · Magenta
Blue tonal
Night blue, powder blue and pearl grey.
Midnight blue · Powder blue · Pearl grey light
Purple analogous
Plum, purple and orchid.
Plum mid · Purple · Orchid
Complementary
Forest green and grey with raspberry.
Forest green · Light grey deep · Raspberry
- What to avoid
- Oranges, camel, golden browns, dull or earthy colours.
Deep Winter
Your main colours
- Slate grey
- Black
- Muted petrol
- Blue
- Slate blue
- Burgundy deep
- Purple
- Aubergine light
- Aubergine deep
- Wine
- Burgundy light
- Burgundy mid
Your neutrals
- Optic white
- Bone
- Grey light
- Slate grey
- Slate blue
- Wine
- Black
White and bone; slate grey, slate blue and dark wine; black as a base.
Your metals
- Silver
- White gold
- Platinum
- Steel / gunmetal
- Metals to avoid
- Yellow gold, copper, rose gold.
- Contrast
- High
Combinations
Neutral + accent
Black and white with burgundy.
Black · Optic white · Burgundy deep
Blue tonal
Slate blue, mid blue and sky blue.
Slate blue · Blue · Cerulean light
Plum analogous
Aubergine, purple and a powder pink.
Aubergine light · Purple · Dusty pink
Complementary
Pine green and pearl grey with red.
Pine green · Pearl grey · Red
- What to avoid
- Warm pastels, camel, orange, dull or earthy tones.
Bright Winter
Your main colours
- Orchid pink deep
- Purple
- Indigo
- Forest green
- Navy
- Vivid red
- Royal blue
- Bright pink
- Violet
- Orchid pink light
- Magenta light
- Magenta deep
Your neutrals
- Optic white
- Bone
- Pearl grey light
- Grey deep
- Slate grey deep
- Ink blue
- Black
Optic white, bone and pearl grey; slate grey, ink blue and black as crisp bases.
Your metals
- Silver
- Polished chrome
- Platinum
- White gold
- Metals to avoid
- Matte or aged gold, copper, bronze.
- Contrast
- Very high
Combinations
Neutral + accent
Black and white with vivid red.
Black · Optic white · Vivid red
Blue-violet analogous
Royal blue, violet and indigo.
Royal blue · Violet · Indigo
Complementary
Forest green and white with magenta.
Forest green · Optic white · Magenta deep
Dark base + pop of colour
Ink blue and white with aquamarine.
Ink blue · Optic white · Aquamarine deep
- What to avoid
- Dull, powdery or earthy colours, yellowish beige.
Ten rules for combining colours
- Neutral base + accent One or two of your season's neutrals form the background and a colour from your palette adds the touch. It is the easiest and most efficient way to dress.
- 60 / 30 / 10 One colour leads (60%, e.g. the coat or the trousers), another goes with it (30%) and the third is the accent (10%: scarf, bag, jewellery).
- Monochrome or tonal Several intensities of the same colour. It lengthens the silhouette and always looks elegant.
- Analogous Neighbouring colours on the colour wheel (green and turquoise, pink and plum). A calm harmony.
- Complementary Opposite colours (blue and orange, green and red). Lots of energy: best with one leading and the other as an accent.
- Your best colour, near your face Your main colours on the top, the scarf, the glasses or the jewellery. What is far from your face (shoes, bag) can take more neutrals.
- Contrast to suit your season Deep and bright seasons take (and call for) more contrast between garments; light and soft ones, less.
- Metal in your temperature The metal of your jewellery, glasses, buckles and hardware follows your temperature: warm with golds and coppers, cool with silvers.
- Colour echo Repeating a colour from the look in an accessory (bag, shoes, belt) pulls the outfit together.
- Efficient wardrobe 2 or 3 neutrals from your season + 4 or 5 accents that go together: everything goes with everything.
Don't know your season yet?
Find it for free with the colour analysis quiz: no photos, anonymous and with your own PDF.
Would you rather Carolina confirmed it?
In a CARO image consultation we put your palette together with your own clothes, in person in Sitges, Garraf, Penedès and Barcelona, or online.