True Autumn color palette

What is True Autumn?

True Autumn, also called Warm Autumn, is the warmest autumn season. Every color has a golden undertone and a rich, slightly muted quality, like autumn leaves. It sits between Soft Autumn and Deep Autumn and shares its warmth with True Spring, which is clearer and lighter.

The True Autumn color palette

Warm, medium-rich colors: rust, tomato red, pumpkin, burnt orange, mustard, gold, olive, moss, forest green and warm teal. Every color below links to its own page with hex, RGB and OKLCH values, shades and matching colors.

Best neutrals for True Autumn

Cream, camel, khaki, warm brown, chocolate, olive-brown and warm charcoal.

Colors True Autumn should avoid

Icy pastels, cool pinks, blue-reds, fuchsia, cool grays and black. Pure white can look stark.

The colors below come from True Winter, the season with the opposite traits. They are the least flattering on True Autumn coloring.

How to tell if you are a True Autumn

• Skin: Warm: golden, peach, bronze or warm olive, often with freckles.
• Hair: Copper, auburn, red, golden brown or warm medium brown.
• Eyes: Warm: golden brown, hazel, amber, olive or warm green.
• Contrast: Medium.

Coloring is a tendency, not a checklist. The surest test is to hold colors from this palette and from Soft Autumn and Deep Autumn under your chin in daylight and see which make your skin look clear and even. The color analysis quiz narrows it down in a few questions.

True Autumn outfits and wardrobe

Build a True Autumn wardrobe on two or three neutrals, then add medium tones for most of your tops and save the strongest colors for accents near the face. Four starting combinations from this palette:

True Autumn makeup, hair color and jewelry

• Lips: Brick, rust, terracotta, warm red and caramel nude.
• Cheeks: Terracotta, warm peach and bronze.
• Eyes: Copper, bronze, gold, olive and dark brown liner.
• Hair color: Copper, auburn, golden brown and warm chestnut. Avoid ash and blue-black.
• Jewelry and metals: Yellow gold, copper, bronze and brass.

True Autumn vs Soft Autumn and Deep Autumn

If several True Autumn colors look slightly off on you, try the neighbor that shares your strongest trait. Medium tones such as Indian Red, Tiger's Eye and Olive are the easiest way to compare.

All 12 color seasons

• Light SpringLight, warm and clear: peach, warm pink, buttercream, mint and aqua.
• True SpringWarm and clear: coral, poppy, golden yellow, grass green and warm turquoise.
• Bright SpringSaturated and warm-leaning: hot coral, poppy red, lime, turquoise and violet.
• Light SummerLight, cool and soft: powder blue, lavender, rose pink, mint and soft gray.
• True SummerCool and softly muted: rose, raspberry, cool blue, periwinkle, lavender and blue-green.
• Soft SummerMuted and cool: dusty rose, mauve, slate blue, soft teal, sage and gray-plum.
• Soft AutumnMuted and warm: sage, camel, terracotta, soft olive, muted teal and salmon.
• Deep AutumnDeep and warm: chocolate, brick, rust, olive, forest green, deep teal and aubergine.
• Deep WinterDeep and cool: black, burgundy, emerald, sapphire, plum and deep teal.
• True WinterCool and vivid: true red, fuchsia, royal blue, emerald, icy pink, black and white.
• Bright WinterVivid and cool-leaning: hot pink, true red, electric blue, emerald, violet and icy tints.

Frequently asked questions