Can soft autumns wear gray? The answer is yes…with some caveats. Gray is a notoriously cool-toned color, and that doesn’t jive with the rest of our palette, but we don’t give up the fight here! There is such a thing as warmer-toned grays, and THOSE are the grays we want in our palette. They can be harder to find and might even require a more discerning eye, but the reward is worth the effort. Our grays have hints of brown or beige in them, and here are some great ones to consider:
- Griege. A harmonious blend of gray and beige, griege is the ultimate neutral for soft autumns. It combines the coolness of gray with the warmth of beige, making it an incredibly versatile color that can anchor your wardrobe. It pairs well with almost any color in the soft autumn palette, but really shines with olive, muted browns, and soft oranges.
- Mushroom. This lighter, elegant color has subtle brown undertones making it noticeably warmer than the cooler, more sterile grays. The brown and taupe influences in mushroom gray lend it an earthy quality making it especially suitable for those who gravitate towards nature-inspired looks. Unlike more vibrant grays, this one is muted, meaning it doesn’t stand out aggressively. This subdued quality makes it a perfect neutral for blending seamlessly with other colors in the soft autumn palette.
- Warm Pewter. This shade is a chic, adaptable deep gray with a hint of warmth. Unlike traditional cool pewter, warm pewter incorporates hints of brown or beige which soften its overall feel. This is a deeper color, so a whole outfit head to toe may be overpowering for us soft autumns. We can use this color as a base to build upon or as an accent color to add a small pop of interest to our look.
- Soft Charcoal. Deep and sophisticated, soft charcoal is a rich gray with warm undertones reminiscent of natural materials like wood or stone. It provides a beautiful contrast when paired with lighter soft autumn colors.
Integrating the right shades of gray into your soft autumn wardrobe can elevate your style, adding sophistication and versatility. Greige, mushroom gray, warm pewter, and soft charcoal each bring unique qualities that complement the warm, muted tones of soft autumn. These colors can oftentimes be overlooked or even forgotten about because of gray’s reputation for being cold and sterile. But with the correct undertones and application, gray can be a beautiful addition to the soft autumn palette.
Here are some examples of grays that can work for the soft autumn palette. Finding just the right shades was somewhat difficult, so please understand that colors can appear differently on monitors and screens. I was specifically looking for grays that looked like they had brown or beige mixed in with them and looked like they would match well with other soft autumn colors like olive or rust. If you notice, some of these colors could almost pass as beige or taupe.
And here are some grays that are not going to flatter us soft autumns. Notice how some of these colors are extremely steely looking while others are too light or extremely metallic. Some of the colors could even pass for blue.
