Have you just had a color consultation? Or perhaps you’ve scoured the internet and have poured over website after website trying to self-analyze…and you’ve landed at soft autumn. However you’ve made your way here, welcome! But now that you know your palette, where do you go from here?
I’ve got some tips to share with you based on my experience going down this same path a few years ago. But I can tell you right off the bat, one thing NOT to do is go out and start buying a bunch of things at random. That’s a surefire way to waste a lot of money, and unfortunately, I know this one from experience too! So let’s get into the specifics of how to gently transition your closet from a hodge podge of discordant colors to one that is harmonious and flatters every aspect of YOU!
Take Inventory
First things first, let’s not purchase something if we already own it, right? To begin with, I suggest doing a closet clean-out and getting rid of old, unwanted items and then organizing what is left. Organize it by color and take stock. Do you have a bunch of navy blue items? Hint: hold on to them! How about browns? Reds? Greens? Organize it all by color so you can see what colors you already own and which ones you don’t. Odds are that you already have some soft autumn items in your closet. And most likely you’ve got some holes in your wardrobe as well, so let’s fill THOSE holes first.
With what you have, start looking at the colors and deciphering which ones are brighter in nature – those are going to have to go. Got anything where the color almost looks like it’s been washed 1,000 times? Is it dull? Faded? Muted? You’ve got yourself a soft color, but is it an autumn color? Take some time to educate yourself on what comprises a soft autumn color. There are plenty of posts on this website as well as a plethora of others on the internet that will help you fine tune your soft autumn radar.
Replace Black
For me, the bad news with receiving my color analysis was hearing that black isn’t a good color on me. For years I actually thought black was my BEST color, so as you can imagine, I had a lot of it. The color black is obviously very dark and can be foundational to outfits, so you’ll need to resign yourself to not wearing it next to your face if you want to stay in season. However, hanging on to a pair or two of black pants isn’t out of the picture. Just always remember, the farther away from the face, the better (see this post about how to make soft autumn tweaks to an outfit).
If you’re more ambitious and are ready to COMPLETELY rid yourself of black, then navy, olive, chocolate brown, and charcoal are good replacements although I don’t suggest wearing dark or extremely cool-toned charcoals (see this post about charcoal undertones).
Regarding black accessories (shoes, coats, purses, etc.), replacing these items with their brown counterparts is an excellent place to start. They’re easy to find, and the variety of colors is endless. Try to stick to neutral or warmer browns (cognac and whiskey are two colors that come to mind). Some browns can lean really red or even purple, and those tend to clash with our palette.
Replace White with Cream
Next up is getting rid of those whites! Just like with black, if you want to still wear the color, go ahead under the condition that you will wear it away from the face. And whatever white you do end up wearing, it’s a safer bet to steer clear from the extremely bright shades. The less stark and cold it is, the less it will clash with other soft autumn colors you’ll be wearing.
A soft neutral cream is a great replacement for white. Being neutral-warm, we don’t want to go with anything extremely yellow so pay attention to the undertones when shopping. Colors like ivory and vanilla are good colors to look for. Also keep in mind how light or deep your skin tone is and find pieces that won’t wash you out. This is going to look different for each person, so it may take a bit of trial and error until you find the perfect neutrals that harmonize with your natural features.
Replace Silver Accessories
Silver can be a bright, strikingly cool color…especially when it comes to jewelry. Those adjectives don’t have any place in our palette! But if you can’t completely part with it, you can look for pieces that are in gunmetal or pewter shades or are described as “antique” or “burnished”.
If silver isn’t it, then that brings us to gold tones. Super shiny, light, or bright gold? No. Think yellow gold, rose gold, or even bronze gold. Brass and copper are other good options.
Start Adding Greens and Blues
If there’s one color that every soft autumn looks good in, it would be green. Not a bright, neon green, of course, but muted earthy greens like olive or sage. I’d say these greens are universally flattering on all of us soft autumns, and I consider them a staple in my wardrobe. These colors come in all sorts of shades and undertones, so stick to the shades that aren’t overly warm or yellow in undertone (see this post about our best greens). Green is a great, safe color to start experimenting with as it is so plentiful and versatile with the rest of the colors in our palette.
A close second to the versatility of green is a soft autumn blue. We’ve already talked about navy blue, but other hues such as cornflower and medium shades of denim/chambray are great for us (see this post about our best blues). If you feel adventurous, try out a faded teal!
Think About Layers
One great way to create a wardrobe that’s going to take you through the colder AND cooler months is by dressing in layers. If you’re trying to incorporate as many soft autumn pieces as possible for the least money spent, I suggest this to maximize the amount of color you wear throughout the year:
- If you live in a cold climate, buy a few neutral base layers (tank tops, tees, etc.) and focus on outer layers that are more colorful.
- If you live in a warm climate, buy colorful base layers and invest in a few neutral outer layers (cardigans, jackets, etc.).
What’s Next?
Once you start getting comfortable with the palette and seeing how the colors blend so nicely with each other and your features, venture into other colors. Reds and oranges would be the logical next ones to try. Yellows, purples, and pinks can be harder to find for our palette, so I’d suggest waiting on those until you’re fairly confident in your abilities to spot a soft autumn color.
Clothing with patterns is also a fun venture. Patterns can also be difficult to navigate, but here are some tips:
- Look at the colors present in the pattern. Are they mostly soft autumn? It’s pretty rare to find a pattern that is absolutely perfect. Look for patterns that favor our palette as much as possible, but don’t be turned away if it has maybe a tone or two that fall into a different palette. We’re looking at the overall feel of the pattern, not every tiny detail of it. Is the color most present black? Pass. Is it mostly a soft color with a few black hints here and there? You’re probably fine.
- Consider the contrast level within the pattern. We generally look best in patterns with low to moderate contrast. Avoid patterns with stark or high-contrast elements that may overpower our delicate, soft features.
I’m Still Confused
I hear ya. If you’re still unsure about how to proceed, I have a few suggestions for you:
- Buy a color swatch fan. These are available at numerous online retailers. It’s like the paint chips you can find at home improvement stores, but all of the colors are neatly packaged together in a convenient fan that you can take with you anywhere (note: make sure you get one that is specifically for “soft autumn” and not one that is just a general “autumn”). While these fans don’t contain every single in our palette, they are useful for getting you into the right family. If you find a piece of clothing that isn’t an exact match to the color swatches, but it harmonizes with the colors nicely, then you’ve most likely got a winner.
- Download a digital color palette. Here are a few that I like and keep on my phone for reference:
- Start at a thrift store. There are even some thrift stores that organize everything by color! Go in and look through all the shades of each color, bringing your digital or physical swatches with you. If you end up buying a few pieces that aren’t a perfect match, the financial hit will be much smaller than taking your chances on a high-buck item.
- Use a styling service. There are a few services out there that I’ve tried and have had really good results from (see this post to see a comparison of all three companies I tried). In short, you pay a small fee for a personal stylist to curate a box of clothes in your size, colors, and style. Pay for what you keep and send the rest back for free. This is a great way to get your feet wet in the world of soft autumn while having the help of a professional.
- Wait until fall. If all else fails, your best bet may be to wait until the fall-time to shop. Retailers tend to sell clothes that “match” the current season, so autumn is when we’ll have the largest selection to choose from.
In Conclusion
Revamping a wardrobe can be quite a job! Take your time, and don’t get discouraged if you’re finding it difficult to track down the “just right” colors. You will eventually find what you’re looking for and be getting a good education in the meantime. Your best-dressed you is attainable…and most likely just around the corner!
