One of the most coveted colors of the soft autumn palette is purple. Finding the “just right” shade can often be a challenge. When you’re looking for purples that really belong in the Soft Autumn palette, think warm, muted, and a little earthy. These aren’t the vibrant plums or icy lavenders you might see in other seasons. Instead, Soft Autumn purples sit somewhere between rose and brown or purple and taupe.
Our purples are not silvery or blue. They aren’t pastel or royal. Our purples lean red, brown, or even pink. Let’s take a look at three purples that you may want to consider for your Soft Autumn wardrobe:
Warm Mauve. This shade in the Soft Autumn palette is like a dark pink that’s grown up and mellowed out. It has that soft, muted rose influence, but with a little depth and a slight brownish tint to keep it from feeling sugary or bright. Unlike cool mauves that might drift toward lilac or magenta, this version is darker and has a romantic coziness to it. If the mauve looks faded, a little earthy, and sits comfortably next to warm browns or olive greens, that’s the kind of warm mauve that belongs in a Soft Autumn wardrobe.
Dusty Plum. Imagine that you mixed the colors eggplant and rosewood. You would be left with a beautiful reddish purple called Dusty Plum that fits perfectly into a Soft Autumn wardrobe. It’s like plum with a kiss of warmth and softened with a bit of taupe. Unlike cooler purples that lean more blue or violet, this one has a noticeable red influence. You can spot it by looking for purples that seem to have a hint of brown or brick in them rather than fuchsia or magenta.
Faded Eggplant. This color is a rich purple that’s been softened by a bit of brown and just a touch of warmth. It’s not bold or bright, but instead mellow and calm. The undertone is slightly warm, which sets it apart from the cooler, blue-based eggplants you might see in winter palettes. To spot it, look for a purple that seems like it has a little dirt in it (in a good way!). Think less like grape jelly and more like the outer skin of an overripe fig. If it looks crisp, it’s probably better for a cooler season. But if it blends in easily with soft browns, olive greens, or warm taupes, you’ve probably found your Soft Autumn eggplant.
Purples to Wear
Below are some examples of good purples for Soft Autumns. Notice how faded or dusty the colors appear. This is necessary to keep them soft for our palette. But also notice how brown, red, or pink they appear. This small amount of warmth is what sets them apart from the cooler Soft Summer purples.
Purples to Avoid
Here are some examples of purples that aren’t great for the soft autumn palette. Notice how blue, bright, and light some of them are!
