Spring colors: Light, True and Bright Spring

Spring palettes are warm and clear, like fresh fruit and new leaves. Each of the three Spring seasons takes that idea in a slightly different direction.

What the Spring seasons share

All three Spring seasons suit colors with a yellow, golden base that look clean rather than dusty. Think peach, coral, warm aqua, golden yellow and fresh greens. Colors that are heavy, very dark or grayed down tend to sit on top of Spring coloring rather than blending with it.

Spring people often have a warm, glowing quality, but not always obviously golden skin. The difference between the three Springs comes down to which quality leads: lightness, warmth or brightness.

The swatches below are examples to give you the idea. Screens show color differently, so treat them as a rough guide rather than exact matches.

Light Spring

Light Spring is led by lightness, with warmth second. It sits next to Light Summer on the season wheel, so it is the most delicate of the Springs and leans slightly toward neutral. People in this season often have light hair, light eyes and fair to light-medium skin with low to medium contrast.

Neutrals: ivory, cream, light camel, warm beige, light warm gray, and a soft, lighter navy in place of black.

Metals: light yellow gold and rose gold. Silver can work if it is bright rather than dark or oxidized.

Skip: black, charcoal, deep burgundy and other heavy darks near the face, plus dusty, muted shades that look dull on light, clear coloring.

True Spring

True Spring, sometimes called Warm Spring, is led by warmth. It is the most golden of the Springs and the one where yellow-based colors look most natural. Hair often has golden, copper or strawberry tones, and skin frequently looks peachy or golden.

Neutrals: camel, golden beige, ivory, warm caramel brown and a warm, mid-depth navy.

Metals: yellow gold, brass and bronze. Polished finishes usually look better than very dark, antiqued ones.

Skip: black, cool grays, icy pastels and blue-based pinks such as fuchsia, which can make warm skin look sallow by contrast.

Bright Spring

Bright Spring, also called Clear Spring, is led by clarity, with warmth second. It sits next to Bright Winter, so it is the most vivid and highest-contrast Spring and can handle some cooler, brighter shades. People in this season often have striking eyes that look bright against the whites, and noticeable contrast between hair and skin.

Neutrals: ivory, warm navy, charcoal brown and camel. A crisp white works too, as does black in small amounts when paired with a bright color.

Metals: polished yellow gold and bright silver. Shine suits this season better than a matte or brushed finish.

Skip: dusty, muted shades like mauve or sage, heavy earthy browns, and washed-out pastels that look faded next to clear coloring.

Telling the three Springs apart

If you know you are a Spring but not which one, try this. Hold a soft peach, a true coral and a vivid poppy red near your face in daylight.

• If the soft peach looks best and the poppy feels like too much, lean toward Light Spring.
• If the coral looks best and all three look reasonably warm on you, lean toward True Spring.
• If the poppy looks best and the peach makes you look washed out, lean toward Bright Spring.

Then check your runner-up. Light Springs often borrow nicely from Light Summer, and Bright Springs from Bright Winter. True Springs share some colors with True Autumn, though Autumn's versions are softer and deeper.

Practical tips for Springs

• Swap black for warm navy or chocolate. If you love black, keep it below the waist or break it up with a Spring color near your face.
• Choose ivory over stark white unless you are a Bright Spring, who can usually wear both.
• Keep accessories light and lively. A coral scarf or a warm turquoise earring can make a neutral outfit look like it was chosen for you.
• Watch for dustiness. A color can be the right temperature and still look wrong if it is grayed down. Spring colors should look fresh.