Neutrals masterclass for Summers
Sometimes as a Summer it's easy to feel that your palette is more neutral than anything else, but that's simply a side effect of your beautifully soft, smokey shades, and it's still worth spending the time figuring out your favourite neutrals. Knowing what the foundation of your outfit is will enable you to pull together both effortlessly minimalist looks and bolder, brighter looks with a relatively high contrast feel, even within your soft, cool toned palette.
Your neutrals tend to fall into a few groups. Blues, from Navy to denim, are perhaps the most obvious, and Greys from palest Silver Moon to Charcoal. But don't forget less obvious shades like your Rose Taupes and Brown toned greys like Mole, as well as light neutrals like Soft White and Light Birch
Each season has neutrals from the warmest and coolest ends of their palette but don't feel you have to choose from one end or the other - sometimes a combination can be more unexpected and interesting. And remember, these neutrals are your foundations - you want to pick ones which harmonise comfortably with your Wow colours - your favourite bright colours within the palette.
If you're just starting out with your personal colour palette, it can sometimes be helpful to stick to a smaller number of neutrals, to ensure a cohesive look within your wardrobe as you transition it over to your new colours - pick one darker and one lighter as a minimum, and you can add more over time.
In order to show you how versatile neutrals can be, I've styled Summer's neutrals three ways below; all alone, with a bolder colour pop or two, and as the foundation of a much brighter outfit.
Tessa Skirt | Serena 3/4 Sleeve Top | Rachel Jacket | Classic Leather Belt | Silver Halo Necklace
Style notes: This look is almost monochrome, with Ice Blue used as a light neutral against blue-grey Slate and French Grey, but the contrast between light and dark, and the mixture of textures, keeps it interesting and elegant feeling.
Cotton Cashmere Wrap | Arabella Dress 3/4 Sleeve | Lace Camisole | Suede Tassel Bag | Silver Feather Necklace
Style notes: Sensible Navy is made instantly pretty with the addition of a couple of brighter Summer shades - bolder Bright Amethyst and soft and pretty Violet work beautifully together with the help of Navy and Crystal Blue to underpin the look.
Style notes: The bold print of the trousers and the bright Orchid top are tamed by the underpinning neutrals of Soft White and Mole. Even the most flamboyant prints can be made more grown up feeling by picking out their neutral tones in the rest of your outfit.
To see neutrals for the other seasons, use the links below
