When it comes to effortless style, understanding your seasonal colour palette can completely transform your wardrobe. If you’ve ever felt that certain shades make you glow while others wash you out, your colour season might be the key. For those who belong to the True Summer colour palette, this guide will help you find the most flattering shades — whether you love cool summer tones or lighter, softer hues. And the best part? You can find beautiful pieces in your palette second-hand at SwapUp, Australia’s trusted online thrift store.
What Is the True Summer Colour Palette?
The True Summer palette (sometimes called Cool Summer) is all about cool undertones, soft contrasts, and muted colours. Imagine the serene shades of a misty beach morning — calm blues, soft pinks, and silvery greys. True Summer skin usually has cool undertones with ashy hair and blue, green, or grey eyes.
The key is coolness and softness — meaning colours that are neither too bright nor too warm. Think powder blue, rose pink, lavender, and cool grey. These hues bring out your natural complexion and give an air of quiet sophistication.
True Summer Colour Palette Clothes: What to Wear
Here are some of the most flattering True Summer clothing colours to look for when shopping:
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Tops and Dresses: Choose light and mid-tones like powder blue, soft rose, lavender, or dusty teal. Avoid warm peach or orange tones — they can clash with cool undertones.
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Bottoms: Go for cool greys, navy, or soft taupe instead of harsh black. These shades pair effortlessly with pastel tops.
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Outerwear: A light denim jacket, cool beige trench coat, or soft grey blazer looks polished without overpowering your palette.
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Accessories: Silver jewellery, pearl accents, and icy-toned scarves complement the True Summer vibe perfectly.
At SwapUp, you can easily find preloved versions of these timeless staples — from silk blouses to linen trousers — all while shopping sustainably.
Cool Summer Colour Palette Clothes
The Cool Summer palette is a sub-season of True Summer, sharing similar characteristics but leaning even more toward blue and silver undertones.
For Cool Summer clothing, focus on shades like:
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Periwinkle, icy lavender, and soft navy for tops
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Cool white, misty blue, or silver grey for bottoms
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Berry pink, plum, or fuchsia as accent pieces
Cool Summers look stunning in fabrics like cotton, silk, and chiffon — materials that move gracefully and enhance the subtle tones of your wardrobe. Instead of warm gold or earthy browns, go for silvery jewellery, blue-based reds, and cool blush tones.
Clothes for the Light Summer Colour Palette
If your features are softer and lighter — blonde or light brown hair, fair skin, and light eyes — you may belong to the Light Summer palette.
Light Summer combines the cool undertones of Summer with the delicacy of Spring, resulting in a palette that feels airy and pastel-based.
Some flattering options include:
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Soft mint, powder blue, and baby pink tops
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Light grey, pearl white, and cool beige trousers or skirts
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Flowy floral dresses with subtle blue or pink prints
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Light denim, lace blouses, or linen shirts for an effortless daytime look
When shopping preloved at SwapUp, look for breathable materials and soft, desaturated colours that don’t overpower your natural glow.
♻️ Shop Your Colour Palette the Sustainable Way
Building a wardrobe that suits your colour palette doesn’t mean buying everything new. With second-hand clothing, you can curate your True Summer, Cool Summer, or Light Summer wardrobe sustainably — while saving money and reducing textile waste.
At SwapUp, you’ll find thousands of gently used items in perfect shades for your seasonal palette — from cool pastel shirts to silky dresses and soft cardigans. Each piece is carefully quality-checked, so you can dress beautifully without compromising the planet.
Final Tips for Styling the True Summer Palette
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Mix textures, not tones: Pair a soft blue satin blouse with a cool grey skirt for depth without contrast.
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Keep it silver: Silver, white gold, or pearl accessories flatter cool complexions.
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Stay muted: Avoid overly bright or warm colours like orange, coral, or golden yellow — they can overwhelm your look.
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Use layering: Combine similar tones like lavender and grey for an elegant, cohesive feel.
Embrace Your Palette with SwapUp
Whether you’re True Summer, Cool Summer, or Light Summer, your ideal wardrobe is all about balance, softness, and harmony. By shopping second-hand at SwapUp, you can stay true to your colour season while embracing sustainable fashion.
Discover preloved treasures in your perfect shades — only at SwapUp.
Also read: Your Ultimate Guide to Summer Clothing in Australia
