Sweaters for Every Color Season: Shop Your Best Shades
If you haven’t taken our color season quiz yet, start there. It only takes a couple of minutes, and it’ll tell you whether you’re a Spring, Summer, Autumn, or Winter. Once you know your season, sweater shopping gets a lot easier. A sweater sits closer to your face than almost anything else in your closet, so the right shade does some of the work your makeup is doing. It can brighten your eyes and even out your skin. The wrong shade can flatten all of that in an instant.
Here’s what to look for once you know your season.
Spring: Warm and Bright
The rule: if it looks good with a golden tan, it’s a Spring color.
Springs have warm, clear coloring, think golden undertones and hair that’s rarely a true black. Sweaters in muddy or overly dark shades can wash a Spring out fast. The goal is warmth with a little sparkle.
Best shades to shop:
- Coral or warm peach
- Golden camel (not gray-toned beige)
- Clear grass green
- Warm turquoise
- Bright, true red (not brick or berry)
Shop the edit:
Summer: Cool and Soft
The rule: if it looks like it was dipped in a little gray, it’s a Summer color.
Summers run cool, with soft, muted coloring like ashy blondes, cool browns, and skin with pink or rosy undertones. Sweaters that are too bright or too warm can overpower a Summer’s naturally gentle coloring. Soft, blended shades are the sweet spot.
Best shades to shop:
- Dusty rose or mauve
- Soft periwinkle blue
- Sage or celadon green
- Lavender
- Cool, soft gray (not stark or flat)
Shop the edit:
Autumn: Warm and Deep
The rule: if it belongs on a fall leaf, it’s an Autumn color.
Autumns have warm, rich coloring with golden or copper undertones. This is the one season where fall’s classic palette is almost too on-the-nose — and that’s a good thing. Avoid anything icy or cool-toned; it competes with an Autumn’s natural warmth instead of complementing it.
Best shades to shop:
- Rust or pumpkin
- Olive green
- Mustard or golden yellow
- Chocolate brown
- Warm burgundy
Shop the edit:
Winter: Cool and Clear
The rule: if it looks sharp next to true black or white, it’s a Winter color.
Winters have the most contrast of any season, often dark hair against fair or deep skin, with cool undertones throughout. Winters can wear bold, saturated color better than any other season, but muted or warm shades tend to fall flat on them.
Best shades to shop:
- True red or crimson
- Emerald green
- Sapphire or royal blue
- Fuchsia
- Crisp black or pure white
Shop the edit:
Still not sure which season you are? Take the quiz here. It’s free, fast, and it’ll make every sweater you buy from here on out work a lot harder for you.
Comment below if you’ve taken the quiz. We’d love to know what season you are!
I’m autumn! I’m surprised. I was a strawberry blonde and now white, not really grey. I’m fair, but I do tan. Do you think I’m an autumn? It’s Ma favorite season. I do love the colors. I also like blues, especially denim and cobalt. Green is my favorite color.
Happy birthday a bit late💐
Thank you! I am not sure if you’re Autumn, but I do know you can be between seasons. I think it helps to take photos in different colors and see what looks best. The first time I took it I got “Winter” but then I reread the questions and thought about it, and it came out “Summer”. I’ve heard that before, but I think I was in denial, lol.
I’ve taken this test before, but it was fun to take again! A summer, but I do lean into some of the richer winter colors from time to time.
Can you believe that I was taught to dress as an autumn because I’m a redhead? I remember seeing myself in a picture wearing a brown shirt, and i looked dead! That was my wake-up call.
Love the picture with you and Tania!
Oh my. Well, I’m glad you figured it out! Thank you. I’m trying to remember to take photos wherever I go. So many times I get talking and forget. 🙂
I’m a Summer Season color girl! And I do tend to gravitate towards the colors suggested. Fun quiz!
I’m glad you liked it! It was fun for me, too. 🙂
Lisa! Happy Belated Birthday!!! Evidently, I’m a Winter, which makes sense because I wear a ton of black and green! I love your posts! Thank you and keep it up! Have a great weekend ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you, Alison! I appreciate you being here. 🙂
I am a soft summer and definitely look best in silver jewelry. I am drawn to winter colors, but I have to wear a lot of makeup to pull them off close to my face!
I’m the same! Wish I liked the soft summer colors more. 🙂
I test out as a Spring, yet I gravitate toward summer and autumn. Can someone be a combination? Such as when I wear periwinkle or coral, I get the most compliments and I feel look the brightest. Deep brown also comes across brightening. I usually just buy what makes me feel and look my best 😇
Yes, you can be somewhere between two seasons. For me, I know what does NOT look good on me. White is not my friend. Sounds like you’ve got a good handle on it. 🙂
I am an Autumn which is perfect since it is my favorite season after the Holidays. I am loving those colors right now. Just waiting for the weather to turn. Here in the Chicago area it is still pretty warm and muggy. So ready for crisp and cool.
Fall is my favorite. I’ve heard a cool front is coming through. Here in Tennessee, we’re starting to see mornings in the 60s! I love it!
I am a soft summer. I try to wear these colors cuz when I do they are complimentary and lift my spirits.
I’m a summer, too! But I have to make myself wear the correct colors, lol.
I am a true Winter, cool tones, jewel tones. I only wear my colors 😀 I did this 40 years ago and never looked back lol. I love this post. I like a sophisticated look. My body type is a pear and a-line skirts or dresses work best for me. I am also a petite and only buy petites. I wear only silver jewerly. Thank you for this post! LOVE it!
Im glad you like it. I wish I was a winter. I love those options. I’m a summer!