Bright Spring Color Palette (Clear Spring)

Bright Spring is led by chroma. The colors are pure and intense, with no gray mixed in, and they need to be strong enough to match eyes and contrast that already look vivid. Warmth is the second trait, so the palette leans yellow but borrows some cool clarity from winter: cobalt, royal blue and a clean bright white all belong here. Values run from pale lemon to deep navy.

Eyes are usually the giveaway. They are often bright and sparkling, in clear turquoise, green, topaz, light blue or a vivid warm brown, and the whites of the eyes look very white. Skin ranges from fair to medium-dark and is often warm-neutral, with a clear, luminous look.

Hair ranges from golden blonde and copper to warm dark brown, and in many Bright Springs it is noticeably darker than the skin. Contrast between hair, skin and eyes is usually medium to high. Bright Springs tend to disappear in beige, dusty pastels and muted earth tones, and they look most like themselves in a color that would overwhelm most people.

• Bright white #FFFDF7
• Light lemon #FFF38A
• Light aqua #8FF0E2
• Hot coral #FF5A4F
• Poppy red #F03A2E
• Clear yellow #FFD93A
• Bright turquoise #00E5D0
• Kelly green #00A550
• Cobalt blue #0047AB
• Watermelon pink #F44166
• Royal blue #2A52BE
• Navy #202F54

Bright Spring or Warm Spring?

Warm Spring is warmer and gentler in contrast. Hold Golden brown next to Cobalt blue, then a warm ivory next to Bright white. On a Bright Spring, Cobalt blue and Bright white look clean and sharp, while the brown and ivory make the face look muddy and the eyes lose their sparkle. On a Warm Spring the reverse happens: the cobalt looks cold and the white looks harsh. If you need the vivid colors and the contrast to look awake, you are on the bright side.

See the Warm Spring palette

Bright Spring or Bright Winter?

Bright Winter shares your clarity but leans cool. Hold Hot coral against a cool fuchsia or blue-red, and a pale lemon against an icy pink. On a Bright Spring, Hot coral and Light lemon look lively and the fuchsia sits on the skin with a slightly purple cast. On a Bright Winter, fuchsia and icy pink look striking and the coral turns the skin orange or flushed. Yellow gold against bright silver is a quick second check.

See the Bright Winter palette

Bright Spring neutrals need contrast, so pair light and dark rather than staying in the middle. Navy and Dark chocolate do the work of black for suits, coats and trousers. Bright white and Cream are your shirts and tees. Light warm gray and Camel are fine as supporting pieces, but always add one vivid color near the face. Warm charcoal covers heavy winter layers.

Your best white and what to wear instead of black.

Five outfit formulas

• Sharp suit

  • Suit: navy
  • Shirt: bright white
  • Scarf: poppy red

• Color block

  • Top: cobalt blue
  • Trousers: cream
  • Bag: hot coral

• Summer brights

  • Dress: bright turquoise
  • Sandals: camel
  • Earrings: clear yellow

• Green and white

  • Sweater: kelly green
  • Jeans: bright white
  • Loafers: dark chocolate

• Weekend contrast

  • Striped tee: watermelon pink
  • Jacket: royal blue
  • Jeans: navy

Prints and fabrics

You can carry bold prints with crisp edges: wide stripes, polka dots, color-blocked geometrics, large tropical florals and graphic prints with a white or navy ground. Keep contrast medium to high; a print in Hot coral and navy on white looks right, while a faded watercolor looks tired on you. Shiny and crisp fabrics help, such as polished cotton, silk charmeuse, patent leather, satin and smooth knits. Heathered, washed-out and slubby textures soften you too much.

Colors to avoid

• Dusty rose #C9A3A3
• Sage green #A3B18A
• Mushroom #A39285
• Burgundy #7A1F3D
• Plum #8E4585
• Drab olive #7D7A5C

Muted and grayed colors are the main problem for a Bright Spring. Next to clear eyes and strong contrast they look like a faded photo of you. Burgundy and plum also pull too cool. When a soft color is unavoidable, add a bright scarf or lip from your palette.

Choose a neutral-warm or golden undertone that matches the jaw exactly; clear skin shows a mismatch quickly. A satin finish keeps the luminous look this season has. Skip heavy matte powders, which flatten the contrast.

Lips

• Hot coral #F2584A
• Watermelon #F04A62
• Clear red #E0302E
• Warm pink #F2707E

Blush

• Coral pink #FF8A7A
• Clear peach #FFA47A

Eyes

• Bright aqua #2EC4C0
• Golden bronze #B88A3A
• Navy #2C3E6E
• Warm chocolate #5A3424
• Violet blue #6F6FD8

Liner and brows

• Navy #202F54
• Dark brown #3B2418

A bright lip is the fastest way to look finished, and you can wear one with very little else. Black mascara is fine for most Bright Springs. Keep the eye clean: one bold liner in navy or aqua, or a golden bronze lid, rather than smoky, dusty layers.

Bright Spring hair should be clear and warm with enough depth to keep your contrast. Rich chocolate brown, warm golden brown and bright copper all work. If you lighten, keep the highlights golden and add them around the face so the contrast with your eyes stays. Ash, mousy and heavy burgundy shades dull the clarity of your coloring.

Move toward

• Rich chocolate brown #4A2C1E
• Warm golden brown #8A5A2C
• Bright copper #B5512A
• Golden blonde #D9B060

Move away from

• Ash brown #6E655E
• Silver platinum #DCDCDC
• Burgundy #7A1F3D
• Mousy brown #8A7A6A

Gray hair and highlights

Gray can look striking on a Bright Spring if it stays bright. A clean, shiny silver-white suits you better than a yellowed or dull gray, so use a gloss to keep it clear. While transitioning, golden highlights blend the line, and a bright lip or frame keeps the contrast you lose as hair lightens.

Shiny metals suit you best. Polished yellow gold is the easiest match, and bright rose gold works well. Because the season borrows some cool clarity, high-shine silver and white gold can also look good, as long as the finish is bright rather than brushed or antiqued.

• Polished yellow gold
• Rose gold
• High-shine white gold
• Bright silver

Glasses frames

Pick frames with clarity and some contrast: navy, true red, bright tortoiseshell with clear amber, dark chocolate, or a clean colored acetate in turquoise or cobalt. Matte gray and beige frames disappear on you.

People often typed as Bright Spring. Typing a famous face from photos is guesswork (lighting, makeup and hair dye all change it), so use it as a reference for coloring and check your own season with the drape tests above.

• Emma Stone: Often wears red hair, with bright green eyes and fair warm skin, warmth at high clarity. Source for Emma Stone, opens in a new tab
• Kylie Minogue: Often wears warm blonde hair, with bright eyes and clear, light-warm coloring. Source for Kylie Minogue, opens in a new tab
• Zoe Saldana: Often wears dark hair, with dark eyes and high contrast between hair and skin. Source for Zoe Saldana, opens in a new tab
• Emmy Rossum: Often wears dark brown hair against fair skin, a high-contrast pairing. Source for Emmy Rossum, opens in a new tab
• Olivia Munn: Often wears dark brown hair, with dark eyes and light skin. Source for Olivia Munn, opens in a new tab
• Dua Lipa: Often wears dark hair, with bright, clear coloring and strong contrast between features. Source for Dua Lipa, opens in a new tab
• Alexa Chung: Often wears mid-brown hair, with bright eyes and neutral-warm skin. Source for Alexa Chung, opens in a new tab