Summer Color Palette Accessories: What to Wear With It

The easiest summer palette is a base of two or three light neutrals (white, cream, sand, soft navy) with one or two accent colors, then accessories that repeat those accents. Accessories do the fine-tuning: a belt, bag, hat or earrings can make a basic outfit look planned.

Below: which colors to build on, how to choose metals and materials, which accessories are worth buying, and a few combinations you can copy.

Section 01

What is the best color palette for summer?

There is no single answer, because the best color palette for summer is the one that suits your coloring and the heat you dress for. Light, breathable shades read as cooler on the eye: white, ivory, sand, light denim, pale blue. Add depth with navy or olive, then a spark such as coral or sunny yellow.

Through the lens of evidence-based design, I'd think about contrast first. A palette with two quiet neutrals and one bright accent is easy for the eye to read, so the outfit looks calm even when the accent is strong.

Cool versus warm summer tones

A cool summer color palette leans on blue-based shades: sky blue, lavender, soft rose, slate and gray-navy. These usually sit well against pink or blue undertones.

A warm summer color palette leans golden: coral, peach, mustard, olive, terracotta and cream instead of stark white. These tend to flatter yellow or golden undertones. If you can't tell which you are, hold a white and a cream shirt up to your face in daylight and see which one looks less harsh.

Section 02

Which neutrals work best in summer?

White, cream and sand are the classics because they look light and mix with everything. Navy replaces black well, and soft taupe or stone works if you want something less crisp than white.

Keep fabrics in mind. Linen, cotton and light silk blends breathe better in heat, and their matte, slightly textured surface makes a pale color look softer than a shiny synthetic in the same shade.

Section 03

Which jewelry colors suit your palette?

For cool summer jewelry colors, silver, white gold and platinum are the usual choices, along with pearls and stones in blue, lilac or rose. Warm palettes tend to look better with yellow gold, brass or copper, plus amber, turquoise and coral.

Neutral undertones can wear either. Mixing metals is fine if one appears at least twice, for example a gold watch and gold earrings with a silver ring.

Section 04

What are popular summer accessories?

The popular summer accessories are the ones that handle sun and heat, so they are practical first and decorative second:

• Straw or woven bags in natural tones, which suit nearly every palette.
• Sunglasses in tortoiseshell, black or a clear tint.
• Lightweight scarves in your accent color, handy when air conditioning is strong.
• Canvas or leather belts that echo your shoes.
• Wide-brim hats.

Choose a hat that actually shades you

Brim size matters more than color here. Anna L. Chien, MD, Associate Professor of Dermatology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, says: "A hat with a 3-inch brim protects the top of your scalp, ears and face." If you buy clothing marketed as sun-protective, the Skin Cancer Foundation says UPF 50+ offers excellent protection. For personal sun-safety questions, check with a dermatologist.

Section 05

What is the 3 color rule?

The 3 color rule says to limit an outfit to three colors: usually a dominant base, a secondary shade and an accent. Shoes, belt and bag count, which makes accessories the easiest place to repeat a color and keep the total at three.

Example: white linen trousers (base), a light blue shirt (secondary), and a tan belt and bag (accent). Patterns count as one color family if they share a shade with the rest.

Section 06

Summer color combinations to try

• Coral top, olive shorts, tan sandals and a straw bag.
• Mustard dress, white sneakers, a thin gold necklace.
• Sky blue shirt, cream trousers, silver earrings, navy belt.
• Lavender top, white denim, pearl studs and a soft gray tote.

For more ideas, see this summer layered color palette, a business casual take on summer basics, and the bright pairing in cobalt blue and coral vacation looks.

Section 07

Build a small summer capsule

Start with the base: two pairs of bottoms and three or four tops in your neutrals. Add one accent top and one accent accessory in your palette. Then pick a bag, a belt and one metal. About a dozen pieces will give you a lot of outfits.

Keep pieces from fading by washing delicate colors separately and not leaving them in direct sun when stored. If you wear athletic pieces too, this athleisure palette shows how to keep them in the same color family.

Backstage Q&A

Frequently asked questions

Filed under Outfit Ideas