Light Summer - Gugu Mbatha-Raw
Let's take our first deep dive into the stunning actress and UN Goodwill Ambassador, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, whose brightness & neutrality is rarely typed with her gentle low contrast in mind.
Trying on the Colors
Mbatha-Raw is English (Caucasian) & South African (Black). She is often casually typed as either a Cool Winter or a Bright Spring.
In the deep blacks & whites of Cool Winter, though, she can be slightly overpowered by the strong contrast. In Bright Spring, it looks like she wears different makeup to appear warmer and brighter. But the strong depth of Bright Spring can cause the garment to jump out a bit and outshine her delicacy.
Another Look
In contrast, Mbatha-Raw appears glowing and relaxed when wearing Light Summer's palette. Her neutral-cool skin can handle quite a bit of sunlit brightness, while her soft low contrast is effortlessly angelic in any icy pastel.
In the main photo I've included, she radiates confidence and ease in a cool, soft white suit. The minty teal and lemon yellow dresses rest easy on her frame in their iciness. The saturated Light Spring bubblegum pink dress is floral and fun. And her low contrast is much more even with the burgundy top in the bottom left photo than it ever seems to be in black.
My Vote
My vote then is for Summer Light Tinted, likely in the Sunlit Soft/Reflective subseason that shares a bright neutrality with Light Spring.
Learn More
If you'd like to support Gugu in her mission to help refugees, you can:
- Sign the UN Petition to protect the right to seek asylum worldwide, or
- Purchase the book What You Need To Be Warm by Neil Gaiman, whose proceeds support the UN Refugee Agency.
If you are also a Light Summer, check out additional inspiration in the #SummerLightTinted collection in my shop. 😊