By Jasmine Proctor (Contributor) – Email
Print Edition: March 6, 2013
Believe it or not, it’s March already. All of a sudden, it’s time to strip away those depressing thoughts of February and look forward to the prospect of warmer and, unfortunately, wetter weather (if that’s even possible). Spring is soon to be on its way, and as we shed away the layers of our winter coats, slowly but surely, the dark colours of winter will also fall away with them. In their place, then, is where you can find pastels.
Pretty much a season staple for spring, pastels are effortlessly girly and feminine, but this season, the trend is taking on a different feel with cotton candy colours and innocent patterns. With new colour palettes ranging from beautiful minty greens to fresh, stand-out lilacs, the spring 2013 trend channels vacation chic with a little bit of old school charm. On the spring/summer 2013 runway, designers like Chloe and Charlotte Ronson dressed their models in these shades in the form of loose-fitting tops, A-line dresses, and cut-off bomber jackets. The looks screamed spring, with a light and bubbly feel, that can instantly lighten up any winter-time blues that might still be lingering.
In the retail world, pastels are creeping into everything from blazers to peplum shirts. Le Chateau’s spring collection features a gorgeous light mint blazer that I am absolutely in love with, which is a part of their new “mint fresh” line. As well, Forever 21 showcases everything from high-waisted capris to lace-collared cardigans in an array of different pastel colours, from all spectrums of the colour wheel. My favourite one out of them all is this delicious light green shade that they’ve cleverly called “celery.” The line has a faux leather moto jacket in this hue that has an almost pearl-like sheen to it that I cannot wait to get my hands on.
If you want to try this trend out, there are literally so many ways you can not only pull it off this season, but also make it work year round. For right now, try something simple, but stand-out like a pastel-coloured cardigan over a simple white button-up, or wear the hue in the form of a skirt. A maxi skirt works great for this trend, especially if the fabric is sheen and light, giving your look an airy and elegant feel.
Pairing pastels is easy, too. All you need to remember is to wear white, and lots of it. As well, black can work, but only if you’re careful about what aspects of your outfit are black. A general rule of thumb would be to keep the pastels up top, and do black on the bottom. This creates symmetry to the outfit, and doesn’t make the black the main focal point. If you want to do a pastel on the bottom, then do white or a lighter shade on top, though I would stay away from trying to mix different pastels together unless you’re completely confident: it’s a tricky thing to accomplish.
To wear this trend for all seasons, stick with a minor item, like a clutch or a pair of oxfords. Make it something that you can easily work into any season’s outfits. Even adding something as simple as a pair of pastel-coloured stud earrings could add the femininity of this trend to your outfit, no matter the season. It’s a timeless trend that can work at all times of the year by adding just a touch here and there.
