When I saw pastel colors on fashion influencers this year, I cannot help but feel nostalgic and remember my childhood growing up in the 80s. Oddly, the sight of pastel clothes creates in me a feeling of lightness, warmth, and calmness. I relive a past growing up in a far land where summer starts in March and Easter is celebrated in the soft shades of pastels. Flashbacks from the 80s pop culture resurface, reminding me of the pastel suits of Sonny Crockett in Miami Vice, the pink dresses of Rose Nylund in The Golden Girls. But my most memorable pastel moment was Alexis Colby’s glam mauve dress in Dynasty.
The Shades Of Hope
As a fashion enthusiast, I’ve seen how colors are used to symbolize the moods surrounding an era or a representation of a generation. Dark colors were prevalent during WW2 and the recession periods of the 70s and 90s. I recall the popularity of gray and brown colors in the early 90s, during my generation’s worst recession, and post the 2008 recession. On the other hand, the 80s witnessed economic prosperity and consequently a surge in colorful fashion and decor, including pastels colors.
However, there are compelling reasons why pastel colors made a comeback during the turbulent and dim times of a pandemic era. Pastels embody hope, clarity, and openness – sentiments that echo with the multitude across the globe. 2021 is a year when humankind springs out of darkness inflicted by a pandemic into the abundant shades of pastels. And on the plus side, pastel colors are associated with femininity and youthfulness we have been craving while waiting for the world to reopen.
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How to wear pastel colors
Some women associate pastel colors with babies, Easter or Rose from Golden Girls, if you’re over 40. There are several stylish ways to wear pastel colors without looking like you came straight out of an Easter egg:
With Prints
Floral prints or geometric patterns such as gingham add more interest and match nicely with pastel colors. The look encompasses the essence of carefree spring days and sunny summer afternoons at an outdoor patio or a backyard gathering. As a petite woman, I often resort to wearing print and geometric-shaped dresses and kaftans in summer such as this cute kaftan.
With Intense Colors
Pair pastel colors with intense or darker shades for a more sophisticated and grown-up look. Pastel blue is a trendy color in 2021 and sets nicely with a darker shade of blue. It’s relatively simple to recreate this as you take a pastel item and match it with the darker color, and your outfit will be complete.
With Denim
The simplest way to look trendy is to pair any color and print with denim. It’s pretty much a dummy-proof styling idea that never goes out of trend. You can wear pastel with dark blue, light blue or even white denim. Pair a pastel top (shirt or blazer) with a pair of jeans or a skirt, and off you go.
With Neutrals
Neutral colors work well with pastels as well and a popular styling idea. Beige is the trendiest color now, but you can also wear pastel with whites and light grey. Matching pastel with a neutral can make the style less discrete and more mature. And if you’re not sure how to wear pastels, go for a neutral color outfit and add a pastel accessory, like a scarf, a bag, a pair of shoes or even a pastel belt.
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