Sherbet shades that’ll add fizz to your look
HAVE you noticed how fashion stores have become the sartorial equivalent of sweet shops?
The more I look at the spring collections, the more the new designer-approved palette reminds me of Mini Eggs, marshmallows and macaroons.
Quelle horreur! What 6ft, pale Anglo-Saxon in her right mind is going to lust after a vanilla jumpsuit by Joseph? Covet Victoria Beckham’s pink trouser suit if it transforms her into a stick of rock? Or hanker after that Parma Violets coloured blazer and sherbet lemon skirt by Celine, knowing it’s going to make her resemble a blancmange?
Me. The least likely wearer of ice cream shades is, weirdly, developing a taste for them.
I don’t know about you, but I’m over winter. I’m sick of wrapping myself up in so many dark bulky layers that I walk about like the Michelin Man. Pastels say: ‘It’s spring! Hit wardrobe refresh! Wear me and I’ll recharge your batteries!’
But they’re a minefield. Pastels conjure up an image of rows of old ladies under beehive hairdryers in Nesta’s, the hairdressers in the village where I grew up. Hours later, they’d emerge with rock-solid blue and lilac rinses.
PASTELS are the preserve of weddings. Mothers of the bride in head-to-toe peach, from fascinator to court shoe.
I have memories of me, aged ten, in frilly pale apricot, holding cousin Susy’s train. And again at 16, parading down the aisle after my sister Sara in frosted pink Shantung silk — it was the mid-Eighties.
Pastels are the colours of Disney princesses and Easter chicks. They stereotype the very old and the very young.
They are also the terrain of any royal. The Queen has mastered every pastel shade.
I saw her recently. In real life. She made a surprise appearance at London Fashion Week, and looked fabulous in a powder-blue suit.
Then there’s Kate Middleton, who loves pastel.
So, surely they can’t be cool? Well, that’s the shocker about modern pastels. They are cool, as they do not resemble anything wedding-y. No meringue dresses, ruffles or bows here.
The ice cream palette has sharp, chic tailoring — smart jackets and coats, slim trousers, neat dresses. It’s all about the silhouette. Clean lines and graphic shapes are a must.
On the High Street, Marks & Spencer has nailed it with Autograph’s duck egg blue coat (€169,
marksandspencer.ie) and its Limited Edition lavender trouser suit (blazer, €35, trousers, €26). Zara’s crisp lilac polo shirt (€49.95,
zara.com) is a perfect example of how sharp shapes make pastels ping.
The question is, how many pastels to wear at once? When it comes to delicious looks that splice lemon sorbet with raspberry ripple and mint chocolate, the darker your skin the better. You are blessed. This ice cream parlour is for you.
Fairer complexions beware! I wouldn’t advise wearing too much sweetness at once, and I’d steer clear of mixing them with black. Use flashes of white to give your complexion zing.
The most I could manage is a pale pink blazer with a white shirt. I love the idea of a white T-shirt with slouchy lavender trousers, too. Know the shades that work for you. I’m not bad in pinks, but pistachio is a horror. And I won’t be swayed by pale yellow, unless life becomes one long beach holiday.
The best solution is to go for pastel accessories: just a slice of lemon, like the Maje clutch bag (€261 maje.
com). I also like how unexpected pastel footwear is. Mauve suede boots? Yes. Rose-hued loafers? You’ll put your best foot forward whatever the weather. REBECCA LOWTHORPE is Fashion Director of Grazia