We are halfway through Milan Fashion Week and Paris will be hot on its heels. I watch most of the collections twice a year across all four fashion capitals (New York, London, Milan and Paris), and pin trends, new colour combinations and outfits that I love along the way.
Longer skirts and dresses are on the horizon, bare midriffs were strong, and it looks like shades of light pink and baby blue are going to be trending too. Many of the collections so far featured either one or both of these soft shades in all sorts of silhouettes. Take a peek at the outfits I’ve pinned, which range from dressy to casual. Note the unusual mix of these pastel shades with other colours.
Creatures of the Wind
- Pink shorts with tomato red top and white topper. One of my favourite new colour combinations.
- Pink and grey statement Spring Coat.
- Sleeveless coat with tomato red, grey and white. Fresh palette for Spring.
Costello Tagliapietra
Rebecca Taylor
- Baby blue bomber with sporty mesh layers and fluid tapered pants.
- Baby blue lace and organza high-low layers with slouchy dove grey tuxedo pants.
- Blush baggy pants with boxy chambray top.
- Colour blocked peach and blush pants with white and dove grey moto.
- Ice pink blazer with white mesh top and chambray trousers.
Antonio Beradi
- Shades of soft pink from head to toe with touches of coral. Oversized topper over miniskirt.
- White pink with high-low hemline and round shouldered moto.
- Shades of ice pink with hints of fire engine red.
- Coral pants with tomato red and ice pink round shouldered sweatshirt.
- Black and white animal print with ice pink and sporty white colour blocking.
Prabal Gurung
- Midi and boxy topper in ice pink, black, white and hints of yellow.
- Black and white with hints of ice pink. Architectural short sleeves.
- Ladylike Retro ice pink.
Karen Walker
- Shades of sorbet pink from head to toe with light grey.
- Chambray light blue as skirt and tunic.
- Sorbet pink with earthy mustard, cream and cognac. Oversized from head to toe.
Ports 1961
- Baby blue retro suit from head to toe. Oversized and short.
- Ice blue sporty pullover with jacquard skirt, white shirt and sandals.
Marc Jacobs
- Ice pink suit with pajama blouse and sneakers.
- Slouchy black trousers with prim and proper mint and sorbet pink blouse.
- Baby blue satin suit with white sneakers.
Jenny Packham
- Light blue maxi culottes with cobalt pussy bow blouse.
- Light blue romantic flared skirt with citron top and hint of burgundy.
Jil Sander
- Ultra light pink moving pencil skirt with white crop top.
- Blush Spring coat with white cropped pants and clutch. A hint of red in the clutch.
- Barely blush and silver turtleneck with black pants that hurt my eyes, but I do love the top.
Daks
- Column of white with blush and apricot blazer.
- White shirt with peachy pink wide-leg pants and cognac belt.
Emilia Wickstead
Burberry Prorsum
- Lace antique pink two-piece dress with mint accessory and deep pink shoes.
- Strawberry milkshake coat.
Trussardi
- Tomato vinyl with baby blue pleated trousers.
- Light blue three-piece suit with stone and flat sandals.
- Sporty tomato red and light blue.
Emporio Armani
- Satin jacquard baby pink suit.
- Lilac light blue lantern pants with shimmery tank and grey accessories.
Often my clients won’t wear pale shades of pink because it’s a little insipid against their skin tone. It also can feel babyish, overly prissy, feminine and precious. And some will go as far as saying that no one will take them seriously if they wear pale pink to work. More of my clients prefer deeper shades of pink when pink is on their favourite colours list. Light blue, on the other hand, is more popular with my clients because it’s a “tougher” pastel and an easy mix with white and black.
I’m all over light pink and blue because they are my favourite pastels. I introduced light blue back into my wardrobe a few years ago, and there is no stopping the blush and ice pink that keeps on finding a home in my closet. I like to wear these soft tones with white, black, and sour brights like citron and tomato red.
I don’t know if my clientele’s reactions to soft pink and blue are a reflection of the mainstream market. If they are, then soft blue is going to sell well at retail, but some soft pink will be left on the sale rails.
Over to you. Will you wear soft shades of pink and blue? And of the two colours, which do you prefer for your own style?
