I believe that everyone can wear pastels. Yes, they may have the tendency to wash you out, but you can prevent that from happening by adopting one or more of these styling strategies. 

1. Choose the Right Pastels

Pastels come in all colours. From mint, lilac, peach, nude and lemon, through to many different shades of pale blue and light pink. First, you need to pick a warmer or cooler pastel depending on your complexion (some can wear both.) Second you have to choose the clarity of the pastel. Does a crisp and clear pastel flatter your complexion more than a dusty and dirty pastel? And last, choose the intensity of the pastel. A saturated pastel that is bordering on a mid-tone might be the best way to go. 

2. Add Dark Neutrals to the Mix

Colours change when you wear them with other colours, which is why you shouldn’t consider colours in isolation. Pastels can become very flattering when you add your best dark neutral to the outfit, like black, ink blue, navy, charcoal grey, dark olive, chocolate brown, or dark blue denim. Or throw in a favourite bright instead of a dark neutral. 

3. Add White to the Palette

Optical white is the lightest and brightest neutral, which is one of the reasons it’s close to my heart. Pastels have a lot of white in them, which makes wearing them with white a harmonious combination. White brightens the complexion and strengthens pastels, making them look fresh and crisp. The effectiveness of wearing pastels with white is quite magical. Try it!

4. Strengthen the Make-Up

Wearing darker eye make-up, a richer shade of lipstick, and defining the brow line can make pastels look lovely against any skin tone. Defining and accentuating facial features with a sharper make-up regime balances the blandness of a pastel more effectively than you might expect. 

5. Wear Pastels as an Accent

If none of these strategies appeal to you, simply add pastels to your outfit as accents through footwear, bags, belts, or a scarf tied around a bag. Wearing a pattern with pastel components is another way to go. 

I wear pastels from head to toe. My favourites are a crisp and clear light blue, blush pink and peach. They’re hard to find, but I adore a pastel neon green and yellow too. I also wear mint in the form of sea foam. I enjoy wearing pastels most when I pair them with optical white and metallics because it brightens things up, and brings out the white in the pastel. I seldom wear them with dark neutrals. I always were eye make-up and lippie, which adds drama to soft pastels. I absolutely bat for Team Pastels. 

Over to you. Have I given you hope that you CAN wear pastels if you want to? Or are you steering clear of them no matter what.

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This ensemble was inspired by a stylish lady I saw on the street last week. She was wearing a cinnamon or rust-coloured silk top with a gauzy tan maxi cardigan, cropped straight jeans, and wedged tan sandal booties in a luscious soft suede. She carried a giraffe-patterned tote, and wore tortoiseshell sunnies. She had a warm complexion, long auburn hair and was slightly freckled. Polished to the max wearing flawless make-up and gold jewellery. Casually elegant and fabulous. 

It was fun to see earthy Autumn colours worn in a Summery way. Why not! The outfit on the left approximates the one I saw on the stylish lady. Let the creative juices flow, and think of any way to combine earth tones like cinnamon, tan, gold and brown into a Summer outfit. Cognac footwear and bag works well as the cinnamon component if wearing cinnamon is not your thing. 

Cinnamon & Tan with Jeans

Combine a rust top with a tan topper and wear them over a pair of blue jeans. Choose cognac, gold or tan footwear that works with the style of the jeans. Finish off the look with an animal print, tan, cognac or gold bag. 

Cinnamon Dress

Combine a rust patterned dress with a tan topper, or denim jacket. Feel free to wear the dress over cropped straight jeans, if you like that look. Choose cognac, gold or tan footwear. Finish off the look with a tan, cognac or gold bag.

Cinnamon Top & Skirt 

Combine a cinnamon top with a patterned skirt in the same palette. A denim jacket or tan jacket will work as a topper, but is optional. Choose cognac, gold or tan footwear. Finish off the look with a tan, cognac or gold bag. Matching the bag with the shoes pulls the outfit together. 

These combinations are for those who enjoy wearing warm colours like spicy browns. However, combining a pair of blue jeans with a white top (or blue top with white jeans), and adding cognac footwear and bag will cool down the palette for those who prefer that vibe.

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I’m not talking about a corporate white button-down shirt that you’ll find on most “what every women should wear” lists. Of course, it can be a button-down shirt if that’s your thing — but it can also be a blouse, knitted top, T-shirt, tunic, or item of knitwear. 

White tops can be dressy or casual, and made of either natural or man-made fibres. The shade can be a cool bright optical white, a neutral off-white, or a warm cream. The point is to choose white tops that work well for your lifestyle, wardrobe, body type and sartorial preferences.

I encourage clients to amp up the quantity of white tops in their Spring and Summer wardrobes for ten reasons: 

1. They provide an effective change from dark tops that we wear so frequently in Winter. 
2. To my eye, white tops look better than black tops on most complexions.
3. They complement the colours that run through blonde, salt and pepper, and light grey hair.
4. They make outfits look crisp, modern, fresh, and more warm weather appropriate. 
5. They complement white, metallic and light footwear. 
6. They complement pastel and bright wardrobe items better than other neutrals. 
7. They look fabulous with black, blue denim, pearl grey, olive, and most patterned bottoms. 
8. White layering tops are an effective and easy lively neutral to wear under dark, bright, jewel or pastel toppers to the office.
9. They provide an excellent backdrop to a statement Spring or Summer scarf. 
10. They are PRETTY. Full stop. 

My Spring and Summer wardrobe wouldn’t function without a good assortment of white tops for all the reasons I’ve listed above. I think white tops are magical, and that’s why they’re a wardrobe essential for my style. 

I like my white tops best in a bright optical white, but I do also like them in off-white and cream. I do not wear T-shirts, tank tops or knitted tops, and seldom wear basic button-down shirts anymore (although they used to be an essential for my style.) Sometimes I wear a white blouse, but I prefer my blouses in patterns and colours these days. I’m all about wearing soft and comfortable white Spring and Summer knitwear in an assortment of thickness and silhouettes. I wear white warm weather knitwear instead of T-shirts because it’s more insulating, and looks dressier and sharper than a tee. I also find them easy to layer, accessorize, travel with, and launder. I pop a white camisole underneath for extra comfort, and never have problems with items that are too sheer. 

I successfully replenished my capsule of white Spring and Summer tops this year. I’m thrilled with the assortment, and it’s working extremely well. I can wear the cream tops into the Autumn too.

Here’s my current collection of white Spring and Summer knitwear. Some are essentials and some are statement pieces. I have multiples of some of the styles, and many are wardrobe workhorses.

Nordstrom

Theory 'Tolleree' Short Sleeve Cashmere Sweater

$255.00 $101.98

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8

Ann Taylor

Shrunken Mock Neck Sweater

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28

Massimo Dutti

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18

Ann Taylor

Shirred Peplum Sweater

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6

Ann Taylor

Lantern Sleeve Sweater

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COS

Textured knit jumper

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6

Rachelle is an IT quality assurance analyst who lives in South Florida and documents her outfits over at Pink Sole. She is a Modern Classic dresser who likes to experiment with trends. She also likes to wear flats. Her style is relatable, fun and feminine. Gold-toned jewellery, her fab short ‘do and red lipstick are part of Rachelle’s signature look. You’ll also see lace, stripes and colour represented abundantly in her happy outfits.

“Over the last 5 years I feel like I became more comfortable with my personal style, meaning I know what I like and I just go for that. I would say my style is feminine and classic with a twist. I’m not 100% percent trendy but I do think dressing up should be 70% comfort and 30% fun. You are a lot more confident when you are wearing clothes you love and perfectly comfortable in. So for me it’s all about finding that happy medium.”

Stripes and animal print make for some sassy pattern mixing. Rachelle is wearing a tailored striped button-down tunic over deconstructed skinny jeans. The dressy integrity of the tunic is a fun juxtaposition with the casual jeans and sneakers. The bright blue with white stripe feels fresh for Summer, and looks beautiful paired with the tan crossbody bag and leopard sneaks. Rolling the jeans showcases fun peds. Mirrored sunnies, a two-toned wrap bracelet and rose gold watch add shiny polish.

Pairing this asymmetrical hemline wrap skirt with a simple tank lets the interesting design do all the talking. Tucking the top creates a long lean line and ensures that the tank doesn’t interfere with the tie knot. The crisp white makes the yellow skirt look extra sunny. Rachelle’s love for gold-toned jewellery is in full swing with fun arm candy and an arrowhead pendant necklace. A pair of simple flat sandals further emphasizes the breezy vibe of this Summer look. Rachelle’s compact crossbody bag comes out to play again, and complements the tan sandals perfectly. Our blogger’s signature short curls, beautiful smile and bright red lipstick are the fabulous finishing touches.

When asked for her top tips for hot weather dressing, Rachelle replied:

“Dressing up for warmer weather is my favorite, I’m an island girl. My top 2 tips are: Choose the right fabrics. Breathable light and airy fabrics will always allow you to stay cool and be comfortable in your clothes. (Comfort is a big deal to me, why wear something you are miserable in?) And less is more, keep your outfits simple and jazz it up with fun accessories to give it personality.”

A pretty empire-waist tunic top is the star of this Boho Lite outfit. The lightweight tunic with its puff sleeves and on trend tassel closure is a great piece for the mild South Florida Fall. 5’4″ Rachelle is wearing it over mid-blue stretchy ankle-length skinny jeans. The vertical stripes draw the eye up and down, and help elongate the outfit. The quilted blush crossbody bag with gold chain strap echoes the blush stripe in the tunic. Our blogger’s bright red Rockstud flats create colourful contrast. Rachelle has picked eye-catching lace filligree chandelier earrings, gold bracelets and watch, and dark red lipstick as the feminine finishing touches.

How flirty fun is this flutter-sleeved off-the-shoulder top! Rachelle has paired it with cut-off denim shorts in a super casual outfit that screams high Summer. The loose-fitting drapey silhouette is a breezy option for hot weather days. Our blogger has added an interesting choker (it is layered with a charm necklace) to fill in part of the neckline. Ankle strap suede espadrille wedge sandals create textural interest. The cognac is low contrast with Rachelle’s skintone, which lengthens the leg line. As you can tell from these outfits, her crossbody bag has a high remixability factor. Deep red lippy, tortoise-rimmed sunnies and signature exuberant arm candy party are the accessories of choice. Fun detail: the non-matching polish on Rachell’s finger and toenails.

Here, Rachelle used another fab off-the-shoulder top — that is both structured and drapey — to put together a polished smart casual outfit. She is sporting white skinny jeans with the striped cotton blouse. The elastic neckline is a statement detail that looks gorgeous with our blogger’s fab shoulders and short ‘do. The tan sandal booties with high block heel are modern and streamlined. Rachelle has kept the leopard print clutch, round tortoise sunglasses, stud earrings and long triple tassel necklace in the brown and gold colour family. This gives the outfit a luxe feel, and makes the crisp white and blue stand out even more.

Rachelle has dressing for the tropical Florida climate down pat. She also loves lace and considers a little white dress an essential for her wardrobe. Here the two come together in a casual Sporty Luxe look built around a white lace appliqué A-line dress with nude underlayer. The romantic lace creates a modern juxtaposition against the gold with white leather and suede sneakers. When it gets a little chilly to wear the spaghetti strap dress on its own, Rachelle throws over a cheeky denim jacket that adds extra pizzazz. Her bowling bag complements the nude underlayer of the dress brilliantly. And look at the rose gold studded bottom. Fab detail! As always, our blogger’s jewellery game is on point with gold pavé ear climbers, a double wrap bracelet, gold rings and half moon pendant.

Let us know what you think of Rachelle’s fresh and pretty looks, and be sure to check out the rest of her outfits on her blog, Pink Sole. You can also browse her pins to see what else inspires her.

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