Monday, 23 April 2012

Fashion Bin: Pastels



Wishy-washy pastel hues have no place in a grown-up woman's wardrobe. Too insipid. Too girlie. Too mother-of-the-bride. Now, I know my colour palette is fairly limited - camel, navy, khaki, charcoal - and that faded denim is the closest I get to a sugar-coated shade, but then I'm happy in my colour rut. I have no desire to look like George Dawes or an elderly member of the royal family. As Coco Chanel and Karl Lagerfeld have shown, the monochrome mix is the most powerful coalition of all (let's not dwell on the omnishambles). And, a largely neutral wardrobe doesn't need to look dull. Just add a blast of cobalt blue:

Geraldine Saglio: REX
Jenna Lyons photo: Bridget Fleming

Or a punch of scarlet. That's me in red jeans and jaunty scarf:

TNMA in hot pants.


Lemon, pistachio, the word 'sorbet'. Let's dump them all where they belong, in the wheelie bin of fashion. Which is khaki and black, by the way:






Jaeger s/s 12 catwalk photo: Elle

20 comments:

lyn said...

Couldn't agree more.

Francine Gardner said...

I so agree with you about pastels...my colors: black, white, grey, kaki, neutral fo touvh of bright. I like orange and lime green...

Ellen Arnison said...

Hear, hear. Let's leave all the baby colours for the babies. In fact, they even look rubbish on babies.

COMPOSITION TWO said...

I agree they are rubbush!
I love my monochrome wardrobe xD

Semi Expat said...

Absolutely not a fan of pastels. Better on sugared almonds not bodies! Love your red jeans and shot of colour in your combination - your neutrals are just my 'go-tos' also. x

Share my Garden said...

Hey! What are you on about? I'm a grown up woman, what's not to like about pastels?

kathy peck said...

No to pastels here too.

That's Not My Age said...
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mette said...

Pastels and candy colors ( excluding chocolate naturally ), extra bright colors - I can´t wear them either.

Lilac In May said...

Pastels are 1st on my Room 101 list. Bleugh!

LPC said...

Couldn't agree more. And I'm setting myself up for some cobalt, too.

Patti said...

Pastels do me no favors either. I adore your color palette.

Terri said...

Yes, to cobalt blue. Stubbornly, I keep trying to make the pastels work, but my hair and my make-up-less complexion are not cooperating.

Kristien62 said...

Some pastels work for me, like peach and a sunny yellow. At this point, I feel like a color schizophrenic jumping from one palette to another--and my wardrobe reflects this. It's all over the place.

materfamilias said...

Always love a good manifesto! Just what I needed to smack some sense back into me as the shop windows send out their siren calls of Easter egg pastels that will end up unworn in my closet . . .

frumpfactor said...

I think you've started a full-scale pastel rebellion! My pale, muted coloring has never played well with pastels. And I've always been more attracted to brighter colors or neutrals, anyway. I think pastels might be cute on the right person, but she is not me!

The Style Crone said...

I'm willing to try anything, so pastels are in the mix at times. I'm all over the map! However, I do love your neutrals with a shot of color.

déjà pseu said...

I agree! Pastels just make me look washed out anyway.

déjà pseu said...
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Fashionistable said...

I have never been a pastel girl. would rather be bold. You pic of Emmanuel Alt is actually Geraldine Saglio http://www.vogue.co.uk/spy/street-chic/2012/milan-fashion-week/gallery#/image/1
Another Fashion Editor at French Vogue. Xxxx