The grown-up guide to wearing pastels

Could spring finally be in the air? Whether temperatures will finally begin to rise, or not, it turns out that pastel shades, which were ubiquitous  on the spring/summer 18 catwalks, are not, as you might have assumed, the preserve of sun-drenched days.

Indeed, Net-a-porter has reported that searches for 'pastel' products has increased threefold since last September, declaring pastel pink the most commonly searched shade, closely followed by pastel blue. This is in part due to the influx of pastel coats and knitwear that we've witnessed from designers, but we can also thank the flattering, easy-to-wear qualities of destaturated tones for their new omnipresence. 

Global search engine Lyst's findings concur, revealing pastel suits as the category with the most marked increase in search traffic  - up 25% in 2018, and trousers and skirts not far behind. 

It seems ice cream hues might be the perfect antidote to our changeable weather after all. Here's how to adopt them in a grown up way...

Checks please

Heritage checks offer an excellent means of offsetting powdery hues. A check coat or plaid blazer will be exactly what's needed to ensure your mint trousers or lilac dress is suitable for the office.

Slightly oversize, androgynous cuts are advisable. Think, a boxy woolen coat or a roomy double breasted blazer teamed with your favourite pastel pieces. A pair of mannish brogues will provide a similar effect.

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Sweet suiting

Structured tailoring will counterbalance sugary tones. If you're concerned that wearing pastels will leave you looking like you've been rummaging in your daughter's cupboard, rest assured a piece of tailoring will help avoid this. 

Take your style cues from Michael Kors' spring/summer 18 show, where the lilac suit trousers paired with a matching jacket looked nothing short of polished. 

Monochrome in marzipan

Tonal dressing is a sartorial technique perfect for nailing the glamorous, tidy and chic triumvirate. And it works. Pastel hues lend themselves particularly well to top-to-toe dressing. Just ask Joseph's creative director Louise Trotter, who offered up looks comprising head-to-toe lilac, blush and sky-blue for spring. 

Chalky combinations

If tonal dressing is one way to don dusty tones, colour blocking pastels is the other. For the chicest combinations, seek out super soft variations; the least saturated sherbet yellow, the palest powder blue and the lightest lilac - and layer them up. 

Alternatively, opt for a print combining multiple pastel shades. These will make for the most heavenly dresses, shirts and trousers, which can be paired with chunky knitwear now and sandals in summer. 

Languidly luxe 

Shape and cut are essential to shedding the saccharine qualities pastels are often associated with. Wear anything too tight or too short, and you risk butchering the trend. Opt for long, loose or relaxed silhouettes instead. Knitted midi dresses and skirts, boiler suits (with Max Mara as a reference, you'll see why) and wide leg trousers are all great options that are as comfortable as they are chic.