Dear Trend-Setter,
Pastels are classic trend for Spring, but in these hard-boiled times, they have acquired a bad reputation for feeling a bit cheesy; But this season, Spring 2023, the leading runways are awash with pastels: Especially exciting are the pretty pales such as lilac, pale yellow, and baby blue and the always seductive pink unveiled by labels as diverse as Raf Simons to Giambattista Valli, Prada to Akris to Jean Paul Gaultier.
In definition, pastel colours are light, soft, and muted shades that are typically associated with the delicate natural hues such as the pale pinks of blossoms, baby blues, cucumber greens, duckling yellows, and lilac purples. Pastels are often used in fashion, interior design, and graphic design to create a calming and soothing effect. What makes pastels a perennial favourite trend is that it’s universally flattering – on the body, or in a room. Pastel is soft and delicate, a very clean and wholesome palette, and that’s why it makes you look blooming and feminine.
The term "pastel" comes originally from the French word "pastel," which simply means "pale-coloured." It is believed that this term was first used in the 17th century to describe the soft and delicate colours used in pastel chalk drawings, which were becoming increasingly popular at the time. The term "pastel colours" gradually came to be used to describe any light and muted shades, regardless of the medium or technique used to create them.
Some notable 17th century artists who used pastel colours in their work include Jean-Baptiste Perronneau (1715-178) who was a French portrait painter renowned for his pastel portraits of the French aristocracy; Rosalba Carriera (1675-1757): A Venetian Rococo portraitist who was one of the most famous pastel artists of the 18th century. She was particularly known for her delicate and refined pastel portraits of women; another example is Maurice Quentin de La Tour (1704-1788), a French portrait painter who was particularly known for his portraits of the French royal family and members of the aristocracy.
One tip to make your pastel outfit less “Auntie” is to style it with some chunky, sculptural accessory, such as bold earrings or handbag; A bold statement shoe, will always kick away any concern that pastel is weak or girlish. At ABARA, our bold and modern handbag shapes have the gravitas and the weight to balance of the light and flighty effect of a pastel shade. Being fashion forward, our ABARA designs also come in all the latest pastel colours to make your Spring 2023 wardrobe balanced and complete!
