Soothing Pastels Are Making a Style Comeback That's All About Serenity and Self-Care

It's not our first time falling in love with pastels. The soft, comforting colour palette [1] paints many childhood memories of sweets, clouds, and gentle dreaming. Not too long ago, fashion was fixated with Millennial Pink, and now pastel is returning in shades of lilac, baby blue, mint, and lemon to soothe restlessness at home.

Pastels are becoming colours associated with self-care. Fashion embraced Pantone's 2016 colour of the year "Rose Quartz" and renamed it "Millennial Pink" the following spring. Later that autumn, Glossier packaged baby pink as the colour of self-care, which the beauty industry steadily adopted. For spring 2022, our renewed connection to pastels is a longing for wellness and comfort, in response to the tension of the pandemic and its series of unfortunate events.

"Easy to live with and non-confrontational, this group of calming shades bring people together in unity rather than cause division," Pantone's vice president Laurie Pressman told POPSUGAR. "A feeling that speaks to the overall philosophy of a generation that prizes inclusivity and sharing. Conveying a message of cleanliness and simplicity, the pastels easily fit into a more minimalist and decluttered design aesthetic, as well as offer a quietness that is soothing to the soul — enduring messages that are especially desirable at this time."

If you fancy wearing pastels in 2022, keep reading ahead for dreamy outfit formulas from Instagram's style set, and the best pastel pieces to shop now.

Emili Sindlev (@emilisindlev [2]) enjoys time outside in baby pink trousers, and a kitsch, cherry print cardigan.