I have never been a particularly big fan of pastels—they always feel like colors that only small children should wear to me. But lately I’m seeing lavender show up on really chic pieces, like this super-spiff jacket from & Other Stories, and it’s causing me to have a bit of a rethink. 
Nili Lotan has just introduced a whole capsule collection of items in this hue, and predictably, I want all of it—but would settle for a pair of these excellent Paris pants.
I dig the contrasting stripes on this button-down from Ayr, and the oversize cut too.
I like how the lavender on this Madewell sweatshirt has undertones of grey—I feel like that’d make it easier to wear.
A nice slouchy striped long-sleeve tee for layering under V-neck sweaters, hoodies, whatever.
A slightly cropped cardigan that would be perfect layered over a flowy dress.
Not sure I can resist this super-glam faux fur jacket
If you are a white person, you are doomed to flesh-colored bras the color of Band-Aids, which is indeed a first-world problem but also isn’t too sexy. I was once tipped off by a fashion editor to the fact that a lavender bra like this one can sub in for (caucasian) flesh-colored quite nicely. It also comes with these pretty matching briefs.
I’ve been wanting a short-sleeved sweatshirt for some time now—it’d be great for layering—and this one is very nearly perfect.
And why not a Fjallraven backpack in lavender, I ask you?
A cute cropped tee from ATM that’s currently nicely marked down.
A collarless denim jacket that’d be great for the warmer weather that will get here eventually.
Also good for warmer weather: this sweet terry cloth bucket hat.
A nice cotton button down like this would really pop when paired with black jeans.
And finally: if you’re tempted by lavender but also slightly scared of it, this merino scarf would be a good starter piece.
The second (Nili Lotan) look is making me smile. Sporty and fresh! Come ONNNNN, spring.
I have no business buying another sweatshirt, given that I live in a tropical country and I don’t even go to my airconditioned office anymore but that Madewell sweater has POCKETS. God help me.
I love the resurgence of light colors I am starting to see. I am fair skinned with light eyes and hair, and other than navy, the best way to make me look like I don’t have a pulse is to put me in dark colors. Pastels are dreamy for my coloring. Having spent my entire adult life trying not to look like a kid on Easter, my advice is to look for pastels of good quality, fit, and shape (isn’t that advice universal when shopping?)
Same Jessica, same. Pastels suit me so I wear them happily. I strongly agree that they are most wearable when of good quality and classic shape. I also find that they look more adult when carefully paired — they are interesting when paired with “off” colors, worn monochromatically, they work well with denim. Personally, I don’t love them with black. I do like lavender with olive, pine, navy, charcoal, white, indigo…
I’m loving this lilac/lavender color. Before the end of the day the Madewell sweatshirt and the lavender striped tee are going to be heading in my direction.
The bra tip is a good one! I loathe Band-Aid bras and a couple years back found that pale pink is a good sub. Might have to add in a lavender to the rotation.
I’m reacting with all kinds of 😍emotions here, just by pure instinct. Everything you’re sharing is just so pretty and mood-lifting. That AYR shirt and those NL pants are especially great.
I’m so sorry your things got stolen.
Short sleeve sweatshirts have always perplexed me but the one you feature here looks delightful.
Nice. I bought the Madewell lavender chore jacket last year.
I am so happy to see lavender making a return. It’s the only pastel that is flattering on me, and surprisingly so since other light shades wash me out terribly. I’ve had my eye out for a lavender cardigan for years (to replace a beloved BCBG circa 2001 specimen which I wore to its death) since it plays so nicely with neutrals, particularly navy, my spring/summer alternative to black.
Love lavender. For me, I think it’s the “best” pastel. I have cool-toned, light olive skin and brown eyes. As I sit here, I am wearing a gray and brown cashmere sweater that is “tipped” in lavender. Also-that jacket is amazing!
Lavender is so pretty with both navy and charcoal grey. RIP early aughts BCBG – i got a lot of great things there in my early career days that were affordable but seemed more fashion-forward and better made than Banana, etc.
Early aughts BCBG had good stuff, in particular the clothing in their corp stores.
I used to wear a lot of lavender in college because A) I thought it made the green in my hazel eyes pop. And B) I had the coolest iridescent lavender eyeshadow that I’d wear when I went out. VERY disco! Small doses….like that pretty bra.
Oooh sparkly eyeshadow!!!
Lavender is so pretty with both navy and charcoal grey. RIP early aughts BCBG – i got a lot of great things there in my early career days that were affordable but seemed more fashion-forward and better made than Banana, etc.
I had a sparkly lavender eyeshadow that I LOVED. I think it was from Origins.
I didn’t realize until now that I needed a lavender faux fur jacket.
I didn’t either, MaryAlice. And now I just bought it!
Sweet! I just so happened to have ordered a pair of lavender winter leggings yesterday. Completely random on the color choice. Had no idea I was being subliminally hip! 🙂
Somewhere i have a lavender twin sweater set from the 90s. I kept it because A) at the time it was the most expensive piece of clothing i had bought, B) the fabric was divine, C)every time i wore it people gave me compliments. Seems like I need to find the 2021 equivalent.
Lavender is a very underrated color. I think this might just be a universal color that works for almost everyone, if you find the right intensity and right amount of red undertone. Lavender? Peeks in closet…big fan!
Alas, doesn’t work for me. I like it too, esp. the type with the gray undertones, but yeah, doesn’t work for me. Color-palette-wise, I’m a deep/dark autumn and pastels are difficult for me. Alas. Even light gray doesn’t work for me — just dark/slate/carbon type gray.
Kim — thanks for exposing me to AYR. This brand looks very interesting.