How to Wear: Pastels

I find myself quite often drawn to pastel hues in the store, but when I actually step out in them I feel like a walking cone of cotton candy. The feminine look just seems so saccharine and more fitting for Barbies than real women, but fashion is more fun when you go outside of your comfort zone. I know I could use a guide to how to wear pastels, so I checked out how the Spring 2013 collections sent pale tones down the runway and grabbed some tips to share!

Genny's asymmetrical dress is genius. Using pastel pieces in a monochromatic look with their jeweltone counterparts makes for a very high fashion feel.	You almost don't even notice that Peter Som's printed dress is comprised of pastel. An abstract or geometric print does a great job of making your outfit about more than just color.
Viktor & Rolf's maxi is so feminine but so grown up, thanks to the structured sheath and shoulder. Use crisp, tailored silhouettes with your pastels for a more mature take on every little girl's favorite palette.	Dressing in contradictions is almost always the quickest way to look fashion-week ready. Pair girly items with edgier ones and you'll be ready for any street style blogger that comes your way.

And of course, here are some non-cliché pastel pieces:

Emilio Pucci $2,210	Salvatore Ferragamo $1,570	Tara Jarmon $330
Reiss $230	ModCloth $35	ModCloth $50
MaxMara $477	ModCloth $50	Alexander McQueen $582