Our current craving? All things candy-coated—minus the sugar crash. When applied to abstract forms and modern lines, the newest breed of pastels—hazy blue, muted ochre, pallid violet—makes saccharine feel almost subversive. Get ready to indulge.
Set the Table
Opt for geometric shapes, mismatched motifs and a few bold, painterly strokes to turn a sweet-as-can-be afternoon tea into a decidedly more sophisticated affair. Even classic checks and ginghams feel like a fresh idea when reimagined in across-the-color-wheel hues like dusty violet and mustard.
Grid and circle plates and porcelain cup by Marie Daâge, kneenandco.com. Pink plates by Yotam Ottolenghi for Serax, matchesfashion.com. Hexagonal tumblers by Davide Fuin for Land of Belle, landofbelle.com. Pink tumbler (in background) by R+D.Lab, kneenandco.com. Stacked sphere container and espresso cup by Helle Mardahl, hellemardahl.com. Yellow grid napkin in Marley fabric by Annie Coop and multicolored napkins in Anni Check fabric by Imogen Heath, supplyshowroom.com. Fringed napkin in Bendita Stripe fabric, Gingham napkin in Camden Cotton Check fabric, walls in Edwin Wide Stripe wallpaper, all by Schumacher, fschumacher.com.
Dana Gallagher
Decorate
Slickly lacquered or dipped in earthy glazes, woven with chunky cord or lofty alpaca threads, the tactile qualities of our favorite pastel–hued home goods make them all the more enticing. Extra points for pairing Jordan almond hues with an unexpected array of raw materials, from concrete-like clay to cerused wood.
Paint
Savvy travelers love Edinburgh’s Eden Locke hotel for the apartment-like amenities of its 72 suites; we’re equally enthralled by architects Gryzwinski + Pons out-of-the-(crayon)-box paint picks. Sky-blue kitchenette cabinets and color-blocked walls (and even shutters!) amp up the awe factor but keep things feeling light. Get the look with Backdrop paint in Harajuku Morning and On Tour, backdrophome.com. Rooms from $201 per night; lockeliving.com.
Wear
Pastels for spring? Not exactly groundbreaking. But on runways this season, designers approached the prototypical palette from a fresh new perspective, applying it in graphic chunks to modern (and even straight-up mod) silhouettes, then grounding the look with a pair of pared-down flats.
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Trench coat, $2,450, blazer, $1,450, pleated shorts, $490, and leather loafers, $695, michaelkors.com.
COURTESY OF MICHAEL KORS -
Overcoat, $2,090, and skirt, $575, maxmara.com.
COURTESY OF MAX MARA
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Edinburgh dress, $3,500, loropiana.com.
COURTESY OF LORO PIANA -
Silk chiffon dress, $571, toryburch.com.
COURTESY OF TORY BURCH
Shop
Palm Beach’s design scene is heating up thanks to locals like jewelry designer Mish Tworkowski, who recently opened the doors to his new flagship boutique in a 1924 Addison Mizner building. Inside, decorator Katie Ridder created a series of spaces that practically vibrate with color, like a lilac-walled office with a vermillion desk (above) and plum-drenched trellis room (right) that doubles as a private viewing salon. 244 S. County Rd., Palm Beach, Florida; mishfinejewelry.com.
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CARMEL BRANTLEY -
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CARMEL BRANTLEY
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Chinoiserie Brooch, mishfinejewelry.com
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Strawberry Fruit Ring, mishfinejewelry.com
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Makena Button Earclips, mishfinejewelry.com
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Bond Bow Coral Necklace, mishfinejewelry.com
Accesorize
What’s even better than opening a box of bonbons? Unwrapping one of these macaron-hued takes on classic fashion accessories for him or her. From an iconic watch with a subtly efflorescent twist to luxe leather goods in sidewalk-chalk shades, these finishing touches are just right for injecting a bit of whimsy into your everyday.
SEE MORE PASTEL FASHION PICKS here >
Stay
At the top of our summer travel itinerary: Hotel Cappuccino in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, where Parisian designer Jacques Grange has put his masterful spin on sun-soaked Mediterranean style. At the Cappuccino Grand Café, a mix of vivacious hues (aqua treillage, a terra-cotta ceiling, bold citron upholstery) is grounded by a neutral marble floor, for a result that’s signature Grange: sexy and elevated with a hint of just-right restraint. Rooms from €378 per night; hotelcappuccino.com.
This story originally appeared in the Summer 2022 issue of FREDERIC. Click here to subscribe!
