Colours of the Season
From formal jackets to tracksuits, pastel shades are popping up in all areas of men's fashion this spring. With austere winter textures on their way out, in their place come soft pinks, lilacs and baby blues. If your usual look is rather more sober and traditionally “masculine” (more on this later), then these colours can present an intimidating face to the wearer. You may find them trickier to match, less reliable go-to items, or simply can’t imagine yourself in them. Well, we’re here to prove you wrong! Pastel colours can look great on anyone, it’s just a case of choosing the right ones, then styling them like you mean it.
When to Wear Pastels
The first thing to consider is what occasions they are appropriate for. Clearly, there are some events that call strictly for a dark suit, and perhaps a black tie as well. Outside of those however, you’d be surprised how versatile pastel colours are, and how easy they are to wear:
Spring & Summer Weddings:
A touch of pastel, in the form of an accessory or handkerchief, brings a lightness to your whole image. The suit will likely be made of lighter fabric than its winter equivalent, so accessorise with a lighter hand - sky blue, buttery yellow, mint green and the like. A white shirt is your best friend here, allowing the colour to stand out without dominating.
Racing & Day Events:
Pastels were made to be outdoors, and these occasions are a great time to toy with tradition. Adopt a playful look for a gentlemanly bearing at the races, or pair a pastel accessory with a dark jacket for something of a preppy, yacht-appropriate feel.
Weekend Chic:
For a relaxed yet polished ensemble, try a loosely tied cravat in pastel tones with a crisp white or chambray shirt, sleeves rolled up. A soft coral or powder blue silk accessory adds a touch of sophistication without feeling too formal.
How to Match Pastel Accessories
Our model wears Indivar pastel and black silk cravat with Yufuku Japanese Kabuki print in pale pastel colours.
For many people, a pastel base tone may feel a bridge too far, however pastel accessories can be an easier game to play. This is where a cravat or tie can be your very best friend. A navy or grey jacket looks spectacular when paired with pastel shades, and can be both surprisingly formal and effortlessly stylish. For a blue jacket, try a peach or orange for a pop of colour, or for a grey one, pinks, blues and lilacs can work well. Don’t be afraid to experiment either - a dark counterpart gives you a lot of space to do so.
If you’re less sure about how these colours might work, a pocket square might be the ideal gateway. Traditionally this is an area in which you can go wild, with the small area and even smaller viewing window being the perfect place for brighter colours. If you want to dip a toe into the rich world of pastel shades, this is how you begin.
Pastel Base Colours
Accessories are wonderful, but if you want to be truly on-trend, you have to jump in with both feet. Light coloured pastel jackets, coats and suits are well and truly in this season, and those unafraid of bold choices can really stand out. Admittedly, this is a harder game than a simple cravat, tie or pocket square, and it’s where your eye for the right look comes in.
We always advise you to go with what suits you. Now, this does not mean you shouldn’t be brave and adventurous, but use what you would normally wear as a guide. Look good in blues? Try a sky blue or a cool grey. Prefer warm tones? Light tan or reddish brown can look spectacular on you. When choosing accessories, it’s all about balance - think of dark or strong, bright colours to offset the pastels, and you’re well on the way to a stunning look.
Think About Skin Tone
Your skin tone is very often the basis for how colours will work on you, and is particularly important when dealing with lighter, brighter shades. It’s not always as obvious as you may think either - it’s not really about hair colour or melanin, more the underlying shade that dictates which direction you go in. Whether pink, olive, brown or caramel tones, these are the colours you’ll be working with.
Now, we can’t lie to you - darker skin tones make it easier to work with pastels, with almost anything looking good so long as the outfit is right. Lighter skin can be trickier, but please, never think that this means you cannot use pastels - far from it! We would advise that you stay with a colour theme and use your base palette as a springboard for colours that will work. It may not be the ones that immediately jump to mind either. Experiment and you’ll surely see how best to proceed, but never be afraid to try something new, and moreover NEVER feel as if you can’t dress well. Pastels are more versatile than you may think.
Not Just for Summer
Until now, we’ve mostly been speaking about the current Spring/Summer season, but does this mean that pastel shades are only for warmer weather?
A simple pastel accessory is a stunning way to enliven a dark outfit, even in the heart of winter. Against block colours, tweeds and twills, pastel shades make for an incredible contrast. The same rules apply - find a colour in your jacket that you want to pick out (try the lining or the stitching), then work with that to produce an outfit to die for.
In short, pastels are versatile enough to work in any weather, season, or context.
Magnify Your Masculinity
As the saying goes, “it takes a real man to wear pink”, and pastels fall into the same territory. While these colours tend towards the light and feminine, wearing them properly will do nothing but enhance your masculinity. A featherweight touch on an austere suit, or a confidently-worn light outfit is the perfect way to explore colour while still giving out a certain gravitas. That’s not to mention the stylistic confidence required to pull pastel shades off effectively.
While it pays to pick them carefully, having some pastels as part of your arsenal makes your whole wardrobe more versatile, and can help to mark you out as a man of refined tastes. Never a bad thing…
Cravat Club’s Range
As is fitting for SS25, Cravat Club has produced a line of accessories that really make pastel colours the focus.
The TOVE cravat is a classic paisley pattern in pastel red, blue denim, cream and chocolate brown, making for a seasonal twist on a modern staple. Use the base tone as a contrast colour, or pick out a detail with a light blue or brown jacket.
The ITSUKI cravat pulls no punches, offering a beautiful Japanese crane pattern in lilac and pink. Looking stunning with a white shirt, the ascot also works very well with a dark jacket to make the most of the juxtaposition.
Our YORIMITSU II multiway pocket square has become something of a classic, as part of our Ukiyo-e Japanese art collection. In this illustration, a brave samurai takes on a demon of the floating world in battle, pictured in pale gold, pistachio, orchid pink and soft violet.
The multiway pocket squares can be worn many different ways, with their size and detailed designs enabling you to use different parts of the print depending on what your outfit calls for.
Our ABAKA cravat uses a pale blue background to detail a Mongolian horseback scene, for a playful take on hunting motifs. Pair with a brown or dark blue jacket for the perfect match, or use it for its intended purpose out in the countryside.
Perhaps nothing says spring quite like cherry blossom, and the OSUKE ascot tie makes the most of its Japanese inspiration. This design uses subtle purple flowers over a stunning peach-pink backdrop, to truly glamorous effect.
If it’s the subtle detail of a smaller pocket square you’re after, try the VANGELIS with its devastating peach and purple paisley, or turn towards Japanese prints with our MAKI handkerchief in powder blue and tangerine.
This is only a small snapshot of our catalogue, and we are true believers in the power of pastels. Explore our range of fine silk accessories and you’re certain to find something to bring power and delicacy to your ensemble.
Pastels may be for the bold, but they work beautifully on anyone. When chosen well, you too can bring some sunshine into your outfit, and turn these beautiful colours into year-round staples.
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