While the winter saw a resurgence of all things bold and bright, we’re taking things a little lighter and softer as we drift into springtime.
Spring is a time of rebirth and renewal. It’s a time we all can take to rejuvenate ourselves and reset.
That’s why this is the time of year when we require a shift in our color palette. After all, nothing says spring like fresh green grass, dainty pink tulips, and fluffy yellow chicks!
Pastels offer many advantages and benefits. They affect your mood for the better, are kinder to your skin, and accentuate your wardrobe.
But before we can understand all of the benefits of pastels, we should first take a look at color psychology itself.
Do colors really have a place in psychology?
Colors play a greater role in our everyday lives than most of us realize! The colors you choose to paint your bedroom, wear out on the town, and surround yourself with have a direct impact on how you feel and even can affect how you behave.
Using colors to elicit a specific response in our brains is not a new concept. Marketers have been using color psychology to subtly influence our emotions and decision-making for a while now.
For example, have you ever wondered why so many fast-food chains use the color red in their logos? It’s because studies have shown that red encourages appetite. You won’t find a lot of the appetite-curbing blue in food marketing!
This same concept can be applied to fashion!
If you are someone who is naturally drawn to pastel colors, odds are you are a very empathetic, sensitive person who cares very deeply for others, and pastels appeal to the good-hearted qualities you already possess. However, if you don’t consider yourself exemplifying those traits, then wearing pastel colors can bring those traits to the surface!
While some wear red when they’re feeling bold or black when they want to feel powerful, pastels are much more soothing. Because they aren’t as saturated as other colors, pastels are a lot softer and lighter in appearance. They have a calming effect that soothes the mind and the soul. There’s a freshness about them that elicits feelings of rest and relaxation, specifically with cooler blue or purple tones.
Because of their bright, yet soft palette, pastels can also make you feel cheery and invoke feelings of happiness. Blue also stimulates productivity, while green can help you feel renewed or grounded. They are naturally stress-reducing, and the perfect color palette for when you’re having a rough day. They have a gentle way about them and can make you feel comforted, while calming your nerves. They may not be able to heal your blues from the roots, but putting on a pastel-colored ensemble may be just the pick-me-up you need to help you get through the day.
How do pastels improve our wardrobe?
Pastels are ideal for spring and early summer, but they can certainly be worn all year round. One of the main benefits of pastel clothing is that these colors can fit easily into many different cuts or silhouettes that anyone is able to pull off! They work just as well with a flowy sundress that cinches at the waist as they do with light-colored jeans, a blouse, and a pastel-colored jacket.
Because of their lack of saturation, pastels are a great way for those who are more color-adverse to start easing your way into wearing bright colors. So, if you’re someone like me who’s closet consists mainly of black and navy blue, with a hint of red here and there, why not try incorporating some lightly colored pastels into your wardrobe?
Pastels have a gift for being cheery without being too bright, bold, or aggressive. They can add a touch of grace or sophistication to any ensemble. They’re naturally soothing and easy on the eyes. They’re also very versatile, easy to style, and can be used to make other pieces of your wardrobe pop!
Of course, pastels have always paired well with florals, but by combining them with a funky pattern or even a brightly-colored statement piece, you can accentuate the boldness of your outfit choice and make yourself stand out even more! Or, you can combine them with deep, muted colors like earthy greens or a dark mauve for a more balanced style.
By today’s standards, pastels are viewed as being very feminine. However, traditionally, pastels are a mix of both feminine and masculine energies! You won’t see these shades being limited by gender.
Even the stereotypical light pink color we typically associate with baby girls used to be mainly worn by men back in the 1800s. So, if you fear that pastels will be too “girly” for you and clash with your badass style, you can always pair them with earthy tones for a more neutral look. Or, keep wearing your mainly black, but add one small pastel piece to your outfit! You’ll be pleasantly surprised how even small bits of pastel can improve your life.
Eco-friendly, Skin-Friendly
Not only are pastels easy on the eyes, but because the coloring process requires fewer dyes, pastel-colored clothes are actually kinder to your skin (and better for the environment!). For example, say you were to try tie-dying a T-shirt or hoodie on a sunny spring day. When mixing the dye, you would only use 1/20 teaspoon of dye in 1 cup of water, as opposed to 2 teaspoons if you were going for a bright, primary color.
Plus, all natural, plant-based dyes are typically pastels and a lot less harsh than synthetic ones!
If you’re looking for a crafty project to start this spring, you can look into using everyday ingredients to make natural pastel dyes yourself! This process requires little more than boiling water, a saucepan, and a few simple ingredients. You can use blueberries to make a soft lavender color or turmeric to make a bright yellow. You can even use the skins of red onion to create a light pink! I’d advise starting small with something like cloth napkins or bibs. Make sure to wash them beforehand and that they’re made of 100% organic materials, like cotton, to ensure the fabric holds the dye.
The dying process itself is very simple. Just allow your ingredient to simmer in boiling water for about 30 minutes, then make sure to remove all of it before you put your fabric in. Allow your fabric to soak anywhere from 1-30 minutes, depending on the ingredient and the color you’re looking to achieve, then rinse it in cold water until the water runs clear. When you hang your fabric to dry, be sure to avoid leaving it in the sun, as the UV rays can bleach the new color out. There you go, an affordable, eco-friendly way to add some pastel colors to your wardrobe!
Pastels in home décor
Once more coming back stronger than ever, pastels are the home color palette this year! But after these last few years, who can blame us for wanting to make our homes a little softer, calming, and more welcoming?
That being said, it’s not just their wondrously harmonious, mood lightening effects that make pastels a great color choice for your home. Pastels often make a room feel bigger and more spacious. These soft colors allow for natural light to bounce around much more freely, giving the room a light, airy aesthetic.
When decorating your bedroom, cooler pastels are ideal. Their calming effect will help you relax and unwind at the end of a long day. You can also utilize the creativity-stimulating effect of blue or add in some pops of warmer tones and feed off the gentle, sustainable energy that exudes from a softer orange or yellow.
However, be mindful of lighting when decorating with pastels. You’re going to want to stay away from warmer yellow light as they tend to make pastels look drab and dingy. Instead, try to utilize LED or natural light whenever possible. This will allow the delicate shades of the colors to really shine through!
All in all, give pastels a chance!
Whether you’re someone who thrives on the relaxing, graceful look of pastels, or you’re someone who tends to avoid color at all costs, I think we should all try to incorporate a little more pastel into our everyday lives.
Pastels are well known for promoting wellness — from refreshing mint green to romantic, soft rose pink to calm, tranquil blue — their benefits are felt by many.
There are so many advantages to adding pastels into your wardrobe and your home! When you’re checking out our new store, why not get your favorite zodiac design in one of our pastel colors. Post a pic on Instagram, and be sure to tag us so we can share in the joys of spring together!