How to wear pastel shades for Autumn

As I am sure you are aware that this season the colour pendulum has swung firmly over into the warm category. There is an abundance of yellows, rusts, oranges, khakis and browns in the shops at the moment,

As you will note from my previous posts I have been dipping my toe in the water of the cooler browns and deep burgundies. However, due to my grey hair and lighter skin tone, these are not colours that I find flattering near my face. Luckily pastel shades are now popular for Autumn.

For us cooler toned women, there is a lovely shade of lilac referred to as “crocus petal” in this autumn’s colour box. I bought the lilac sweater I am wearing above last year from H&M. The style is still available this year in a powder pink, grey or dark blue. I find the quality of the cashmere good for the price and it has worn well. Surprisingly H&M offers a good range of cashmere knitwear.

I have teamed the sweater with my burgundy trousers and my burgundy trainers The trousers are proving very useful. This colour very versatile and it is a nice change from my usual black, navy and greys.

I am rarely without a scarf and luckily this deeper toned lilac worked very well.

Lilacs for autumn:

Photographs were taken in Wimbledon village, south-west London by Laura Hines. Follow her on Instagram.

Chicatanyage

I write a fashion and beauty blog for women over 50 with the aim of inspiring mature women to continue to enjoy and have fun with their fashion choices. I have spent most of my working life in some way connected to fashion. I started my career in Fashion PR and then trained as an Image Consultant when my children were young. I subsequently worked in the corporate world running seminars, doing private coaching and speaking at conferences. I started my blog in 2009 as I wanted to share my years of experience working in the world of fashion. I truly believe we can continue to have confidence in the way we present ourselves. Our style may evolve with time and changing lifestyles, yet with a little knowledge and inspiration, we can all continue to have fun with fashion. As women of a certain age we are a growing demographic let us prove that we can also be a chic one.

Next A parka is a useful wardrobe addition »

Previous « A visit to Collobrières in the Var

View Comments

Anonymous says:

2nd November 2018 at 14:45

Thank you, Josephine. I have a top and a jacket in that lovely lilac color, and never would have thought of that colour combination. It works!
Eileen says:

2nd November 2018 at 15:57

Thank you for including lighter pastel colors. I have a hard time every fall/ winter finding clothes that are not too dark. And since this time of year has sleeved clothes I would like to buy more now. The industry needs to think “ all year” wear, not just fall= sleeves, or winter= dark. Just my opinion.
- Chicatanyage says:
  
  2nd November 2018 at 17:25
  
  Hi Eileen
  I think it is getting a bit easier. There seem to be a mixture of light and dark, warm and cool in most seasonal palettes these days.
Sally says:

2nd November 2018 at 17:00

I own a very similar jumper and pair of trousers and it had never crossed my mind to put them together but it looks terrific. Clearly I must consider more carefully what I have in my wardrobe and try different combinations together. Thank you for the advice.
Brenda Chell says:

2nd November 2018 at 18:02

As usual you wear these pieces so well pretty Josephine, love the necklace too.
Margie says:

2nd November 2018 at 18:22

Josephine,

I, like you, are a "cool tone" with my white hair and blue eyes....I love this lilac and will have to find it somewhere here in the USA. Gorgeous, gorgeous color combination! A while ago you had suggested a "red" Hobbs necklace for me and I'm wearing it today and getting compliments galore...it's a show stopper!
- Chicatanyage says:
  
  2nd November 2018 at 18:41
  
  Glad you are enjoying the necklace.
  
  I found some nice lilac sweaters at Nordstrom if you look at the bottom of the post at the small images if you hover over one it will tell you if it is from Nordstrom.
  
  Happy hunting
Pauline Starsmore says:

2nd November 2018 at 19:05

The pale lilac looks lovely on you, I am a warm blonde colouring so don't really wear pastels, I shall have to look on my colour chart and perhaps go for off whites and apple jade and rosewood, and see how they look.
- Chicatanyage says:
  
  3rd November 2018 at 11:10
  
  Hi Pauline
  Not sure what colour system you follow but apple jade and rosewood sound very interesting colours.
Georgia Piech-Pander says:

2nd November 2018 at 22:36

Love your blog and your style. Thanks!
- Chicatanyage says:
  
  3rd November 2018 at 10:11
  
  Thanks for the compliment Georgia.
Rita says:

3rd November 2018 at 00:33

I have a sweater in a similar color, and I wear it with a dark brown skirt or pants, and a scarf that has red-violet and gold.
- Chicatanyage says:
  
  3rd November 2018 at 11:08
  
  Hi Rita
  
  Sounds like a very interesting and lovely combination.
LA CONTESSA says:

4th November 2018 at 16:26

I heard years ago LILAC looks good on the OVER 50 SET!I think it compliments the white hair........and pale skin as well.YOUR OUTFIT TODAY is PERFECT!