Pastels are the palette of the occasions that happen in daylight — bridal showers, baby showers, garden weddings, Easter lunches, afternoon tea. Soft enough to sit right at a daytime event, distinctive enough not to disappear into it. These are exclusive prints and solids drawn in-house by Project Runway Season 13 designer Sandhya Garg, made in limited runs, sizes XS through 3XL.
What counts as pastel. A pastel is any colour with white added — high in lightness, low in saturation. Blush, lavender, mint, powder blue, butter yellow, peach and sage all qualify. Emerald, royal blue and burgundy don't, however soft the fabric. Here, the Tangier Ombre Midi runs blush through pale blue, the Rabat Off-Shoulder and Sahara Maxi sit in soft neutrals, and the Gaia and Palais Pink Maxis carry blush at full length. The Rosa Lace Jacket is reduced to $178.
The honest problem with pastels — and the fix. Pastels wash some people out, and the reason is mechanical: a pale colour sits close in lightness to fair skin, so the contrast between face and dress collapses. Two solutions. Add contrast elsewhere — a defined lip, darker shoes, gold at the neckline, or a deeper-toned jacket. Or choose a pastel with a warm base rather than an icy one: peach, butter and blush flatter warm complexions far better than powder blue or icy lilac. Prints solve it outright, since they carry several values at once.
For a wedding or shower. Pastel is an excellent guest choice for daytime events — but the one caution is real: avoid anything so pale it photographs as ivory or white, particularly at weddings and bridal showers. A blush with genuine pink saturation is safe; a very pale champagne is not. Check the invitation for a theme colour too, since showers often specify one.
Shop by occasion: bridal shower, baby shower, garden party, spring wedding guest, wedding guest and graduation dresses. By length: maxi, midi and mini. By shade: pink, purple, blue, yellow and white. Also see floral, lace and plus size occasion dresses.
Read more: what to wear to a bridal shower, what to wear for afternoon tea, and every wedding dress code explained.
Any style can be made to your measurements for $50–$100 above retail. Check the size chart before ordering. Free US shipping on orders over $250. Afterpay available. Ships from Scottsdale, AZ within 1–3 business days.
Frequently Asked Questions
What colours count as pastel?
A pastel is a colour with white added — high lightness, low saturation. Blush pink, lavender, mint green, powder blue, butter yellow, peach, sage and lilac are all pastels. Deeply saturated shades like emerald, royal blue and burgundy are not, regardless of fabric. If a colour still reads vivid from across a room, it isn't a pastel.
Do pastels wash you out?
They can, and the reason is contrast. A pale colour sits close in lightness to fair skin, so the boundary between face and dress softens. Fix it by adding contrast elsewhere — a stronger lip, darker shoes, gold jewellery at the neckline — or choose a warm-based pastel like peach, butter or true blush rather than an icy powder blue. Printed pastels avoid the problem entirely, since they carry several tones at once.
Can you wear pastels to a wedding?
Yes, particularly for daytime and garden weddings, where pastels suit the light. The one real caution is avoiding shades so pale they photograph as ivory or white — a blush with genuine pink in it is safe, a very pale champagne is not. Check the wedding party's colours so you aren't mistaken for a bridesmaid.
What season are pastel dresses for?
Spring and summer traditionally, and they remain the default for Easter, garden weddings and daytime showers. Pastels also work well through autumn and winter in heavier fabrics — a lavender or sage in velvet or a thicker viscose reads seasonal rather than out of place. What dates a pastel is a lightweight summer fabric in December, not the colour itself.
Are pastel dresses available in plus sizes?
Yes. Every style runs from XS through 3XL in the same prints and shades at the same price — there's no separate plus size line. Made-to-measure is available on any style for $50–$100 above retail.
