With spring on the horizon, there’s an overwhelming sense of a fresh start—snow dissipates to make way for fresh shrubberies, the sun lingers a little longer in the sky, and suddenly, we’re able to peel off our puffer coats, thermal layers, and winter boots. Inevitably, the change in season can inspire us to change our own closets, too. While there’s no shortage of warm-weather staples that one could swap in place of winter pieces, one particular color trend will surely become a crowd-pleaser: pastels. Akin to the predictability of plants blooming in spring, pastels have seemingly become an inescapable passé, consequential to this particular time of year.
But make no mistake: Although pastel colors aren’t a brand new trend, their outsized presence in spring/summer 2025 runway collections makes them worth putting back on your radar. From downright delectable shades of pistachio green at Chloé to ultra-delicate takes on butter yellow at Chanel, there’s no shortage of contemporary reimaginings of this “cliché” spring color trend. Ahead, I’ve compiled a breakdown of the five spring 2025 pastel color trends that permeated the runways, along with a curation of the best pastel clothing to buy this season. If you thought you wouldn’t placate to ever wearing pastels again, prepare to have your tastebuds changed.
Pistachio Gelato
Picture an idyllic late spring day: What comes to mind? If your fantasy included sitting outside with a scoop of gelato melting under the sun, you’re not alone. Spring collections seemed to be a visual embodiment of the time designers spent daydreaming of sunnier days and even sweeter treats—case in point: pale green’s presence in their spring collections. Romanticism seemed to be the key ingredient to reimagining this rich color, as shown by Chemena Kamali’s second collection for Chloé. The silhouette of a utilitarian funnel-neck jacket was softened through the usage of shiny patent leather that felt reminiscent of pistachio gelato melting on a balmy day. Similarly, sharp tailoring was given this romantic spin through a strapless dress with velvety layers of pistachio-green chiffon draped down the body at The Garment’s spring show in Copenhagen. Even in Fendi’s spring collection, pops of pastel green were served up in small bite sizes as the brand updated its signature baguettes with the shade. With spring runway shows, each fashion house found a way to make wearing pastels far more digestible.
Staud Wylie Stretch Cotton Minidress
Freja New York Mini Chrystie Bag
Mango Semi-Transparent Cropped Knitted Cardigan
Vince Fluid Bias-Cut Satin High-Rise Trousers
Aeyde Cleo Nappa Leather Cloud Flats
Cotton Candy Pink
The proliferation of ballet-inspired fashion over the past few seasons has made pastel pink seem “old” compared to other color trends. But what’s made it feel youthful again can be attributed to the more playful approach to pastel pink found in spring collections—a prime example being the fanciful adaptation found in Alaïa’s spring show. Imbued with the same sort of delight that comes with spotting cotton candy as a kid, a model sauntered down the spiral rotunda of The Guggenheim wearing a slice of fabric that wrapped around the bodice styled with a bombastic bubble skirt. Similarly, at Khaite, layers of soft-pink organza were layered on each other to create a voluminous dress that looked like the grown-up version of cotton candy. Beyond the blatantly apparent examples of designers letting their curiosity go unfettered, other collections offered an equally delicious approach simply by letting pastel pink make classic staples a bit punchier. Spring shows served as a reminder that while we all grow up, some colors can always cajole a sense of child-like wonder out of us.
Tory Burch Lee Radziwill Shoulder Bag
COS Oversized Tailored Shirt
Brandon Maxwell Leanne Embroidered Pencil Skirt
Loeffler Randall Landon Ballet Mesh Ballet Flat
J.Crew Alexandra Blazer in Stretch Linen Blend
Butter Yellow
Oh, you thought designers’ color cravings were fully satisfied? Think again. Across the spring shows, we saw another delicious pastel served up: butter yellow. While variations of light yellow have been trending for a few seasons now, recent collections solidified this shade as a must-have in our fashion pantry by displaying its ability to melt into different fashion houses’ signature design recipes (including Prada, Aligne, Valentino, and a few others). One of the most delectable examples of pale yellow being put up for a taste test was found in the spring collection designed by Chanel’s studio atelier; a model floated across the Grand Palais in a pale yellow capelet blouse and matching frilly skirt that rolled down the body as smoothly as butter slides on a hot pan. The soft sensuality of this shade of yellow didn’t stop at Chanel, as we even saw the minimalist Scandinavian brand Toteme take a bite out of the trend by showcasing a sleek knitted dress with a built-in scarf in the shade. Whether incorporated into a minimalist or maximalist-leaning collection, spring shows proved that butter yellow isn’t an acquired taste; it can be easily adapted to anyone’s palate—I mean, wardrobe.
Marge Sherwood Beige Soft Baguette Bag
Aligne Daphne Waisted Boucle Blazer
Nordstrom Pleated Midi Skirt
Stuart Weitzman Nudist Wrap Sandal
Jacquemus Chestnut Backless Cape Mini Dress
Lavender Shortbread
Often, there’s a certain level of apprehension or annoyance among the fashion crowd when some of the more “cliché” spring trends come back—I’m looking at you, boho dresses, floral prints, and pastel colors. But there’s a William Gibson quote that feels applicable to their return: “Clichés become clichés for a reason; that they usually hold at least a modicum of truth.” As much as we might hate to admit it, something is healing about slipping into something in a pastel shade on the first warm spring day. It’s an experience that can feel as comforting as snacking on lavender shortbread cookies, or at least that is the emotion designers tried to invoke by incorporating light purple into their spring collections. The ease of this pastel hue was embodied in an adaptation of effortless everyday silhouettes, such as a strapless fringe gown at Proenza Schouler, an oversized trench coat at Issey Miyake, and even a lace-trim slip skirt at Versace. Sure, lavender and lilac can sometimes come off as “cliché” compared to other more attention-grabbing shades, but that makes it a compelling buy for spring (and beyond). This is a color trend we can find comfort incorporating into our closets because we know it will linger around for a long time, like the scent of freshly baked cookies or newly bloomed flowers.
Tanya Taylor Celeste Top in Lilac
Celine Medium Lola Bag in Shiny Calfskin
Zimmermann Natura High Waist Midi Skirt
Dries Van Noten 75 Leather Sandals
JW Anderson Asymmetric Lace Trim Layered Dress
Frozen Blueberry
If it’s not crystal clear by now, let us reiterate: Pastel colors won’t be melting into oblivion anytime soon. That’s no more apparent than with the color I’m dubbing “frozen blueberry,” an amalgamation of baby blue with an icier pale blue. Although this shade seemingly draws inspiration from nature, nowhere was immune from a pastel freeze-over, even the race track at Østerbro Stadium. Transformed into a runway for Baum Und Pferdgarten’s spring show, the stadium acted as a tongue-in-cheek nod to the collection’s theme by exaggerating the tug-of-war happening between sportswear and workwear—see: the short ruffled frock that was styled with loafers and a crystal-embellished soccer ball. But that wasn’t the only spring collection that used pastel blue to bridge the gap between different worlds; Acne Studios’s show had a similar aim. Drawing inspiration from a “twisted domestic scenery,” it reimagined the familiar space through fashion, most notably in the form of a pastel blue jersey material that draped down the body like a pair of curtains. Although the source material differed from show to show, the message was clear: Pastels will remain a perennial part of our world.
Acne Studios Dopaga Draped Crepe Jersey Dress
Coach Brooklyn Shoulder Bag 28
H&M Double-Breasted Blazer
Adidas Taekwondo Lace Shoes
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