What's that?

Unless you've been living under a stone for the last three months, you'll know pastel shades are going to be HUU-UUUGE this summer. But if you preferred splashing in puddles and eating mud pies to playing with Barbies as a kid, this girly, romantic craze may not be for you. But if you still want to have a try, take some inspiration from this fashion party in Stockholm on how to rock some edge to your sugary candy shades... Mixing heady textures, dominatrix accessories, vampy lipstick and heaps of attitude, you'll say goodbye to girlie before you can say the 'safe' word.

[Images: www.yvanrodic.blogspot.com/]

Hello, goodbye

Last day on my magazine today until two weeks of fashion work experience... Going to a big warehouse party tonight too so DOUBLE excited!! One last word of the day for Elie Saab's Spring 2010 Couture show. It's a full blown, ruffled-adorned love affair of romance that this year's couture designers are swooning over... And with aubergine punching through delicious ice-creams hues of summer yellow, mint green and blush, this is one of my favourite shows so far. SO pretty!

Read Dolly Jones from Vogue online's show report for Elie Saab* here:

"ELIE SAAB's show today was an array of flesh, cappuccino and shadowy grey shades and washed-out pastels – for a collection of the almost all full-length gowns which are really his forte: dresses for starry galas and weddings.

This collection majored in intricate lace creations and was a full-on, romantic, billowing display of what he does so well – wonderfully beautiful, feminine evening gowns. In the current climate his fans might like to see him develop in some other directions, perhaps using the couture techniques in different ways to try tailoring or daywear.

However, there is no doubt that women both like and trust his dresses – famously well-fitting, they are very light but have invisible structure. Held up by sexy shoe string straps they boast incredibly clever construction to give the superstar effect."

*yummyness

[Images: Courtorture]

Sweet like candy

With the noughties far behind us (well, a week or two), we are now well in 2010. And as anyone who has been reading Elle, Vogue and the like recently, it's the year of soft, buttery shades and delicious, ice-cream hues… Say goodbye to black, the pastel shade is back!

The ever-classic romantics Valentino, Chloe and Dior have championed these girlicious tones for ions, and continue to do this season - with even more designers following suit. And it’s not just the colour that’s going all Marie Antoinette on us. Textures are oh-so-dreamy too. Ruffles, pleats, satins and the floatiest flyaway fabrics designed to woo and romance are the spring/summer ready to wear of choice. There’s Louise Goldin’s fluttery, Japanese fan-inspired pale yellow designs, (she’s got a spiked and studded footwear collection For Topshop in stores next month by the way – look out!), Burberry Prorsum’s multi-chiffon layers in soft azure and mint, and Michael Kors’ sheeny, satin separates in the softest lilac tones making us go all weak at the knees and dreaming of days lying idly by the pool.

However, these watercolour shades won't suit all of us. I, for one, would look distinctively sallow in a baby pink or pale yellow frock. More ‘verging on death’ than ‘angelic and beautiful’ – until I get a tan that is! So I will leave it up to Mary-Kate and Sienna to wear this look for me. The ladies doth wear their baby shades so well.

[The fashion spot, Olsen's anoymous, Vogue.co.uk, InStyle.uk, Elle.com]