Ways I've Worn - Pastels in the Cold.
...the annual update for how to wear your pastel Stalf in Winter.
Hello to the lovely, lovely people who read this newsletter.
This one has come on a slightly flat day for me. Which I suppose is apt, since those are the days I know I should reach for my pastels. The sky outside is a bleak grey, the wind is cold but devoid of a crisp, festive chill. It’s a banal Monday and I have a lot to get through, and a distinct lack of enthusiasm to throw at it all. I’m tired and yet I technically slept well. You know the feeling.
This morning I stood in front of my wardrobe and knew it had to be Wisteria. Can I just tell you about what our Wisteria linen does for me in these moments. It’s a soft, pure, pale lilac that’s soothing and yet also somehow jumps off the page, vibrant and fresh. It’s the perfect shade to pull out the pink in one’s cheeks. The perfect weight to softly crumple in a way only the best linen does (if you’re a lover of linen, like myself, you know what I mean.) It’s combinations lift my mood along with anything else I pair it with.
This is part of the magic of clothing, I think. Yes, they’re just clothes. They’re just bits of fabric cut in a particular way and stitched together. But on a grey day when you feel mediocre at best, wrapping yourself in your favourite is a little gift you can give yourself. I hope for some of you, your favourite is also Stalf. If that’s the case, my job is done and I am happy.
… And so, Wisteria is the one for me. Specifically the Wide Trousers. These trousers just lift me. End. They are the ones I pull from the rail when I am feeling flat and grey. When I need a boost. Or when I simply need to feel like me.
Honestly, I could pull any top out of my wardrobe, pair with these trousers, and feel great. Like below. I pulled them on with my well worn, grey wool cardi and black boots. Nothing special. And yet… instantly, a switch is flicked.
I’m going to demonstrate the flexibility of these trews, and the power of a pastel hue. If you really need a lift that packs a punch, may I suggest pairing your Wisteria with Spearmint. This is a long-time favourite combination of mine, especially when offset with a crisp white…
Feels effortless, gives you just what you need. Gets your pastels some airtime in the cold months.
Here I’m wearing top-to-toe Stalf, the Sweatshirt in Spearmint, the Wide Trousers in Wisteria, the Flutter Blouse in White Double Gauze.
Wisteria with a pop of bright pink is another super-charged combination set to put a spring in your step.
Here I’m wearing the Flutter Blouse in White Double Gauze and the Wide Trousers in Wisteria.
I had our Wrapper Jacket made up in the Wisteria fabric- just so beautiful (send me an email to customerservice@stalf.co.uk if you’d like to order one of these.)
This combo of Flutter Blouse and Wrapper Jacket in lightweight linen (I sized up) is making me so happy on these moody November days. A crisp, pastel injection into my day-to-day and a dose of romance (from the sleeves, just amazing) are just what’s needed.
If you’re wanting to see how easy it is to dress in Wisteria with a slightly more grown up approach, just pair it with Dust double gauze…
Flutter Blouse in Dusty Double Gauze available here.
Flutter Blouse in Dusty Double Gauze available here.
In fact, adding Dusty to any pastel seems to give it a more grown-up, more wearable edge. See below, paired with trusty Ice Cream Jumpsuit.
Ice Cream Jumpsuit here, Flutter Blouse in Dusty double gauze here.
…and for one last touch on Wisteria, I’d totally dress it up for night time. This was my first experiment with this idea, I chucked on my old faithfuls and sandwiched the pastel between layers of black in varying textures (patent with velvet is yummy in any iteration) I am determined to revisit this in another article- perhaps “Unexpected Stalf Garms, Perfect for Evening Attire”… watch this space.
Wisteria Wide Trousers here.
Whilst we’re on the topic of cosying up your Stalf pastels, also worth a strong mention is Spearmint. I should also let you know at this point that it’s almost completely sold out and is unlikely to be restocked.
It’s obviously exceptional worn as a top to toe sweats-co-ord, but I am also partial to it paired with Ice Cream…
Sweatshirt in Spearmint here for a limited time, Jumpsuit in Ice Cream here.
Sweatshirt in Spearmint here for a limited time, Jumpsuit in Ice Cream here.
… or with any of your fave lounge wear, as worn here- my fave lilac stripe joggers(sadly sold out, I know you’re going to come for me!) and lime green socks- why the hell not!
Sweatshirt in Spearmint here.
So the moral of this story seems to be… the best recommendations I have for pastels in the cold is to layer with a Flutter Blouse in double gauze (White and Dusty are my faves) and get yourself some Wisteria or Spearmint for when the sun is not shining!
Have a great week!
Paris x
Lots of my favourites here 💖