It seems like the fashion world has been taking its cues from the scores of flowers that have been lining the outsides of small convenience stores in our city. Besides punchy brights, pastels have been another big trend for Spring/Summer 2011. No longer the terrain of childhood dresses and the easter bunny, these cute colours are coming into their own and exuding a calm kind of cool.  For you, we’ve scoured the internet and put together a small collage of a few of our favourite pastel things, and how you can incorporate  this season’s sweetest hues.

Stephen Merritt of the Magnetic Fields once sang that “love goes home to Paris in the Spring”. However, if a plane ticket to Paris is out of the question, one of France’s most fanciful treats, the macaron, has been making the rounds at many of Toronto’s bakeries. Nadege, Frangipane and Petit Thuet are just some of the bakeries that have been giving us delicate and delicious flavourings like rose, cassis and violet that just might have love hanging around in Toronto for just a little bit longer.

Given all of the rain that we’ve been having in the last little while, you may not exactly be tempted to bust out those sunny day appropriate ballet flats. However, Doc Martens have got you covered. Juxtaposing pretty with punk, add an unexpected touch of heavy lightness to any outfit with combat boots in soft pinks, sea-foam greens and even all over florals. It’ll make trekking across a rain soaked city, much less annoying and wet.

Boyfriend blazers in baby blues and candy floss pinks have got us feeling like we’re in the pages of Lula Magazine (we’ve found copies before at Type Books). Ever since we stopped by at Bicyclette , we’ve been loving that tea rose coloured blazer, that’s feminine without being fussy.

Stop into The 10 Spot for a quick manicure in a purple shade, that precisely matches the delicious lavender lemonade that’s been making its rounds at The Drake, and has also been featured at The Red Tea Box (696 Queen St. West) in summers past. 

If you’re feeling bold, you might be going gaga over the new crop of lavender lipsticks that have been featured all over the fashion blogosphere, and on your favourite (or least favourite) pop diva-gone-columnist. 

~ Natasha Hunt