Light Blue and Pastel Tops – The Colours of Summer

Short answer: Light blue and pastel tops are the most worn colours of the summer, because they are pale enough to feel cool and muted enough to combine with everything. In bamboo viscose the colour holds better, because the fabric does not have to be washed hot.

Why pastels work in summer

Pale colours throw more light back than dark ones and therefore do not heat up as much in direct sun. Pastels sit between white and a clear colour: pale enough to be cool and muted enough not to dominate the rest of the outfit.

They combine more easily than clear colours

A clear colour demands that the rest of the outfit matches it. A pastel works with white, sand, denim and most dark colours without any thought at all. That is why it gets worn more often, even though it is not the one you notice in the shop.

Light blue is the most used

Light blue goes with denim, with white and with sand, and most wardrobes already contain it as a shirt or a pair of trousers. That makes it the pastel that gets picked out most times across a summer. Have a look at the bamboo tops for women.

Pastels and transparency

A pale colour in a thin fabric turns sheer sooner than a dark one. Hold the top up to the light before wearing it alone, and choose a denser quality if it is to be worn with nothing underneath on a sunny day.

Keeping the colour

Pastels fade from sunlight and hot washing, and they turn grey if they are washed with dark clothes. Wash them at 30 degrees together with other pale colours and dry them in the shade. That way the shade lasts several seasons.

For everyday wear

Together with a pair of bamboo shorts for women in a neutral colour, a pastel top works both at the beach and in town. Two pastels and two neutral pieces give more combinations than four pieces in four clear colours.

When it turns cool

A bamboo sweatshirt for women in a neutral colour over a pastel top is the combination used most when the sun goes down. The outer layer does not have to match, it just must not kill the colour underneath.

When a dark colour is better

If the top is to be used as a layer under a thin, pale blouse, nude or white is more invisible than a pastel. If it is to be worn alone on a travel day, a dark colour is more forgiving about stains. Pastels are for the days in between. See also bamboo and temperature regulation and washing guide for bamboo clothing.

Frequently asked questions

Do pastel colours wear out faster?

Not the fabric, but the colour. It fades from sun and hot washing, which is why a pastel keeps its appearance longest when washed at 30 degrees and dried in the shade.

Can pastels be worn in winter?

Yes, as a layer under dark clothing. There the colour only shows at the neck, which is why most people wear them mainly in summer, where they can be seen.