Spring Colored Denim: Dusty Lilac

This ashen shade of pastel purple lends itself well for the winter and spring months. The gray undertones to dusty lilac make it a more mature version of its true lilac cousin. It is sweet, but not overly so. It plays well as office and evening attire when paired with neutrals, but bounces back for days and weekends with brights pinks, ranges of purples, and a bevy of print; even if those colors and prints are just a pop in an accessory.



1. Neutrals. Olive and lilac creates an earthy contrast perfect for spring. The rich hue of olive grounds a matures this often teeny bopperish pastel purple. Playing into the gray undertones of dusty lilac, heather gray- a much softer paler alternative to charcoal- tones done the childish feel lilac.

I wanted to play up the softness of lilac in this outfit. I did this by pairing a solid taupe short sleeve sweater with a lilac denim skirt and accented with silver sequin flats and a dark rose pink headwrap.

2. Color blocking. Colors that pair well with lilac are aqua, hot pink, mauve, fuchsia, and eggplant. Aqua plays well with the pastel nature of lilac, but be careful. Since lilac and aqua are both pastels, this combination can be a bit dating. I highly suggest that you anchor this color combination with a more mature neutral like heather gray or navy blue. Hot pink and fuchsia adds a vibrant yet cohesive pop of color, even if it only appears in an accessory. Finally, mauve and eggplant are great for creating modern monochromatic outfits with dusty lilac.

I wanted something bold and fresh for this outfit. I achieved this by color blocking a fuchsia blouse with lilac. The blouse also adds some visual interest with the zipper pockets. ( A little bit of hardware on a blouse goes a long way).I anchored the outfit with a denim jacket, charcoal head wrap, and faux suede lace up flats.

3. Prints. Dusty lilac lends itself well to many neutral themed prints, like navy and cream stripes, or a black and white abstract. When pairing with colored prints, like florals, beware of too small a print or too large a print. Too small a print will make you look dainty and too young. Too large a print will make you look too grandmotherly. The point of a good floral print is to keep in proportion with your own body. When selecting a color print, keep in mind color pairings that will remain cohesive, or create contrast without discord.

For this outfit, I wanted something strong, to show case the tougher side of lilac. I achieved this with a black and white snow leopard print blouse over a dark raspberry layering tank. I completed the outfit with a pair of black velvet flats.

4.Texture. Adding visual interest to an outfit is not limited to color combinations and patterns. Mixing various textures in an outfit can create cohesion, interest, and showcase various pieces of the wearer’s personality. A charcoal leather jacket in fall and winter, can easily be replaced with a silver ballet flat in spring and summer. A linen jacket in spring, can be replaced with rope/hemp belt in summer, or a pair of brown suede boots in fall or winter. Likewise, a silken blouse in summer can be easily replaced with a sweater in fall or winter.


For this final outfit I combined a few common textures in my wardrobe. I styled this lilac denim skirt with a bright pink chiffon tank over a layering tee. I then added a denim jacket to anchor the outfit, and some silver sequin shoes. Last of all I added a hot pink head wrap.