Hard times call for soft colors: the hint of green in a spring leaf bud, the chalky blush of a seashell, the timeetched beauty of a vintage fabric or photograph. Fashion has turned a romantic, nostalgic corner, bringing pastels and parchment-pale neutrals back into the palette. The hues are delicate without being sweet – subdued, without being shy. They reflect not just a yearning for youthful innocence and gentler times, but also a refreshing honesty and lack of pretension that are thoroughly modern.