Pastel Color Combinations: Lavender and Mint, Styled
- Words by
- Julio Arco
- Published
- Reading
- 4 min
Lavender and mint are one of the easiest pastel color combinations to wear, because the purple-leaning and green-leaning tints are both soft enough that neither fights the other. The trick is to keep one of them dominant, add a neutral, and let texture do the work.
Below: how to build the pair into an outfit, which neutrals anchor it, and which other pastels sit well beside it.
Why do lavender and mint work together?
Both are tints, meaning a color with white added. As the University of Georgia's CAES Field Report on color theory puts it, when white is added to a color it becomes lighter and is called a tint. Because both colors share that chalky lightness, they sit at a similar level of brightness even though one is cool-purple and the other is green.
The same source notes that green and blue are cool colors, usually linked with water, sky and forest and with relaxed, calm feelings. Mint carries that calm. Lavender leans a little warmer, which is why the pair feels balanced rather than icy.
How do you wear lavender and mint without looking like an Easter egg?
Head-to-toe pastel with nothing to break it up is where outfits go sweet. Three habits fix that.
- Pick a lead. Make about two thirds of the outfit one pastel and use the other in a smaller piece, such as a top, scarf or bag.
- Add a grounding neutral: cream, warm grey, tan or white. A neutral shoe or belt gives the eye a place to rest.
- Choose dustier shades. A mint with a grey cast and a lavender that is not too pink look more grown-up than candy-bright versions.
Easy outfit formulas
- Lavender knit, mint trousers, cream sneakers.
- Mint shirt, lavender wide-leg pants, tan sandals.
- Cream dress with a mint cardigan and a lavender bag.
If you like the lavender side of this palette, see how it behaves with other partners in lavender and olive green and lavender and deep charcoal.
Does fabric change how the colors read?
Yes, and more than most people expect. Through the lens of evidence-based design, I'd start with texture before color. A matte cotton and a glossy satin in the same lavender do not read as the same color, because the surface changes how light reaches your eye.
Pastels in flat, thin fabric can look washed out. Velvet, brushed knits, linen and crisp poplin give the color depth. As Bodie V. Pennisi of the University of Georgia writes, "Value is the lightness or darkness of each color. Adding white, black or white and black (which combine to make grey) to each color changes its value". That is why a grey-toned mint feels calmer than a bright one.
What pastel colors go well together?
Lavender and mint are only one pair. These also work, and the same rules (one lead, one neutral, dusty shades) apply.
Pastel pink and mint green
A classic pairing. Blush pink next to cool mint feels fresh and soft. Keep the pink on the warm side so it does not turn bubblegum. For ideas, see blush pink and cool mint in everyday looks.
Pastel blue and lavender
Two cool tints that sit close on the color wheel, so the result is quiet and tonal. It works well in a dress or a matching set, with a white or silver accent to keep it crisp.
Pastel yellow and lavender
Opposites on the wheel, so this one has more energy. Use butter yellow rather than lemon. There is more on it in lavender and yellow pairings.
Mint and light grey
A calm, city-friendly option for office wear. See light grey and mint green for more.
Which metals, shoes and accessories finish the look?
Gold or brass warms both colors and keeps them from feeling cold. Silver gives a cooler, more modern finish. Neutral leather in tan, cream or white is the safest shoe choice, and a thin dark belt or bag adds a little definition.
If the outfit already feels sweet, drop ruffles and ornament and let the cut stay clean. For shoes and bags that suit pale colors, accessories that match strappy sandals is a useful next read.
Check the colors in daylight first
Pastels shift under different light. Cool indoor bulbs can push lavender toward blue and make mint look sharper, so look at your pieces next to each other by a window before you commit. If you are buying online, compare the two items together once they arrive rather than judging each alone.
For a more romantic take, try these pastels in lighter, flowing fabrics, as in tulle and lace evening looks.
Frequently asked questions
What are two pastel colors that would look good together?
Lavender and mint, blush pink and mint, and pastel blue and lavender are reliable pairs. Pick one as the main color and use the other in a smaller piece.
Which pastel color is best?
It depends on your coloring and the occasion, so there is no single best one. Hold a shade near your face in daylight and choose the one that makes your skin look even and rested.
Can I wear two pastels with black?
Yes. Black shoes or a bag add contrast and make soft colors look more deliberate. Use it in small amounts so the pastels stay the focus.
Filed under Interior Design
