Throwback! Baby blue is more grown up than ever

The timeless and innocent shade has a stylish new guise 

All things considered, the colour baby blue has managed to escape its associations with dreaded gender reveals on Instagram and has migrated to become one of this season’s surprise hits.

While Pantone heralded the arrival of ‘anti-anxiety blue‘ as the hue of the year, it seems to have been entirely usurped by the type of blue more typically associated with nurseries, bedtime storybooks and vintage porcelain.

For Spring/Summer 2020, the sweet shade was seen at Stella McCartney, Oscar de la Renta, Self Portrait, Staud and Preen by Thornton Bregazzi, in the form of shirts, tailored suits and floaty, beach-ready dresses.

Tellingly, two of Instagram’s most influential fashion presences — Aimee Song and Camila Coelho — both used the colour on dresses and co-ords in their fledgeling direct-to-consumer clothing brands’ debut collections, further adding to its popularity.

While admittedly there’s something about the tone that does slightly remind us of noughties-era velour tracksuits (don’t be ashamed, we all went there!) or the type of outfits we wore to Montessori as tots, thanks to new silhouettes, subtle prints and textures there’s now a grown-up edge to baby blue ensembles.

For an adult, sophisticated take on the emerging trend, try a garment that incorporates elements like polka dots, stripes, ruffles, toille print or pleats. Or, simply add a pop to your look with a bag or shoe in the dreamy hue.

IMAGE loves…

Blue Chiffon Lace Trim Maxi Dress, €418 from Self Portrait

Staud Madden Satin Blazer, €242 from Moda Operandi

Kurt Geiger Kensington Mini Bag, €178.34 from ASOS

Plus Light Blue Blazer, €95 from River Island

Are You Gonna Be Our Pearl Ribbed Sweater, €15 from Nasty Gal

Short Sleeve Blazer Dress, €42 from Pretty Little Thing

Organza Puff Sleeve Bodysuit, €10 from Boohoo

Smocked Waist Maxi Dress, €129 from & Other Stories

Mid-Heeled Sandal in Blue, €41.48 from ASOS

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