Fashion

Jun 12, 2018

Lilac is having a moment—and these are the pieces to pick up

By: Samara Abells

Lighten up this summer with some gorgeous lilac fashion and beauty picks.

Here comes (and hopefully stays—fingers crossed!) the sun. As the weather heats up, lighter colours have a way of entering our wardrobes as our layers drop away and our hemlines get a little shorter. This season, pastels are coming in hot, and before you write off the trend as old-fashioned, might we suggest wearing lilac? Shockingly this once-ultra-feminine shade is having a modern renaissance and is being worn in pretty ensembles as well as bold iterations.

Pantone (the leading colour trend forecaster) named UltraViolet (a shocking and saturated purple hue) as its 2018 Colour of the Year, so it comes as no surprise that a lighter tone of purple has become the colour of the warmer seasons. Taking note, designers like Michael Kors and Tom Ford, showcased lilac all over their S/S 2018 runways.

The lilac takeover doesn’t stop with fashion. It's also been championed in beauty, making appearances in eyeshadows, eyeliners, highlighters and lipsticks. Though you might not be interested in wearing the hue as a highlighter on your cheekbones, dabbling in the shade on your eyes (a great pick for green eyes) or lips (so pretty on darker skin tones) is easy enough to incorporate.

To keep you looking chic this summer, here are our top fashion and beauty picks (and all under $100!) to welcome you on board this trend train.

Purple Pants

Dressing stylish to work can often be difficult. Not only extremely comfortable, palazzo pants have a way of instantly making you look sophisticated while also keeping you looking chic. An option in this stand-out hue will also make sure your outfit is anything but boring.

High-Waist Palazzo Trousers, $70, mango.com/ca.

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Atypical Stripes

Striped fashion is often synonymous with white, red, black and navy, but move beyond the basic and try lilac stripes instead. Loose-fitting to accommodate hot summer days, but cinched at the waist to provide the flattering silhouette you crave, this midi dress is the perfect daywear dress doubling as a beach cover-up.

Deinze Fraise Dress, $95, 1861.ca.

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Nailed It

Ease your way into lilac by choosing this purple tone for your next manicure or pedicure. Light nail colours means its officially summer, right?

Gel Couture Nail Polish in Style in Excess, $12, amazon.ca.

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Summer Slides

Easy to wear, but still super cute, these lilac slides are the perfect summer shoe to add a subtle pop of colour to any outfit. The sun is calling—don’t waste time indoors lacing up your shoes!

Leather Slides, $80, zara.com/ca.

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Go Girly

Feminine and floral, this high-waisted tiered skirt is sure to get you in the summer groove. Because of its fit-and-flare style, this piece is best worn with cropped or tucked-in shirts. My personal choice? Something black or white on top to keep all eyes on the skirt.

Oasis Midi Skirt with Tiered Detail in Lilac Print, $87, asos.com.

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Eye See You

Lilac eyeshadow gives us serious 70’s vibes— and we're loving it! An alternative to more classic pastel colours like light pink or blue, the lilac colour is sure to keep you looking beautiful, but also unique. Kick it up a notch by choosing an eyeshadow with a shimmery finish.

Artdeco Eyeshadow Pearl in Pearly Antique Purple, $9, beautyboutique.ca.

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Tiered Tassels

With statement earrings having a huge moment right now, it only seems right to fuse the two trends. Prefer a boyfriend aesthetic? Pair these earrings with a t-shirt and jeans. More into feminine looks? These earrings are sure to spice up your summer dresses too.

BaubleBar Tassel Earrings, $62, shopbop.com.

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So Many Possibilities

Effortlessly fusing feminine with masculine, this boyfriend style shirt in a traditionally feminine colour takes your classic button-up to the next level. Tuck the linen top into jeans, wear it open with a basic t-shirt underneath, or even throw it on over a bathing suit during your next pool day—this piece is as versatile as it gets!

Oversized Boyfriend Shirt in Linen, $60, gapcanada.ca.

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Bold Lines

If you’re going to draw the line somewhere, do it with this matte eyeliner. Adding a hint of lilac that is not too overpowering, this eyeliner is the perfect way to integrate the beauty trend into your makeup look. Think outside the line—er, box—this summer.

Marc Jacobs Beauty Highliner Gel Eye Crayon Eyeliner in Mist Me?, $31, sephora.ca.

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Lighten Up

Swap out your white blouse for this new lilac take on a crisp cotton shirt. The light purple tone will still look great with all your go-to denim looks. Classic yet trendy, it's the best of both worlds!

Wide-Cut Blouse, $50, hm.com/ca.

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Lilac Lips

Be brave, bold, and beautiful by trying lilac on your lips. Sure to make you stand out, keep your eye makeup subtle to balance the lipstick’s dramatic look. This lipstick screams: ‘Go big or go home'.

Fonts Beauty by Rihanna Mattemoiselle Plush Matte Lipstick in One Of The Boyz, $23, sephora.ca.

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Coming Full Circle

What better way to incorporate a colour into your outfit than through your purse? Keeping it simple and casual with a canvas construction and fun circular shape, this bag is the perfect size to carry all of your everyday summer essentials.

Baggu Canvas Circle Purse, $58, chapters.indigo.ca.

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Lilac for Layering

Summer nights can sometimes get chilly. Easily throw on this open-front lilac cardigan to comfortably transition your outfit from day to night. Easy and trendy? Works for me!

Textured Open-Front Bell-Sleeve Sweater, $40, oldnavy.ca.

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Shine Bright

Don't like to put on too much makeup? Enhance your eyes with a sheer lilac eye cream that doesn't even need a primer. It's a barely-there look that's still going to make you sparkle.

Lidstar in Lily, $22, glossier.com.

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Sunday Sneakers

Keep it comfortable by choosing to incorporate lilac into your sneakers. A great alternative to white shoes, wear these shoes with your favourite cotton midi dress or denim to amp up all of the basics in your wardrobe.

Old Skool Skate Shoe, $80, vans.ca.

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