Mint is the Color of the Minute

Pastel colors have been creeping back into fashionable wardrobes, and the most popular of them is mint. The cool shade that brings to mind mint chocolate chip ice cream is all over skinny jeans, cosmetics, hair dye, and accessories. The hues range from sea foam to soft green to almost teal, but every shade is refreshing.

Fall 2012 shows brought on the love affair with light green. Akris was an early adopter of the trend, using mint eye shadow in their show. Vanessa Bruno featured models with green hair and nude lips. Pastel ensembles were displayed on the Blugirl runway, including a mint floral print dress and mint Mongolian fur coat. The color has spread from the runway to the streets, and you can now find mint in nearly every mall and online retailer.

If you want to try out the color trend with cosmetics, you can dip a fingernail in with Sally Hansen Smooth and Perfect Color + Care nail polish in “Sea.” Total Beauty says that people of all skin tones can wear mint, pointing to celebrities Kristen Bell, Kim Kardashian, and Rihanna, who have all worn the pastel eye shadow. Trying out the trend only requires buying one green shadow, like Stila’s “Cha Cha.” To wear it, apply the eye shadow across the eyelid, along the bottom lash line, and in the inner corner of the eye. Follow by using black liquid eyeliner to create a thick, winged line along your upper lash line and finishing with black mascara on your upper and lower lashes. Skip blush and use bronzer in the hollows of your cheeks instead; Total Beauty says the sunny bronze will help the mint green pop. Since your eyes will be doing the talking in this look, use a nude-colored lipstick. How about your hair? You can find clip-in hair extensions in light green to get a little taste of Katy Perry-style candy-colored tresses.

Keep your wardrobe in mint condition with minty fresh clothing and accessories. Silicone watches can be found in pastels, so you can stay on time while you stay on trend. If you’re ready to fully embrace the color, True Religion has a mid-rise cropped legging (more like stretch denim) in Light Emerald. Worried about what to pair pale mint with? Harper’s Bazaar says that you can think of pastels as an “updated neutral,” but mint seems to be most commonly paired with classic neutrals like grey and white. It also pairs well with some patterns: florals are a great partner for mint and even leopard print can work.

It looks like the trend will be hanging around: Chanel Cruise 2013 featured plenty of pastel, including light-colored bobs on each model. While mint’s 15 minutes may end before the 2013 summer season, it will share the style spotlight with other pastel shades so perfect the trend now and wear it for as long as you can.