Passion for pastels

If you're in possession of a sweet tooth, switch your sugar habit to your wardrobe.

Candy floss shades are this season's style dessert of choice and, best of all, the trend is calorie-free.

The spring/summer catwalks were illuminated with dreamy pastel shades that read like an ice cream parlour menu - mint, peach, lemon, rose, lavender, and powdery baby blue.

"It's time to bid a long overdue farewell to black," says Vogue's executive fashion editor Calgary Avansino.

"This refreshing palette of pretty 'sweet shop' pastels sings spring."

So lighten up your new season wardrobe by adding a little sugar-coated chic. Depending on just how sweet your tastes are, we take you through the lip-smackingly tempting ways to work pastels.

:: Sugar overdose Feminine, girly, and a tad OTT? If this sounds like you, let pastels go to your head like a sugar-rush.

Take inspiration from the likes of Valentino and Dior who showcased the trend with delicate chiffons, layers of tulle, and ruffles and frills to appeal to the romantics among us.

A girly dress is your must-have pastel piece of the season - perfect if you have a social calendar crammed with summer occasions that require the dressing-up box wow factor.

Style tip: Maintain a youthful innocence by keeping jewellery to a minimum and teaming your super-sweet dress with barely-there strappy heels.

Try: ASOS lilac ruffle dress, £35; Forever Unique green ruffle shoulder Elsa dress, £200; Jane Norman lemon layered skirt, £28; Rio Moda Monza pastel leather driving gloves, £20.

:: One lump or two?

If you want to try out pastels without the risk of looking like a seven-year-old playing fancy dress, transform those baby pinks and blues into grown-up glamour.

Sorbet shades set the mood for Burberry's catwalk with a pastel meltdown of top-to-toe icy tones that have been replicated all over the High Street this season.

Burberry designer Christopher Bailey kept the same shade looks super-cool by mixing up varying fabrics and featuring edgy detailing like draping, ruching and knots.

Give a nod to pastel power with a Burberry-inspired mac or 'knotted' skirt.

Style tip: It's all in the design detail so choose your best feature and let the clever draping do all the flattering work.

Try: River Island knot skirt, £36.99; Whistles blue ruched body-con dress, £150; Louche at Joy rose pink Honey Bow mac, £59; ASOS blue Pebble suede platforms, £75.

:: Dash of sweetener Pastels don't have to be saccharine sweet. Give your pastels more punch by going either sexy or sharp.

Designer Christopher Kane's pastels were far from innocent, taking his inspiration from Lolita with sexy features like thigh-high splits and suggestive see-through panels around the bust.

Marios Schwab, Tommy Hilfiger and Donna Karan all toughened up their take on pastels with slick suiting. Opt for separates like trousers or shorts in modern shapes for pastels minus the flounce.

Style tip: Tone down too-pretty pastels with a don't-mess-with-me pair of chunky gladiators or boyish brogues.

Try: Hobbs NW3 mint green tab shorts, £79; Warehouse pink linen boyfriend blazer, £65; Radley pastel Pocket bag, £75; Timex 80 pink and mint Tri Colour Watch, £50 at My-Wardrobe.

:: Stockists ASOS: www.asos.com Forever Unique: www.foreverunique.co.uk Hobbs: 0845 313 3130/www.hobbs.co.uk Jane Norman: www.janenorman.co.uk Joy: www.joythestore.com My-Wardrobe: www.my-wardrobe.com Radley: 08450 707080/www.radley.co.uk Rio Moda: www.riomoda.com River Island: www.riverisland.com Warehouse: www.warehouse.co.uk Whistles: www.whistles.co.uk :: Get the look It's official: Victoria Beckham has fallen in love with flats. Kick off your skyscraper heels and bag some black ballet pumps just like Posh with Blowfish's canvas Sass pair, £19.99, available at www.mandmdirect.com.

:: Buy it now Forget Joseph, it's all about Mamma Mia for Denise Van Outen. The pregnant TV star is launching a chic maternity range with Very. Available late March, DVO Maternity is a 16-piece collection of everyday stylish staples for mums-to-be, with prices ranging from £10-£39 (www.very.co.uk).

Fashion flash :: Fit finesse Don't make a boob when you're buying a new bra... It's estimated eight out of 10 women are walking around wearing the wrong sized support. To combat bad-fitting bra syndrome, Freya has launched a new fitting campaign, 'Holy Fit', to educate women on the importance of wearing the right size and shape bra for your bust. Freya has marked the campaign by teaming up with fashion designer Laura Lees to launch five limited edition t-shirts, priced £25 each, with all proceeds going to the Genesis breast cancer charity. For more information visit www.theholyfit.com.

:: Designer diva They tried to make her go to rehab but looks like Amy Winehouse was happy to go, go, go to fashion school. The singer is launching a clothing collaboration with British label Fred Perry. Her 17-piece retro collection, expected to hit shops in the autumn, will consist of Capri trousers, pencil skirts and mini dresses. "Amy has been wearing Fred Perry for years, so we were aware she was a genuine fan of the brand," says Fred Perry spokesperson, Richard Martin.