Periwinkle Is Officially the Coolest Color for Spring: 12 Trendy Pieces To Try

That handbag is not just blue. It’s not lavender, and it’s not indigo. It’s actually periwinkle. This trending shade of pastel blue is a tricky color to pin down, similar to that notorious cerulean from The Devil Wears Prada. Luckily, though, it hasn’t stopped anyone from trying. This season, countless brands have introduced on-trend dresses, tops, handbags, and accessories in the fresh, spring-ready hue. Periwinkle is now in full bloom—learn more about this spring fashion trend and shop a few of our favorite pieces ahead.

About the Trend

Periwinkle, despite its trending status, is tough to standardize. It’s classically defined as a light indigo, but this vivid color runs the gamut from deep hydrangea to something more on the lavender side. (Read: This spring fashion trend has tons of versatility and range.) Pantone deemed a variation of the hue, Very Peri, Color of the Year in 2022, and periwinkle’s futuristic vibe might also remind you of the icy blues that took over TikTok late last year.

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In Staud’s recent collection on the spring 2024 NYFW runways, we saw the playful pastel intersect with everything from ball skirts to tailored silhouettes—the latter of which seems to be catching on as a wider trend. In a recent TikTok, OG workwear label Ann Taylor deemed periwinkle "the new black" when building cubicle-ready ensembles.

Out of the office? New York brand Dàwáng thoroughly explored the botanical hue last year, dropping a collection of sweet pastel tops and dresses inspired by traditional Chinese designs. Meanwhile, periwinkle has been all over awards shows: After it-girls Ayo Edebiri and Olivia Rodrigo test-drove the shade in recent years, the 2024 Oscars red carpet included stunning pastel blue gowns on stars including Lupita Nyong'o and Da'Vine Joy Randolph.

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When shopping for a periwinkle piece, pay close attention to the garment’s shade and undertones. Due to the range of periwinkle interpretations, this color might translate as something more blue- or violet-toned when shopping across brands, so it's good to think about which variation you're looking for. Ready to add this sweet pastel to your wardrobe? Below, see 12 of our favorite on-trend periwinkle fashion pieces to shop this season.