Spring should feel like a Roman holiday: breezy, effortless, with a hint of glamour. And no one embodied that better than Claudia Schiffer in Rome, shot by Arthur Elgort for Vogue in the ‘90s. The photos are pastel perfection. She’s strolling through the city in sorbet shades like she just woke up to grab an espresso and wander cobblestone streets without a single plan. It’s that relaxed but polished energy that makes pastels feel so right this time of year.

March and April call for those soft, powdery shades: baby blue, pale pink, lemon yellow. Feminine? Yes. Sweet? Maybe. But the key to making them feel modern (and not like you stepped out of an Easter basket) is contrast. It’s all about mixing in cool-girl staples—denim, python accessories, sharp tailoring—to keep the look from feeling too precious.

And if you’re hesitant about pastels, start small. A sky-blue bag, a buttery yellow pump, a pale pink scarf. Just a touch of color against your usual neutrals can shift the whole vibe. But if you’re ready to dive in, go full Claudia Schiffer and embrace the dreaminess. Because if spring isn’t the time for a little fashion fantasy, when is?