Every year they’re back. As inevitable as ants, barbeques and Britain losing any and all sporting contests, every Summer all the shops feature florals.
Some years they’re bigger than others and you can get floral shoes, bags, hair bows, pants and socks. Other years they potter around in the background of fashion and feature only on the ubiquitous floral summer frock.
They’re described as bold, ditsy, fresh, watercolour, but however you describe them I always love some florals in the Summer. I know people who shy away, feeling they’re a bit girly and frivolous, but to me they always scream Rock n Roll.
Back in the mid 90s I remember flicking through a fashion magazine and finding a picture of a model wearing a button through ditsy floral dress and biker boots. The dress was half unbuttoned and she was sat on the step of what appeared to be an American desert gas station holding a bottle in a paper bag. She looked achingly cool and for the rest of the Summer I thought of that picture every time I got dressed, that and Alicia Silverstone in the Aerosmith Cryin’ Video.
It summed up every thing that I love about the floral print, that it’s so unashamedly girly but so easily subverted by simple accessories.
So to make florals work for any occasion, here’s how I’d work it for Work, Rest and Play.
WORK
Working in a smart office environment doesn’t mean giving up all the fun things in your wardrobe. To make florals work keep the print small and steer clear of unnecessary frills and fripperies in the rest of your outfit. Teaming florals with smart tailoring is like the leather and biker boots, it’s a great contrast of masculine and feminine.
REST
This is my nod to my mid 90s Rock Chick fantasy’s. Perfect for festivals, or going on the run across the American desert in an open topped car. The Jack Daniels is an unforgettable accessory as is a lazy rock n roll sneer and a bad attitude.
PLAY
Florals lend themselves to Weddings and garden parties without the slightest hesitation, but if you’re going for a more evening look then darker shades and bolder colours are your friends.
This dress is vintage 1980s with a gorgeous waterfall detail on the front and those all important shoulder pads. It looks great with patent accessories. I love the pink shoes as they pick up on the slight touch of pink in the dress without being too matchy matchy.
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I love florals in the summer too, but I also don’t like to go floral crazy, I usually add just one floral accent, like a skirt, or dress. I’m also loving floral accessories, I just found some beautiful floral accessories on laviecherie.com