Florals are an annual source of joy – both in the gardener’s world and in fashion’s. Who doesn’t love to put on a flowery print just as the daffodils spring up? The burst of colour shooting through an all-dark wardrobe is as needed at this point as it is in the sodden ground.
Designers were “over” florals for a few years. The oversaturation of the midi dress and trainers look prompted a pruning from the collections, in favour of sharper silhouettes and muted colours. Indeed, any hangovers from that period (especially wallpaper or blousy floral motifs) should still be weeded out from the wardrobe this spring, and saved for a different revival. Take particular aim to clip out common rose-print prom dresses by Ted Baker or Coast – there are so many interesting alternatives to try this wedding season.
Florals really can feel fresh again. Cyclamen flowers were woven through Dior’s latest couture show, while pond lilies inspired its new ready-to-wear. Erdem took on tulips, Simone Rocha poppies.
From blooming earrings to corsage shoes, these are the best of the bunch to buy.
The outline floral
Illustrated prints, on large or small scales, are both pretty and bold. “Offbeat florals move a style away from something overtly pretty or predictable,” says Lesleigh Jermanus, founder of the Australian label Alemais. Her “Alfie” silk shirt-and-trousers co-ord would make for a chic occasion-wear update. “This floral is still feminine but a little unexpected with the almost athletic stripe. The magic is in the contrast.” On knits, the effect also works well as intarsias or embroideries.
The burst earrings
Is it a flower or is it a firework? On the Chanel catwalk, designer Matthieu Blazy topped most looks with a pair of showstopper earrings. On the high street, H&M has a vast offering of enormous flowery perspex earrings, with prices starting at just £6.
The corsage shoes
To turn any plain outfit into something occasion-worthy, just add a pair of flowery shoes. Corsages and rosettes can be subtle and small on stiletto sandals, or the main event on flat sliders such as Simone Rocha’s. For Jessie Randall, founder of Loeffler Randall, floral shoes are “a whimsical conversation starter.”
“I take a lot of inspiration from florals in my work and I love this twist on a floral print,” she says. “Instead it’s a floral sculpture for your feet.”
The ditsy print
From Olivia Dean in Loewe to Alexa Chung in Dior, the It-girl print of choice this spring is the ditsy floral. Like a persistent rebloomer, this motif is back in the sun again after being shaded by the high street when graphic floral midi dresses reached a saturation point. Now find it stamped on to designer denim and simple sandals, which offer a tougher contrast to the sweet micro motif.
The sculptural stem
From Erdem’s signature Bloom bag (as seen here with Glenn Close) with its shaped tulip handle, to Chloé’s climbing calla lily ring, the new power flower is cast in metal. As a piece of jewellery, a sculptural single stem looks unlike anything you might typically find on the high street, and would be something that you reach for in your wardrobe year after year. Just call it a hardy perennial.