It’s one print that never really goes out of fashion; it always lurks in some dark corner of the wardrobe — as a scarf, sari, blouse, skirt, flip flop or even a pyjama. Florals are a springtime given; almost every Spring Summer collection on the runway is bound to feature the print.
Once considered the domain of the ultra feminine, the print has now found its way into the wardrobes of powerful women such as Michelle Obama and Jenna Lyons, who make a statement with well-cut floral dresses, pants and blouses.
“Florals have always been ultra-feminine, and what the world and women have come to realise is that being feminine is powerful. It makes you stand out in style. We also have to look at the women flaunting them — Michelle Obama, being the U.S. First Lady is expected to scream elegance while also looking hugely successful. So, well-cut floral dresses are her go-to. Jenna Lyons, credited as America’s most successful and fashionable manager, is expected to be stylish and feminine, but still have a ‘look’ that sees her being taken seriously. So, we see her wearing a lot of floral pants and blazers,” says Vishakha Singh, founder and CEO of Red Polka.
While florals remain a wardrobe staple year after year, it’s all too easy to go wrong with them or get stuck by rehashing old petal-strewn outfits.
It’s time to shake things up a bit; take them out of the traditional niche they’ve been stashed into and give them a new spin — one with more verve.
Go from flaunting the same old ditsy printed sundress to flaunting a bold floral blouse for that all-important business meeting, throw on a well-cut jacket and a cuff to give it a more formal look and you’re set. And, it’s a look one can easily carry from AM to PM.
Ruling the runways
“Runway trends have been celebrating dark florals. It’s no longer about feminine pastel shades, but about luxurious dark shades. It’s a great Autumn/Winter look. As is the norm, trends usually take time to trickle down to the retail sector in India. Though dark florals came out a while ago, it’s now that you see them on clothes racks, especially in High Street fashion stores such as Vero Moda, Only, Superdry or Promod,” says Mayola Almeida, stylist at Style Cracker, who was at Phoenix MarketCity as part of its Glam’d Up Wednesday this month. True to her word, dark floral dresses and blouses feature prominently at most High Street stores this season.
So, while dark florals might be the go-to trend this season, those looking for a subtler look can choose the classic pastels. “The good thing about florals is that they can be styled depending on the print — you can either be loud and carry off bold prints, or opt for smaller prints in English colours if you’re the subtle fashionista. For instance, florals paired with denims or chambray look rather nice. A well-cut floral cotton blouse is also a nice touch to any outfit,” says designer Rippii Sethi. If it’s a day look you want, then, a dress in either georgette or chiffon might be a good idea. “If you are really experimental, you could even team florals with another print; say stripes, for instance. But, you do have to know what works and be aware of your body type,” she says.
Reinvent the print
Given that the print has been a wardrobe staple for eons now, it is rather easy to look outdated. But there are ways to jazz up the look. “Florals do run the risk of looking slightly outdated. A way to avoid this is to opt for modern cuts and accessories. Slipping on a leather jacket over a floral dress will have you mixing up two very different looks that come together beautifully. You can also opt for modern-looking prints — for example, Michelle Obama recently wore a beautiful graphic, floral printed dress. Apart from that, opting for flirty, fun cuts is another sure-fire way to look feminine in your florals, while not looking outdated,” says Vishakha.
Or, you could go the Amal Clooney way and don a classic lace floral dress with an asymmetrical and shorter hem. According to Mayola, “The cool part is that florals can be worn in different ways. An off-shoulder floral crop top, for instance, can be teamed with a skater skirt. But, for someone with an edgier sense of fashion, it will work great with, say, distressed boyfriend jeans and sneakers. Or, you could pair it with a pencil skirt and carry a nice tote for a sophisticated look. It really depends on one’s personality.”
For all occasions
Besides, the print is rather versatile and works across industries and occasions — from fashion and entertainment to corporate to holiday looks. “And, if you don’t want to go all floral, simply throw on a floral jacket over an otherwise simple outfit to stand out instantly. A floral scarf around the neck is a rather nice touch too, to any ensemble,” suggests Vishakha.
Pallavi Ruhail, the brain behind the That Delhi Girl fashion blog, says, “A floral shirt with a pant suit or formal skirt is an excellent way to perk up work wear. You don’t always have to stick to block colours to be a power dresser. Or, you could simply wear a plain pantsuit and team it with floral pumps; it’s nice for a business meeting.” And whoever said a woman in florals can’t be taken seriously couldn’t be more wrong. “Look at Kareena Kapoor in Ki & Ka . She plays a woman on top of her corporate game and dresses in funky prints and florals, while ensuring that though she looked feminine, she also made her point,” says Mayola.
Indian wear
While florals continue to rule the world of fashion in terms of Western outfits, they’re working their charm even in Indian ethnic wear. Take, for instance, the works of designers such as Anushree Reddy and Ridhi Mehra, who’ve prominently been featuring the print in their collections of anarkalis and lehengas. “A plain choli teamed with a lovely floral lehenga gives you an edge when it comes to dressing in Indian wear. More and more people are opting out of heavily-embellished ethnic wear and choosing florals with lighter embellishments. So, no more zaris and velvets, but pastel shades with a floral print — which is a great way to make a statement at that wedding you’re attending,” says Pallavi.
Body types
The print is rather versatile, and according to designers, looks good on women of any size or shape. Vishakha says, “We have seen curvier women such as Michelle Obama and Mindy Kaling own floral designs, while slimmer ones such as Kate Middleton and our very own Priyanka Chopra flaunt them with equal ease. The key is to opt for different cuts and styles that suit one’s body shape.”
Easiest faux pas
“Florals are easy to overdo — one of the biggest fashion faux pas that can spoil a floral look is if you end up looking like a bit of a garden yourself. When opting for florals, ensure subtlety and mix and match within florals. Recently, Sarah Jessica Parker went all floral at the CLIO Image Awards, opting for a royal blue dress with a floral print of the same colour, while layering it with a more eye-catching black-and-white floral coat. She looked stylish-classy,” says Vishakha.
