Floral prints have never been in more abundant bloom than right now on the fashion scene. Just like their real life counterparts, they bloom at different times of the year, in all sizes shapes and colors. Some people love roses, some tulips, and yet others daisies. Some people are intimidated by the idea of floral prints and fabrics in general.  That’s because they don’t realize that there is a floral print, color and fabrication for everyone - just like the pretty posies in nature. Let’s explore the floral trend from prairie boho, to bold graphic blooms and everything in between. Personally, the first floral fabric that I can remember liking was a sheer cotton voile a-line shift dress my mom made for wearing on special occasions. The chiffon print had bursts of orange, blue and white impressionistic- daisy flowers that stood out on a brown background. The body was lined with beige cotton and the arms left sheer. She wore orange-patent leather pointy heels with it that really popped with the print. I guess that is what you could call flower power!

Prim prairie prints are floral fabrics that have a tiny pattern. From a distance they almost look more like a textured neutral than a pattern. What’s great about these floral prints is that they do evoke the hippie aesthetic without hitting you over the head with their presence. This is a great starter floral for exploring the boho side of fashion with a day dress, blouse, or scarf that will fit right into your current wardrobe with little fuss.

Botanical floral prints look like line drawings that have been sketched on the fabric. They can look modern when done in black and white, or more traditional when softly shaded with color - like a botanical illustration. This is a good go-to floral for a lot of people if done as a camp shirt, slacks or shirtwaist dress.

Impressionist floral fabric is that which resembles a Renoir, Monet or other painting styles of that era. Soft approximations of flowers mingle with bold colors to create a painterly print for all sorts of fashion designs. Easy-to-wear and interesting to accessorize because it occupies a floral garden all its own, and has a romantic yet bold feeling.

Romantic rose prints always remind me of the movie “Pretty in Pink” in the 80’s when lots of girls wore their flowers like Molly Ringwald did on her vest, pocket square and decorated hat. I think this lovely layered look will make a comeback.

Psychedelic 60’s floral were the expression of the pop art explosion that coincided with bold fashion and rock-and-roll music of that era. Not afraid to speak volumes for the wearer, there are many prints that still hold up today, but can look like a costume if not utilized in a great simple design like a sheath or a-line dress.

The ultimate bold floral is the mega-modern Finnish design company Marimekko, whose use of the floral motif in the 1960’s helped change the way we looked at floral prints. The skillfully designed fabric has always been considered art in and of itself. Some of these large bright and simple prints are still manufactured to this day and made into housewares as well as garments.

As always, the simplest way to explore any trend in fashion is to see what catches your eye on any given day at your local Goodwill Store & Donation Center. Pick some items for your fashion bouquet, and support our mission to help those in need bloom.