As the age-old adage states, “April showers bring May flowers.” But, what that statement really means is that it’s time, once again, to check out all the floral fashions. Anyone can wear a great floral pattern at any time of the calendar year, but spring and summer is when we must pay attention to the use of floral prints in your wardrobe. Year after year we talk about floral patterns in fashion-trend reporting, and just like their horticultural counterparts, there are literally hundreds of variations which can inspire and refresh your viewpoint on this topic. At the spring and summer runway shows at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in NYC, we saw some interesting examples of this yearly trend as they blossomed into reality. From mild to wild, the choice is yours, so pick a posie and let the style bouquet begin!

Speaking of mild, Fashion Designer, Dennis Basso went for a totally muted collection for spring and summer featuring soft pastel tones which moved more to the neutral side of the color spectrum. For example, the brightest piece in his flower-garden-of-style was this strapless dress embellished with soft-yellow floral appliqués floating on an ivory background. On another note, this second look from the collection was done with a very muted, almost 1980s print with long, blouson sleeves and simple tunic styling. As a counterbalance to all the bright colors of spring and summer, these outfits give us just a whisper of high-fashion floral style.

Nicole Miller is a designer who marries trends seamlessly. Take, for example, the look of the slim pants and cropped top of this ensemble topped by a white linen blazer. The balance of tones here are very sophisticated, and the pops of black make it feel contemporary. Her second look from the show utilizes the same floral print, but has a high-waist flowing skirt matched with a sleeveless crop top giving us just a hint of skin in all the right ways. These ensembles are a perfect example of how to do the cut-out and cropped trend while still remaining classy. The shoes here would be the perfect floral accessory for a gal who doesn’t want to go all-in on a dress, slacks or top!

Remember the blue-and-white Delft China dishes your grandma had? That is exactly what this blue-and-white print from designer Lela Rose reminded me of. The shorts and the tunic top could be worn separately, but together they come across as polished and feminine. Another trend for the season is metallic treatments. This cocktail dress featuring metallic embroidered flowers cascading from the bodice onto the skirt, was a stunning example of combining trends into one garment. This is a dress, and a look, that’ll definitely get you noticed this spring and summer in all the right ways!

Sometimes bold is the way to go with your floral choices. Carolina Herrera is known for her classy, ladylike designs. Her take on oversized floral prints also hit just the right notes. Black and white is always out of sight when the focus is just a single graphic print flower like this one placed asymmetrically on a tunic-style dress. This isn’t for everyone, but it is a simple way to make a big statement!  Another look from her collection featured a floral graphic print pant with a high yoke on the waist line. It’s the perfect item to wear with a cropped trapeze top, like this one in stunning red. This is a good way to do bright, but not vulgar in any way, shape, or form. The slacks could just as easily be paired with a t-shirt, or tank top to dress them down.   

Now is the time for you to start picking some fashionable flowers for your wardrobe at one of our Goodwill stores. Just keep in mind, the floral pattern should be the focal point of your outfit. You’ll know in a moment if you find a floral that works for you, so try on a few until your style bouquet is just right. While you’re tending to your wardrobe for spring and summer, how about pruning and weeding your closet of gently-used fashion items you can donate at one of our convenient locations? Then you’ll really be ready to plant some new fashion ideas, all while supporting our mission of job training for those who need it. So what are you waiting for? Get growing!