FLOWER POWER
If you haven’t yet snagged one of these pieces so late in the season, you’re probably safe looking to the more subtle varieties, to hide away for spring/summer ’06. Yah, yah, I know, floral prints bloom every spring, but designers really went crazy this year – floral prints have been showing up on everything from headbands to footwear, and patterns have been intriguingly paired with each other and other prints (usually a big no-no). All this ultra feminine floral-age is solidifying fashion’s stance on the newest ‘new look’ - sweet, feminine, and a little conservative.
FLORAL STRATEGY
Drag those floral pieces out of your wardrobe and/or hit the summer sale racks and let’s figure out how to wear these flowers with some panache. This can be tricky to pull off if you don’t invest a little thought – there’s a fine line between feminine floral chic and Aunt Esmerelda’s English country tearoom all over your outfit.
I’d say that there are two surefire ways to safely pull off the floral look, while still displaying a fashionable edge.
Look one: pair a floral print with a matching or even complementary print, like a red and white checked dress with a red, yellow, and orange floral jacket with red shoes.
Look two: try a flouncy, flowery skirt with a solid-color top and floral print that picks up at least two of the skirt colors with patterns that complement each other – not match or clash. If you’re on the curvy side, stick to small, sweet floral prints.
NOT YOUR POWER SUIT
The aforementioned floral is a very sweet, innocent, feminine print – it’s not great for invoking an aura of power & strength. However, guys generally love this look on women because it creates the illusion of those sweet qualities. They don’t need to know the truth until after the twelfth date =).
WHERE TO FIND THESE CLOAKS OF SWEETNESS
Shoes:
Transit, Jeanne Lottie, 9 West, Dior, Hilfiger, Bergdorf Goodman, Liz Claiborne
Purses:
Tara Jarmon, Miu Miu, 9 West, Old Navy, Burberry
Clothing:
Old Navy, Burberry (large selection), Fornarina, Banana Republic, Carbon Orchid, Arden B, Liz Claiborne, Suzy Shier, Paul Smith, Roberto Cavalli, Rampage Clothing (also excellent selection).
Well, I won’t get all flowery in my sign-off – I’ll just go shopping instead.
