30 Ways To Wear Spring 2014’s Bold and Adventurous Floral Prints
When you’re bundled up, wearing two and three layers of clothing, keeping your perfect mani hidden inside gloves and your expensive highlights tucked inside berets and ski caps, all while braving brisk and often brutal wind gusts and trudging through icy and slushy streets and sidewalks, there’s nothing quite like the thought of spring. Images of spring — of grass sprouting up from the ground, leaves reappearing on trees, and skies becoming bluer, of families having picnics under cherry blossom trees, of little girls strolling with their moms wearing pastel dresses and ribbons in their hair, of birds chirping outside the windowsill — are enough to keep one going during these seemingly endless winter months, reminding us that this season will end and warmth will be restored.
But before the camellias, pansies, daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, peonies, and lilacs start reemerge, fashion designers are planting their very own flower gardens via the cheerful and romantic prints on their garments. Some trends come and go, but floral prints are always a must for spring. But while the motif remains unchanged, designers’ interpretations of this concept, how they approach their depictions of blossoms, changes from year to year.
As someone who prefers bolder, edgier fashion, I tend to eschew anything too dainty and cutesy, so I’m often frustrated by the fragility of the floral prints I encounter. So it was with great enthusiasm that I encountered Spring 2014’s adventurous floral prints. This season, we’ll find oversize tropical blossoms in striking colors, artsy renditions that nod to the Impressionist era, digital prints that feel positively surreal, blossoms juxtaposed against geometric or nautical motifs for a collage-like feel, kaleidoscopic and mirrored petal images, tattoo-inspired rose prints and nostalgic florals reminiscent of 1950s Cuba, monochromatic floral renditions that nod to the black-and-white trend that’s continuing strong for Spring 2014, and more.
Below, check out some of the floral print fashions and accessories you’ll want in your closet this coming spring!
Ted Baker London Monny Rose on Canvas Print Skirt, $248. Available at TedBaker-London.com
Prabal Gurung Pansy Print Satin Blouse, $1350. Available at Nordstrom.com
Mary Katrantzou Strapless Rose Dress, $2580 . Available at KirnaZabete.com
MSGM Floral Print Bomber Jacket, $665. Available at Nordstrom.com
Jimmy Choo Sara Medium Orchid-Print Tote Bag, $1095. Available at BergdorfGoodman.com
Erdem Side Stripe Pant, $1370. Available at KirnaZabete.com
Clover Canyon Cuban Cigar Top, $246. Available at CloverCanyon.com
Cult Gaia Perry Turband, $48. Available at CultGaia.Goodsie.com
Mango Floral Print Blouse, $59.99. Available at Shop.Mango.com
Milly NY Pouf Dress, $435. Available at MillyNY.com
Marni Floral-Print PVC Shopping Bag, $340. Available at BergdorfGoodman.com
H&M Floral Print Jersey Skirt, $24.95. Available exclusively at HM.com
Suno Seamed Mini Dress, $595. Available at ShopLesNouvelles.com
Zimmerman Floral Printed Sneakers, $275. Available at Fancy.com
Oscar de la Renta Floral Halter Neck Dress, $2990. Available at OscardelaRenta.com
Topshop Hawaii Playsuit, $130. Available at US.Topshop.com
Tory Burch Izzy Ankle Skinny Pants, $250. Available at ToryBurch.com
Jeffrey Campbell Giula Platform Sandals. Available at NastyGal.com
Gap Floral Print Bomber Jacket, $98. Available at Gap.com
Rebecca Minkoff Della Skirt, $248. Available at RebeccaMinkoff.com
Ted Baker London Tazzmyn Tangled Floral Printed Tunic, $275. Available at TedBaker-London.com
Just Cavalli Romantic Nature Print Jacket, $860. Available at NeimanMarcus.com
Forever 21 Pretty Tough Floral High-Top Sneakers, $29.80. Available at Forever21.com
Haute Hippie Dream Floral Print Drawstring Pants, $395. Available at NeimanMarcus.com
Adam Lippes Printed Silk Chevron Blouse, $630. Available at SaksFifthAvenue.com
BCBGMAXAZRIA Tess Striped Moto Jacket, $398. Available at BCBG.com
Oscar de la Renta Large Resin Rose Earrings, $285. Available at OscardelaRenta.com
Topshop Satin Floral Hooded Bomber, $120. Available at US.Topshop.com
Prada Cap Toe Sneaker, $490. Available at Nordstrom.com
BCBGMAXAZRIA Ellena Luxe Floral Jacquard Dress, $248. Available at BCBG.com