Moody Floral Prints Make Fall Fashions A Torrid, Tempestuous, And Intoxicating Romance

The autumn season has officially commenced and, already, we can see leaves starting to change colors and float down from tree branches, landing atop streets, lawns, and sidewalks where they’ll be raked into piles — veritable mountains that children will beg to jump in with their Wellington boots. While trees are shedding their extravagant spring and summer dresses, fashion designers are beckoning consumers to entertain a never-ending spring by continuing to flaunt floral prints well into autumn and winter. But these are no ordinary blooms — this season’s floral prints are moodier, darker, and more mysterious. The result is a dark romance, an edgy femininity that’s at once glamorous and slightly gothic yet utterly intoxicating.

Check out some of the mysterious flowers we’ll be pushing in the months to come!

Nasty Gal Grow Up Crop Top, $58. Available at NastyGal.com

In addition to nodding to the dark florals trend, this mock neck crop top pays homage to the popular varsity chic looks of the season. This midriff-baring crop top features a ribbed hemline with black, white, and red stripes to give the design a sporty motif, while the black blossoms save as the perfect backdrop for the clusters of red, white, and gray flowers.

YES Belmont Yellow Rose Patent Leather Booties, $159.95. Available at Solestruck.com

These leather booties feature chunky 3″ heels and open fronts that extend from the vamp all the way to the ankle area, with satin laces allowing for a snug fit and creating a bit of a peek-a-boo effect. The floral print, meanwhile, combines unexpectedly harmonious shades of ochre yellow, charcoal gray, violet, and olive green.

Warehouse Enlarged Floral Bandeau Dress,$142. Available at Warehouse.AndOtherBrands.com

This stunning forest green party dress features surreal emerald green, white, cobalt blue, and mint-colored peonies, roses, sunflowers, and chrysanthemum. The strapless frock features a boned corset bodice that gives it structure, while the sweetheart neckline adds a femininity to the design.

Jason Wu Daphne Floral Print Leather Handbag, $2295. Available at NeimanMarcus.com

The shadowy, vintage-feeling, almost steam punk-esque rendition of flowers seen on Jason Wu’s Daphne bag, with its stark emphasis on black and sepia tones, captures the grim yet glam vibe of the season’s prints. This calfskin cross-body bag — measuring 7″ in height, 12″ in width, and 5″ in depth — features rolled tote handles with a 5″ drop and a detachable shoulder strap with a 21″ drop.

Nicole Miller Boyfriend Alternative Top, $220. Available at NicoleMiller.com

What happens when you fuse together this season’s fascination with plaids with the growing emphasis on fall flowers? An effortlessly cool button-down top from Nicole Miller! Made of viscose georgette, this airy black top features white and red lines that create the grid-like pattern associated with plaids and, atop these intersecting lines, scattered roses in pale peach, whitened lavender, orchid-worthy magenta, aubergine, pale pink, olive green, burnt orange, and saffron yellow. The plaid and floral motif aside, the design details — the placement of the flowers atop the semi-sheer fabric, the blossom-free plaid collar, and the way the back panel features only a few blossoms so as to emphasize the see-through quality of the silky fabric — make this top a complete knockout.

Dr. Martens Castel Boot, $134.95. Available at Nordstrom.com

Even combat boots — the most tough-as-nails footwear style — get a feminine makeover this season via vintage florals like those on these lugged-sole Dr. Martens boots.

Milly NY Winter Orchid Print Tea-Length Skirt, $550. Available at NeimanMarcus.com

Whether paired with a long-sleeved silk blouse, a crop top, or a fuzzy sweater with a well-defined waistline, this tea-length skirt adds drama to any ensemble while keeping the look prim and ladylike. The cotton-blend A-like skirt features oversize blooms that look like they were sketched onto the fabric and then splashed with lively pink watercolors.

Clover Canyon Lace Hem Joyce Cami, $225. Available at ScoopNYC.com

Whether paired with a pencil skirt, structured trousers, or just a great pair of jeans, this slinky camisole brings a boudoir-ready sexiness to any ensemble. The camisole fabric has a sapphire color and the print, particularly along the neckline, resembles a crumpled satin sheet, thereby adding to its intrinsic sensuousness, while abstract florals adorn the area below the waist. The scalloped lace hem, meanwhile, softens the look and adds a delicate touch to the cami.

Zara Floral Print Trousers with Elastic Waist, $59.90. Available at Zara.com

Black-and-white prints are not only classic, but incredibly versatile. These relaxed trousers feature an elastic waistline, a drop crotch and a baggy fit along the legs.

Kay Unger Floral Pleated Silk Strapless Gown, $798. Available at Nordstrom.com

Have a gala event on the horizon? Then why not make it a garden party with this glorious, floor-length silk gown? This strapless number features an intricately folded bodice that creates V-shaped effects, a banded waistline, and a full, pleated A-line skirt. The cream and fuchsia blossoms, meanwhile, are perfectly placed on the dark navy-colored gown, so that they seem to climb up from the hemline while also creeping inside the inverted triangular nook created by the folds in the bodice.

A.L.C. Schoolly Floral Top, $396, and A.L.C. Bell Floral Pencil Skirt, $444. Available at ShopLesNouvelles.com

Made of 100% silk and featuring black and green blossoms, these separates will dazzle whether worn together or paired with other wardrobe staples. The long-sleeved top is embellished with black piping along the round collar, down the top of the sleeves, and along the vents at the wrists, while the midi-length skirt features a high waist, a slim fit, and a back slit.

7 For All Mankind The Skinny Contour Jeans in Mystic Floral Print, $198. Available at 7forallmankind.com

Designed to fit like a second skin, these skinny jeans hit right below the ankle, making them all the more perfect for wearing with stiletto pumps. The black gummy sateen, meanwhile, instantly makes these feel dressier than an ordinary pair of jeans while the steely gray blossom print adds a gothic elegance.

Alice + Olivia Oversized Tunic with Mandarin Collar, $348. Available at AliceandOlivia.com

This oversized sheer tunic, featuring a mandarin collar and long cuffed sleeves, is adorned with deep pink velvet roses for a seriously luxurious effect. Wear it atop a black bralette or bustier and pair these with high-waisted pants for a confident and chic look.

Jimmy Choo Sweetie Floral Acrylic & Leather Clutch, $975. Available at SaksFifthAvenue.com

The floral print on this ridged acrylic envelope clutch is reminiscent of the somber yet stunning forest under the rule of the evil Queen Ravenna in the dark fantasy film Snow White and the Huntsmen.

Topshop Blur Rose Midi Skirt, $125. Available at US.Topshop.com

This skirt’s A-line silhouette will prove flattering on many different body types, and the blurry digital blossom print lends it a surreal but stylish sophistication. The center zipper and slit, meanwhile, add the urban edge associated with the Topshop brand.

French Connection Wilderness Bloom Slash Neck Dress, $188. Available at USA.FrenchConnection.com

As if the digital floral print on this frock didn’t feel futuristic enough, the way in which the fabric panels were sewn creates a very modern look by accentuating contrast instead of trying to perfectly line each piece of the print together for a more fluid look. The deliberate chaos creates a brilliant, method-to-the-madness effect.

Oasis V Front V Back Vest, $49. Available at Oasis.AndOtherBrands.com

This loose-fitting top features a V-shaped neckline that’s mirrored along the back for double the fun. The taupe fabric features a lovely print with black leaves and, atop these, ochre and curry yellow roses with shadowy contrasts.

MSGM Pointy Toe Pump, $425. Available at Nordstrom.com

Standing 4 inches tall, these pointy pumps feature an artistic floral print, with the bluish tones in the backdrop creating an aquatic feel, blush pink and chiffon yellow roses infusing romance into the design, and digital techniques creating unexpected effects like ink blot-esque smudges,  painterly streaks, ripple-like splashes, and interesting light and shadow contrasts.

Princess Vera Wang Sheer Pintuck Top, $24.99. Available at Kohls.com

This laid-back, flowing top features a relaxed V-shaped neckline, 3/4-length sleeves with elasticized cuffs that billow ever so slightly, and a rounded high-low hemline that feels contemporary and playful.

Rachel Comey Surveillance Dress, $594. Available at ShopLesNouvelles.com

Perfect for both the office and any after-hours dinner dates, this feminine Rachel Comey dress features a coy asymmetrical angled neckline and ruching along the sides that works to conceal any problem areas along the midriff. The stretchy but luxurious fabric, a 95% silk and 5% spandex blend, will conform to the wearer’s figure so as to fit her like a glove.

Nasty Gal Metal Petal Skirt, $92. Available at NastyGal.com

Featuring sequined floral embellishments, this pencil skirt can be dressed down with a muscle tee and buckled boots or glammed up with sky-high pumps, a fitted blazer, or a yummy cashmere sweater.

H&M Floral Bandeau Dress, $39.95. Available at HM.com

Always on top of the latest trends, retail giant H&M is falling for florals too, stocking its stores with pieces like this fitted dress, made of hunter green woven fabric with a slight sheen and adorned with a dusky floral print. The frock features a bodice with decorative vertical seams meant to create a slimming effect, boning to keep the fabric from puckering or sliding, a flared skirt with plenty of volume, and detachable shoulder straps that allow you to convert your dress into a strapless number.

Rebecca Minkoff Waller Short Vest, $448. Available at RebeccaMinkoff.com

The mohair bodice of this trendy vest features a dark navy blue and blood red rose print for a mysterious but feminine effect, while leather detailing along the collar, front placket, and side pocket openings add a hefty dose of urban cool.

Lucy Paris Floral Print Sweatshirt, $58. Available at Bloomingdales.com

You don’t have to transform into a tomboy in order to try out the sporty fashions of the season! Let your girly flag fly with this Lucy Paris sweatshirt, featuring a dark blossom print along the bodice and solid black sleeves.

River Island Cream Floral Print Boxy Jacket, $110. Available at US.RiverIsland.com

Retro-loving girls will appreciate the nostalgic vibe of the florals on this collarless, cropped blazer, which boasts a boxy fit and features a concealed front zipper.