As fictional The Devil Wears Prada editor Miranda Priestly infamously declared, florals for spring are not “groundbreaking”. The recent release of the sequel catapulted memes of this quote into the digital ether – and its sentiment still stands some decades on. But that’s not to say florals, in whatever format you choose to wear them – a dress, a floral skirt – should be altogether dismissed.
Floral skirts are arguably easier to incorporate into a wardrobe than a petal-swathed dress. Less in your face because you’re not clad head-to-toe in blooms, they pair well with tanks and T-shirts, or can be layered over a bikini for a moment in the park or on the beach. A lot lies in the print, and finding a pattern that steers clear of being too whimsical or ditsy is difficult to find – so too, flattering silhouettes that feel contemporary rather than retro.
There isn’t really a definitive answer as to what discerns a great floral print from a garish one, since there’s so much variation on the type of flower, sizing, proportions, layout and colour combinations, but it’s best to follow gut feeling or instinct. If it looks “too much”, it probably is. (A print that makes for a striking wallpaper unlikely lends well to wearing on the Tube.)
Featured in this article
Fabric is another clincher: more rigid materials can lean into curtain territory, while anything too gossamer-thin might run the risk of flashing what’s beneath – which is, of course, fine, if it’s intentional. The length is also important, as you want to ensure there’s the perfect balance between how much print and/or leg is on show.
Scroll on for some of the best available now.
