this skirt from brooklyn industries manages the impossible – it’s as frilly as can be, but work the look the right way, and this is the ultimate hip spring floral. and it’s on sale for $58.
no question, florals are tricky – and in the spring, you risk looking more laura ashley than kate moss if you play them wrong. but, done right, they’re ideal for the season, and end up looking oh-so-stylish, with that “i just threw this on and look amazing” perfection we’re all seeking.
so, the how to: first, drop the girly quotient from the rest of the ensemble. instead of pearls, think heavy chains. bare legs will work with a bold shoe, but black tights are even better (with the blue, that is – stay bare with the black skirt). for footwear, my choice is an edgy heel, but heel or flat, stick to black or a bold, bright and non-matching color. red or hot pink with these cool floral skirts, for example, would be fantastic. layer a couple of tanks or tees, and pair the whole thing with a blazer or a menswear vest (not a cardigan, unless it’s very oversized and a neutral shade) – maybe even a plaid or striped scarf to top things off. let your inner tomboy/rocker chick come out to play when you don flowers, and the end result will be stunning.
check out this fantastic piece from whowhatwear with even more ideas for updating a floral. incidentally, these ideas are also a great way to do the old “shop your closet” bit – you should be able to unearth a floral skirt or two from the ’90s, no?
