Katie Trotter: The proper ways to wear florals

Florals for spring; not exactly a revolution by all accounts, but they are the true winner of the spring-summer 2014 collections. Not just any florals, mind you – the new florals offer a real departure from last season’s optical prints. It’s easy to fall into the English tea party category, but this season is a decidedly sophisticated one. There were 3D applications and hand-painted florals on offer, as well as tattoo blooms. From Burberry to Dior and Erdem to Jonathon Saunders, there is an abundance of choice, and all simple enough to mass produce quickly enough for the high street to get its mitts on.

There is, of course a big difference between feminine and girly; what we are aiming for are bold, high-octane florals (loud without shouting) especially when anchored with heavy black accents. But if girly patterns are out, where do we look to?

Florals tend to scare us a little. There is a sickly sweetness that turns away those who like to be taken a little more seriously. That need not be so; we simply need to learn how to toughen up accessories and add structure to our layering to de-feminise.

Colour-wise, stick to muted tones of soft greys, mustards, blues and pinks, and offset with black or navy blues to keep a modern hue. If committing to an all-over, floral-embellished piece is enough to make you recoil, focus on a bold detail used within your outfit – a flash of a floral pocket or collar can be equally exciting as working the trend from head to toe. Most of us don’t feel particularly comfortable with all-out florals, so rather than going from head-to-toe, go for separates and play with layering. Think eclectic without the madness; bright but not garish.

Accessories are what we need to put our efforts into, so make sure to follow the Golden Rule of less is more. Look to unique pieces of jewellery, such as strong, sharp pieces of silver, and avoid anything delicate, especially anything with texture or shine as it will only clutter an already busy look. Anything studded will help sharpen things, as will dark tights in an opposite colour of the spectrum.

If you have a tall frame, opt for prints with a mixed palette of colours to try to break up the line- placement prints; also, prints that have a specific location on the garment should be your go-to. For a more curvy frame, opt for a floral print that draws the eye inward – for example, a print that runs down the centre of a dress or skirt will work at drawing the eye away from the hip area and into the centre.

For a petite frame, go for a smaller print so as not to overwhelm your frame – there is a risk of getting lost in a bold print, so keep to a finer print and pair it with neutral accessories. Avoid wearing broad belts, as they divide the frame, making you appear smaller.

Previously we have had to deal with accessories to create the illusion of shape – belts to define a waistline long ignored or shoulder pads to add definition and create balance. Yet florals can do the job for us if we use them cleverly. Not to mention, while the rest of the world shivers and sniffles, for us, the sun (as always) is shining. This is our time, so revel in the glory; while spring florals are hard to pull off in the wind and rain, they are positively carefree in the warm winds we get here.

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