Spring 2022 runways were bursting with blooms. From left to right, a frothy floral maxi from Rebecca Cohen of Love Shack Fancy, a chiffon-trimmed floral-embroidered midi skirt with a pointelle knit cardigan by Markarian’s Alexandra O’Neill and an Edwardian garden party dress from Erdem Moralioglu of Erdem.
By Janet Kelly
EVERYTHING’S coming up roses and daffodils (sorry, Steph), not to mention all kinds of other pretty posies. There’s nothing new about floral prints this time of year, but for spring 2022, blooms in all shapes and colors are popping up more than ever on dresses and skirts, blouses and jackets, even workout clothing.
Some, like fashion bible WWD, call it the Bridgerton effect: “the second season continued the first’s penchant for opulent attire, with characters dressed in floral prints and floral embroidered dresses ….” And viewers took note— searches for floral prints increased by almost 150 percent since the show’s premiere at the end of March.
Then, there’s the appeal of flowers themselves, which make us happy by triggering dopamine in the brain. Who isn’t delighted by the look and smell of flowers?
Couple that with the powering down of the pandemic and no wonder designers, including Alexandra O’Neill at Markarian, Rebecca Cohen at Love Shack Fancy and Erdem Moralioglu at Erdem, jumped on the florals-for-spring bandwagon.
That said, wearing florals can be tricky—and aging. Keep it simple–avoid extras like floppy bows and such. Pare back a floral shirt with black jeans. Keep in mind that sometimes a posy is better than a giant bouquet.
Below, on our radar:
LEFT: Joie’s Rosalind silk blouse with a poppy print is not for the floral bashful. But it looks so light, airy and feminine, not to mention comfortable with those caress-the-elbow wide sleeves. Let it take center stage—by keeping the rest of your outfit to a minimum. No big earrings, please. It sells for $278 at Nordstrom.
RIGHT: Talk about dopamine effect. Even the cloudiest day can’t suppress the spirit of Johnny Was’s floral-embroidered tunic (reduced from $348 to $261 at Neiman Marcus). Drop shoulders and a loose fit add up to a laid-back look for a summer CYA top to wear over slim white jeans or the coordinating Mariposa embroidered linen cargo pant, reduced from $205 to $153.75, also at Neiman Marcus.
LEFT: It’s not a wrap and looks a lot like a Carolina Herrera. With a punchy pink floral motif, Diane von Furstenberg’s cotton midi dress ($418, Mytheresa) with a waist-accentuating belt and elbow-length billowy sleeves gives you that go-to option for many a spring occasion (afternoon wedding in the garden, Mother’s Day lunch, for example).
RIGHT: It was 80 degrees yesterday and it’s 54 today in my corner of the East Coast. Ulla Johnson’s Elettra soft quilted jacket with unpredictable floral patterns is an artful solution to fickle weather. In addition to the tie at the neck, there’s a hidden zipper that keeps this cute jacket closed in case of cool summer nights. Wear the boxy silhouette with high-waisted pants. It’s $595 at Farfetch.
LEFT: A splash of flowers on a dark blue and eggplant background takes Anthropologie’s v-neck top ($98) out of the sweet zone. It will perk up a casual pair of khakis or jeans.
ABOVE RIGHT: In case you didn’t get enough umbrella choices for rainy spring weather, here’s another from the Rifle Paper Company, which, known for its stationery, whimsical wallpaper and rugs, has expanded into rain gear punctuated by bright blooms and berries. Strawberry Fields, one of six patterns, opens at the push of a button and closes to a compact size. It’s $38.
BELOW RIGHT: The daisy-shaped brooch Georg Jensen designed as a gift to the Danish royal family to mark the birth of the princess Margrethe in 1940, evolved into rings, earrings, bracelets and necklaces that became common gifts in Denmark. On May 9, in collaboration with Copenhagen-based fashion designer Stine Goya, the Daisy collection reboots with a contemporary makeover: refined shapes are crafted in sterling silver and hand-painted with enamel in fresh hues of mint, lavender, light lemon sorbet. These earrings are $215. And, by the way, there’s a QR code on the site you can scan to try them on.
LEFT: Small-scale pops of red, pink and purple cheerily bloom on this midi Hillside Skirt with wide hem and smocked elastic waist. Wear with a T-shirt or a slouchy knit top and sneakers. Did we mentioned the skirt is lined? It’s reduced to $206.50 at Shopbop.
RIGHT: My workout clothes consist of tired T-shirts and old black leggings. Could these Sweaty Betty Power full-length daisy-print leggings inspire me to power up my gym sessions, inspire me to focus in my tennis clinics? Couldn’t hurt, right? I do love the brand’s bum-sculpting stretchy fabric and that these leggings have two pockets.
LEFT: Such a pretty Liberty of London print, with blooms kept in check with navy piping. The quilted cotton jacket, filled with PrimaLoft, a down alternative, slips under warmer coats when the weather demands more layers. Take 25% off the $368 price with code SHOPSPRING at J. Crew.
RIGHT: Girlish but not too girly, &Other Stories’s feminine frock (in blue or green, $129) is not your typical-looking shirt dress, thanks to a small collar, shirred sleeves and flirty tiered hem. Throw a black leather jacket over it if it feels too prissy.
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Ahhh, love the bright spring flowers. Will keep my eye out.