Even if there’s no trace of nature in Bangkok outside the parameters of Lumpini Park, you can find a little bit of bloom in the shopping malls this season. Thanks to the fashion world’s penchant for feminine this spring, florals are back. In a big way.
Nothing says spring wardrobe like flowers do. And while much of the fashion world has to wait for the chill of winter to pass before they dare step out in a pansy print, here in Bangkok we can rock the look right now. And the great news is, whether you like your florals wispy and whimsical or big and bold, there’s a look you can work.
Think florals equal chintzy tea party frocks? Think again. This year’s hottest prints were gutsy and graphic and worked just as well on figure-hugging suits and form-fitting trousers with sex appeal as they did on jumpsuits and dresses. Peter Som showcased the graphic look best, in contrasting cobalt blues and acid orange, while Mary Katranzou opted for large floral prints in eye-wateringly bright, colour blocks.
But, if you can’t see yourself strutting into the office in something as daring as Prabul Garung’s satin purple floral trousers (not a look for fashion-fearing *ahem* wallflowers), perhaps you can opt for spring’s more wearable nods to the trend. Christopher Kane, London’s king of digital prints, offered a seductive range of sheer chiffon slip dresses embellished with a collage of pansies, daisies, gerberas and roses; Erdem opted for tailored shirts punctuated by tiny blooms, while Blugirl went for floral overload, sending models down the runway in printed shoes and dress, accessorised with floral bracelet and necklace. Who says you can have too much of a good thing?
The secret to making this season’s floral trend work is to give your look an element of surprise; wear the print on a well-tailored suit, or wear it from head-to-toe or wear it in vivid tones that’ll threaten to burn the retinas of anyone who dares to look directly at it.
If all that has you terrified of donning anything even resembling a petal, the good news is you don’t have to make a spectacle of yourself in order to be on trend. Thankfully, the look has trickled onto the high street in a much more wearable form; think bold blooms in muted colours or more unusual florals; choose daffodil prints over rose, or pick up a floral fascinator to update your formal wear (both seen at Oscar de la Renta this season).
In fact, as long as you steer clear of garden party granny chic (the rule of thumb is that if it looks as though it would make a nice wallpaper, leave it on the hanger), the look is easy to nail.
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Bangkok Fabulous: Where Gaby Doman explores fashion and beauty in the Big Mango.
If it’s hot, it’s here. And it’s hot in here.
