Floral prints are very feminine. However, they are tricky to style. This guide addresses Dos and Don’ts of floral print attire to look ageless in floral prints.
- Why to Avoid to Look Like a Peer Mom
- Which Blossom Prints Are the Best for Mature Women?
- Which Floral Prints Look Unflattering Over 40?
- What Are the Best Cuts Look for Floral Prints Garments?
- Are There Cuts that Look Unflattering with Floral Prints?
- How to Style Outfits with Floral Prints
- Outfit Inspirations How to Look Ageless in Floral Prints
- When and Where to Wear Florals?
- Conclusions on How to Look Ageless in Floral Prints
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Why to Avoid to Look like a Peer Mom
Looking ageless means not looking Old Lady and not looking like we rioted our (grand)daughter’s closet – aka Peer Mom. To look ageless in floral clothes the print, color, cut, and styling are keys.
Which Blossom Prints Are the Best for Mature Women?
Let’s start with the print. Here is a list of ageless prints:
- Hand-painted abstract blossoms,
- Blossoms that are office appropriate,
- Floral prints in rich gemstone colors like ruby, emerald, sapphire, amethyst, or peridot,
- Classic Hawaiian hibiscus-like pattern,
- Flower pattern in vegetable or mineral colors,
- Abstract flowers.
- Leave- or petal-like prints.
Which Floral Prints Look Unflattering Over 40?
Here is a list of prints that get you into risky territory:
- All Laura Ashley like floral prints
- 60s Mod flowers (Recall – we don’t want to relive our youth/childhood, we are proud of who we are now! We had lived the Flower-Power history actually.)
- Kid flower prints
- Pastel prints (they are for bed sheets and PJs) unless your personal style is Romantic Style.
- Provence florals (they are so 1980s and date us)
- Prairie-prints unless you are an actress in a Western movie or participate in a historic parade celebrating the Gold Rush time in your community
What Are the Best Cuts Look for Floral Print Garments?
When wearing floral prints go for clean, sleek cuts. Minimal details in the cut are key to look stunning. Shirt dresses, sheaths, and wrap dresses are save bets. Sleek gamine style medium size floral print bias cut midi dresses are great for women with small breasts. Also blouses or shirts in a crisp button-down shirt-cut. Classic tank tops are also a good canvas. Try a floral blazer, pencil skirt, scarf, top, tailored blouse, and – when a trend – a floral bomber with a grown-up print. Floral coats, bags and shoes are real statement pieces.
Tip: When you are pear (triangle) shape, avoid any pattern on your hips as they draw attention to where you don’t want it. Determine your body shape with the free tool.
Fit-and-flare dresses can be risky. It requires a print with abstract flowers in bold colors, and knee-length (see next photo) to stay out of girlie territory.
Are There Cuts that Look Unflattering with Floral Prints?
Avoid shift/A-line dresses, anything with ruffles or full skirts (Old Lady alert!), puff sleeves, sweet or girlie that a kid would look cute in, short fit-and-flare dresses with scoop cleavage (peer mom alert!) or short skater skirts (riot alert!). Wide pastel floral prints on pants look like PJs and only work in Alaska.
How to Style Outfits with Floral Prints
Always ground your prints. This means adding accessories in one of the (main) colors of the print. Doing so is easiest when using the print’s background color. In winter, black tights and shoes are a save bet too.
Tip: Let the print be the statement and add sleek, elegant pieces. Avoid anything that makes your outfit look too busy.
Outfit Inspirations How to Look Ageless in Floral Print
The photos below show some more floral print outfit ideas.
When and Where to Wear Floral Prints?
This print is an evergreen that works for almost for all occasions, but Black Tie. You can wear floral prints year round. That’s why they are a celebrity favorite.
And yes, floral prints can look office appropriate.
Conclusions on How to Look Ageless in Floral Prints
Avoid kitschy florals, too close to nature prints. Choose sizes that work with your body frame. Pick the motifs in your color palette, i.e. make sure colors that don’t work for you are avoided or have a very minor role. Make sure the blossoms fit your personal style. …. and always ground your prints.
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Photos: G. Kramm
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