Floral Print for Hard Femmes
Floral can be tough.
I remember a time when I wondered if I would ever wear anything with a flower ever again. It *sooo* didn’t work with my all-black wardrobe of solid knits. Of course, this was before – probably just before – the 90s floral resurgence we’re seeing now.
And before I learned my #1 Fashion Rule: anything I think I will never wear is exactly what I’ll fixate on in about six months. Never say never. I don’t believe in absolute rules about clothes.
Pauliina from Hel-Looks is into "witch-like styles with many contrasts." Me too!
It’s taken some experimentation but I’ve figured out two things that work for me in terms of mixing floral with my summertime goth aesthetic. Those are dark backgrounds and floral-on-floral. I’ve been calling this “print blocking” and I love the way it hardens and complicates the sweet, innocent (and sometimes unsophisticated) impression that florals are known for.
Guy Bourdin - thanks Julia for posting this.
Teacup bracelets by StayGoldMaryRose
The outfit that the person on the left is wearing in this photo is just absolutely perfect. Floral pants and collar, knit sweater, leather jacket, bowl cut, leopard shoes.
DIY floral ice cubes from Martha Stewart. Throw some gin up in there and let's party.
Crowd shot from the LV menswear collection from Paris fashion week. Love that her hair matches the flowers on her skirt. Click through to see more shots of this outfit - the shoes!
Colour blocking should be done. Pattern blocking should be next. Stockholm Street style.
Head to toe geometric floral suit with a print purse? That's some hard femme shit.
WHAT HOLY FUCK THOSE TEA CUP BRACELETS ARE BLOWING MY MIND! awesome post as always iris.
I’m also blown away by the gorgeous teacup bracelets…I’d probably break them in a matter of seconds though, lol.
Can I just say that you should have blogged many many eons ago?? I am in love with your blog and everything you blog about. You’re great Iris
Haha I am new to blogging on wordpress but I think I’ve had a blog since I was 13 or so… half my life! Those were, you know, livejournals, tho. It means a lot that people are liking this blog!
Perfect for this hard femme deluxe queen.
totally inspired, iris.
i bought my first floral dress in scotland winter 2010.
http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/25012_575841697652_119101304_34583997_6114371_n.jpg
that is also when i bought my first sequin dress.
i was travelling abroad alone for the first time, and at the end of two weeks, i was feeling seriously unbalanced but totally empowered.
also part of the ‘my entire wardrobe is black/grey fuck off’ mentality, i actually said to myself in the changeroom, “WHY SHOULDN’T I WEAR FLORAL” “WHY CAN’T I WEAR SEQUINS”
when my life fell apart that summer, i swear these exact dresses were part of why i survived. since then, i’ve accumulated multiple floral and sequin dresses, the most recent floral acquisition has almost no black in it at all. it’s a process.
I don’t know what it means that I’m just like, “ONLY BLACK AND FLORAL BUT ONLY FLORAL WITH BLACK BACKGROUNDS” but, that’s just home for me I guess.
I totally do get it about feeling good about your clothes/outfit choices being a good indicator/instigator of greater temperamental changes.
um. cuz obviously black and floral is actually the best. (i have four black dresses with roses on them now…yup. one for each season.) i wanna make you something floral. we should do some online fabric shopping.
SO inspiring! I’ve been thinking about adding floral things to my (still mostly grey and black) wardrobe, in conjunction with another wardrobe goal, which is more self-made stuff. I dunno if I am brave enough to wear floaty dresses in these prints, but maybe?
awesome! i almost pooped a couple times. seriously, the bowl cut +pants+ shoes+ sweater… wow.
Katie, I am holding on to a pair of floral bike shorts for you at Sympathy! They’re supposed to go out this week but you know… blog friends get priority. Size small. Come see!