This month my 5 style tips for The Denver Post focused on floral prints and ways of wearing them.  Please click the link and check out the article!  (Then come back here for more, and post your questions and comments!)  And remember to subscribe to The Lefort Style Report blog for style tips!

The Denver Post: “Five tips: How to wear floral prints this summer”

Memorial Day has passed (and yes–now you can officially wear white! ….That’s if you actually adhere to this strict fashion rule of days past.)  So let’s celebrate the warm weather, the gardens blooming around us and the anticipation of summer by infusing our wardrobes with a burst a florals.   Of course for those who are wary of the potentially busy patterns, remember that it doesn’t have to be head to toe in table cloth manner; instead, incorporate printed florals in small amounts that are just enough to freshen up your outfit.  Check out the fashion collage for ideas that you can replicate at home, and read on for the specifics…

If your wardrobe is filled with mostly solids, especially in dark colors, then adding a surge of summer with a fun floral can be just what’s needed for building an interesting outfit, injecting some personality to your look, and even providing a little extra joy to your day.  For example, a sleeveless floral blouse (and even a colorful belt) could be a perfect accompaniment to your business suit while remaining professional.  A floral blouse could also pair nicely with jeans to dress them up for casual Friday or Friday night out.    Additionally, try switching out your solid pencil skirt for a printed cotton sateen pencil skirt in a floral pattern. Then pair your printed skirt with a solid tee and cotton blazer for a chic, stylish warm-weather look.  Add a stylish necklace and closed-toe pumps for a polished, professional look.

 2/ Tone it down

Although floral patterns can be bright, bold and busy, you can easily tone down your floral pattern and über-feminine feeling by adding a little bit of “edge” to your look.  For example, top a floral dress with a cool jacket or vest, that just might channel a bit of rugged, utilitarian or tough-girl attitude.   Think a pinkalicious, petal-patterned floral frock, then throw on a cropped, fitted denim jacket, a motorcycle style jacket, or a lightweight anorak.  Instantly cool!   Or if it’s just too hot for the jacket, try topping your dress with an earth-toned leather belt instead.

3/ Big flowers, small flowers

The scale of the floral pattern should align with the frame of the figure wearing it.   A large floral pattern can overwhelm a petite lady.  A miniature pattern can look too dainty on a woman with a larger frame.  Other factors to consider are the placement of the patterns and the contrast of the colors.    If the floral is not in a pattern that repeats all over the garment, then beware of which part of the figure is being highlighted by the placement of the print on the body.  And keep in mind that bright, bold colors as well as high-contrast color combinations will draw more attention and potentially add more width to the figure, compared to lower contrast, darker or more tonal combinations.

4/ Floral pants?

Really?  You may have seen this trend in the store windows and magazines, but thought “no way—I’ll skip that trend.”  (And if you’d like to deter attention away from the lower part of your figure then you’re right, skip this one).  Otherwise, yes this trend can be done tastefully.  It just depends upon the colors, contrast, scale and the overall outfit.  Go for a floral pant in a softer palette and try pairing with a long top.  If you picture your figure divided into thirds, picture the lower third (from about the mid-thigh, down) showing your floral pant.  Think slim-cut soft floral jean with long tunic and khaki cotton belted trench jacket that skims the thigh.  Then go for an open sandal in a nude or soft metallic.  The only wow factor should be the pants, and the rest of the outfit toned down and cool.  And if you’ve got the gams, girly floral shorts are your “barbecue-chic” must-have.

5/ Accessorize with florals!

Accessories are a fabulous way to add a feminine touch to your look in a subtle, unexpected manner.  Pair your wardrobe staple black pants with a floral shoe, and wow!   Or try some floral flats with your slim cut jeans, tailored Bermuda shorts or solid skirt.  Add instant flair to your look by mixing a floral clutch bag with a solid cocktail dress.   And, of course, effortlessly tossing on a silky floral scarf with a simple outfit may just channel that inner Parisian in you.

Shop the looks:

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