FLOWER POWER

Florals in spring aren’t necessarily groundbreaking, but in Alessandro Michele’s Gucci, they explore an unabashedly feminine masculinity. Featuring floral prints, embroidery and even lace, the wealth of botanic abundance offers an appealing counter to some of the season’s more masculine styles. Burberry’s Christopher Bailey served up a more classic take on the trend, even though lace did abound on the runway as well. In much smaller doses, the floral lace is understated, lending interesting texture under a sharp suit, giving an otherwise placid look a slightly punk edge. Hermes also got in on the act, albeit in a slightly more abstract sense, imbuing the pieces with an elegant softness without infringing on their manliness. ≠