WHY IT WORKS
Florals needn’t be saved for off-duty occasions – just avoid frills and flounces
QI often wear floral dresses at the weekend; are they a no-no for the office?
AMany of my clients are nervous about wearing florals, especially in the workplace. Deemed as too feminine, too whimsical, or too like something that you’d wear to a summer wedding, they’re disregarded – but wrongly so, in my opinion. Florals are a brilliant tool to freshen up an outfit, and one of those trends that never really disappears – I chuckle quietly as fashion reports announce “florals are back”, as if they had gone anywhere.
They come in lots of different guises, of course.
Save the country garden varieties for that summer wedding and look instead to bolder, brighter pieces that will blend easily into your existing work wardrobe. Being a print-fanatic, I use them to bring colour and fun to office-appropriate outfits.
I’d avoid jackets, trousers and accessories as they will quickly date. Instead, focus on dresses and blouses, which can be paired with classic tailoring. The Scandinavian brands are really good at pretty but cool floral prints. This Arket dress (which I bought a few weeks ago) has black piping running through it, making it easy to wear with a black blazer and boots; there is a matching blouse that would transform a black trouser suit. A print with a dark base colour, like Essentiel Antwerp’s navy-based blouse, gives you more styling options – I’d wear it with elegant navy separates.
Rixo, the British brand that exploded into the fashion consciousness last year, has championed the print clash: it may not sound very work-friendly, but in small doses this can look great. I love Next Label Mix’s collaboration with Kitri: this skirt could be worn with a navy blazer. If you’re a floral print newbie and want to tread carefully, you can’t go wrong with a subtle ditsy print. Avoid too many ruffles to keep the look clean and modern: & Other Stories has a well-cut silk shirt in easy to wear colours and Marks & Spencer’s midi dress is a workwear staple in the making. To ask Isabel Spearman your workwear questions, email isabel.spearman @telegraph.co.uk or follow her on Instagram @isabelspearman