HOW TO STYLE THE DARK FLORAL DRESS

I am beyond obsessed with wearing the dark floral dress this Spring season! It is the ideal piece for this transitional period when the weather varies tremendously from chilly to warm with the occasional Spring shower in between.

The new season collections are full of beautiful, floaty, flowery pieces– we just need to know how to style them for our bodies and shape.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT FLORAL PATTERN

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It is so easy to get overwhelmed with the variety of floral patterns out there, but choosing one that will flatter your body and fashion style is essential. Understanding what works for your body shape, size and height is key.

Although dresses with white backgrounds and bright sunny blooms are ideal for concealing problem areas and bulges, a dress with a dark background has a slimming effect. Such dresses can give you a more tailored, tapered and refined look, too.

As for the the floral print per se, there is no easy answer as the choices are infinite. Should we go with small flowers or large ones? Spaced apart or close together? In clusters of blossoms or bold single blooms? With or without vines and the leaves?

The answer lies with knowing what suits your body size and what you are comfortable with. Large florals look amazing on petite body types. Smaller flowers and all-over floral patterns give the impression that the dress is more of a solid color and does wonders for shapely, curvy body types. Those with an average, balanced build can opt for both. Just be aware that oversized flower patterns or bold flowers may add several pounds to your silhouette.

But, ultimately, you must wear what you feel great in.

LARGE FLORAL PATTERNS

ZARA | AMAZON | MANGO CLOTHING

SMALL, ALL OVER PATTERNS

DYNAMITE CLOTHING | PRETTY GARDEN | SOLERSUN

TEXTURED PRINT DRESS

STYLING ELEMENTS

A dark floral dress is the perfect addition to your wardrobe. It is such a versatile item of clothing! You can get amazing cost per wear if you know how to take the dress from casual and feminine to elegant and sophisticated or modern and edgy. And that is where your styling elements come in to play.

SHOES

For those cooler spring days, your dark floral dress pairs great with WHITE SNEAKERS as well as a NEUTRAL COLOURED FLAT – which if matched to your skin colour, will elongate your legs.

For those balmy and sunnier Spring days, definitely try the following sandal styles.

THE DROP “SAMANTHA” | SAM EDELMAN “DAWSON” | SAM EDELMAN “BAY”

Going out and craving some heel? Then this sexy, minimal style is for you!

And remember, if the weather turns a little cold and nippy, you can wear your dress with ankle boots or knee boots. Again, in a classic and neutral colour to avoid competing elements.

HANDBAGS

As a handbag addict, selecting a bag to wear is my favorite part.

First consideration is the colour. With florals, I usually gravitate to a solid neutral bag in whites, creams, greys, tans and black. But if you want more colour, choose a bag in the most prominent colour in your florals.

A soft, metallic bag could also look great with many floral patterns. Avoid the super bright, neon bags as they might be too much for the eye in this case.

As for the overall style and size of your handbag, just be mindful of the occasion and style of your dress. I do suggest a bag that will not compete for attention with your florals. Leave the loud flashier ones at home for that basic patternless outfit that might need that extra oomph.

OTHER ACCESSORIES: BELTS AND JEWELRY

A belt is the perfect accessory to transform the style of your dress. It can define a waist and give you more shape. Most people prefer them in neutrals, but a pop of colour can add contrast and a bit of visual interest to your outfit.

As for jewelry, my rule is that the louder and more colourful the floral print the more subtle the jewelry should be. I like classic, traditional and simple. And as much as I love some good arm candy, in this case less is more.

OUTERWEAR

Spring brings different kinds of weather, especially here in Canada and other northern areas.

For a casual vibe on cooler evenings, opt for a denim jacket or a neutral knit cardigan. If your style is more edgy, then adding a short MOTO JACKET is the way to go.

This TAILORED BLAZER is perfect for a classic and traditional style.

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A dark floral dress is a versatile and timeless item of clothing- your can style it in a myriad of ways. That’s why it is THE perfect transitional pattern from Winter to Spring.

Will you be rocking the dark floral dress this Season?

Check my post on the other must-have for Spring: The TEXTURED BLAZER. And for more fashion ideas, hop on over to my Pinterest board- SPRING AND SUMMER FASHION .

Thanks for reading! Happy shopping!

xo, LALA

This post contains Amazon affiliate links for your shopping convenience. This simply means that if you click on one of those links and then make a purchase, I may make a small commission from the sale. This does not result in extra charges to you- or cost you anything additional.  As always, I only recommend products I know and love.

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