Totally Dublin

HE says :

“Florals? For Spring…? Groundbreaking.” - The Devil Wears Prada’s Miranda Priestly may have condemned them but Spring Summer isn’t exactly the season for donning your dreary monochromatic rack of clothing either. While they may seem tired to many, florals are a fixture for the brighter months and that includes, despite supposed feminine connotations, men too.

That said, designers weren’t referencing the über-kitsch patterns your old man wore in the 70s this time ’round. Rather this season sees a much more subtle and romantic aesthetic put to the fore. Instead of florals in the sense of gaudy all-over-print shirts, it’s best to think of this style in terms of accessories or an element of one garment rather than botanic overkill. At Maison Martin Margiela the floral theme was either subtle (attached as a pale gold rose-brooch to each lapel of a cream loose-fitting blazer) or reworked to centre its masculine potential - a kind of flower-shaped appliqué of chains in silver, rust and goldenrod on a leather waistcoat.

Paris-based Alexis Mabille mixed up what was an otherwise straight-laced sailor-themed collection with black skinny trousers in a metallic floral print. No, you probably won’t be wearing this to the local (no matter how progressive yours is), but it does serve as a source of inspiration and blends the understated (the colour black) with the somewhat more ostentatious (metallic floral print).

Perhaps the optimum manner in which to approach florals is with a mind that’s fixed on that old adage - less is more. ASOS.com has a routine check Ted Baker shirt which is ostensibly conventional but turn the shirt-trim back and you’ve got a floral contrast in the same colour.

But for those who believe the floral to be the mark of the true modern dandy there’s quite an overwhelming amount on the current market. ASOS.com has a Paul & Joe long-sleeve shirt in a pattern of flowery pink and turquoise. Granted this reads as if I’m recommending sartorial abominations but trust me, wear this with less loud garments and a considerable dose of confidence, and you’re akin to the contemporary equivalent of a Studio 54 frequenter. On the high-street, River Island goes all-over floral too but with a dash of dark romance with a long-sleeve floral shirt which features various hues of blue.

Failing all that, you can at least incorporate something a touch efflorescent in your swimwear. While you may not deem it fit for the club, it’s certainly a style you can take to the pool. See NY-based designer Victor Glemaud’s collection wherein he channelled all things blossomy. The result - metallic floral shorts - isn’t half bad. For cheaper, more accessible alternatives look to Topman.

SHE says:

The instant antidote to a wardrobe of winter grunge, floral prints are a fixture on Spring catwalks each year. Spring 2010 is no different, with their appearance a welcome respite from all the leather and studded denim.Their appearance plays into the fashion for vivid patterns and a pastoral mood, with florals falling somewhere in-between as a wearable fusion of the two. What’s great about 2010’s floral crop is their versatility; you can go all ladylike and polished for garden party chic, or you can pair dainty print dresses and delicate motif jewellery with last season’s distressed jeans.

A garden of prints featured on the catwalks; Anna Sui did Biba-influenced micro florals, while Marc Jacobs sent out a reliably girly interpretation for his diffusion line. At Prada, florals were vivid, oversized and brush-stroke bold, a fearless but polished take on colour. Dutch brand Wunderkind even played up the Rococco mood by mixing some Toile de Jouy with floral prints.

You might remember teen magazines and ‘colour me beautiful’ types warning away from florals anyone not in possession of the rail-thin physique and mile-long legs. Truth be told, the full Anna Sui floral jacket might not work on petite wearers (nor are the matching trousers to be advised..), but the floral microtrend is highly wearable, with a different approach to suit all body shapes. The really clashy, ditzy florals work best on clingy leotard tops under layers, as a subtle nod to the trend. Similarly, vivid printed tights are great with a simple monchrome outfit. American Apparel recently got in on the flower-market scene with a range of items; take your choice from subtle, preppy-chic headbands or their psychedelic ‘patterned polyester printed leggings’. Their newly-introduced floral lace underwear is also lovely, a must for wardrobe romantics.

Meanwhile at Miss Selfridge it seems as though the entire shop has been doused in chloropyll, with flowers cropping up on everything from jumpsuits to jewellery. Urban Outfitters, also, do a feminine take on men’s flowery shirts, with their floral ‘boyfriend shirt’ on sale for a tenner.

If you’re not feeling brave you can work the look into your accessories. Dior Joallerie’s iconic flower bauble rings, designed by Victoire de Castellane, are the stuff of jewellery legend, adorning the fingers of the most discerning Parisian socialites. However, with prices ranging from €780 to €10,850, though, you’re probably better off checking out Accessorize for their dazzling collection of clunky floral knuckle-dusters.

Miu Miu were among the first to jump on the nineties shoe revival bandwagon; check out their worryingly familiar thick-heeled platforms, splashed with a a floral print in cream and dark navy.

Neither did bags escape the trend; Even at Chanel, Karl Lagerfield added a flower print to their venerable quilted leather, and US brand Coach swapped their customary beige canvas offerings for cabana-chic flower prints, with the printed ‘Madison Floral Carryall’ an eccentric but lovely standout.