F A S H I O N // Florals? For spring? Groundbreaking.

The famous words of fictional power woman Miranda Priestly pretty much sum up the way I feel about fashion right now, it always seems like the same old thing every year. Yes, we know florals sell, but really?! Can't we be a little more creative?

This season I’ll be taking lessons from the paired back designers and will be gladly stepping away from all the obnoxious prints in favour of neutral cami’s, man repeller sandals and huge protective sunnies. This season pretty boring is the new pretty...

'Our kind' can often be spotted dwelling in our natural habitat (the shade) usually tucked under a huge hat admiring the long awaited sunshine from the undercover of darkness, coated in a greasy layer of factor 50 with an ice cold mojito in hand. 

Leave the rest of the world to loose their minds over floral prints and neon’s, I’ll tell you why I’m choosing to keep my cool and actually stay stylish this summer…

As a young girl I would have spent hours dreamily envisioning myself twirling in that Dolce & Gabbana cherry blossom dress, my medallion adorned hair pinned into a delicate chignon. Back then my dream wardrobe was a reflection of my Barbie’s closet and the lives of Disney princesses. Thank God my stubborn eleven-year-old self rebelled in a  demonic frenzy, which sadly resulted in hairless Barbies and a lot of black eyeliner. I think the only person to benefit from this awkward phase was my little sister who gleefully received the second-hand heaps of tulle and glitter that was my childhood.

Despite a feeble attempt at reverting back to a girl aged 17-18, I never really looked back. That rebellious streak stayed firmly in place and concluded in the inevitable shaving of my own head last year- I’m sure my Barbie’s will agree I finally got my comeuppance!

I’m a firm believer in being able to wear whatever you hell you want regardless of season or trend, but I do find that the warmer the weather the more others seem to enjoy commenting on my choice of attire. Just because I choose to wear black, keep my legs covered or wear sun cream when it’s barely reached 15 degrees does not give anyone the right to criticise. A friend even told me that she once assumed I was really unhappy in myself purely because the way I dressed didn’t reflect the season.

I personally don’t see the need to wear bright colours or florals just because the weather gets brighter. Yes, the sunshine does make you feel happier, but bright prints just don’t please me, so why should I be made to feel bad for not wearing them? 

Taking a leaf out of J.W Anderson’s book I’ll be focusing on lightweight sheer fabrics, cleverly placed cut-outs and a clean colour palette. He proves yet again that pretty doesn’t necessarily mean garish and overbearing.

For more inspiration look to THE ROW for draped silk cami’s and trousers with a nomadic feel, organic crochet and oversized kaftans. And not a hideous print in sight! Huraahh! Charlie May is your go to for crisp separates with minimal embellishment usually in the form of mesh layering, chunky zips and plunging necklines. Perfection.

I’ve always been one to focus on texture and shape rather than colour and embellishment, which seems just as well with all the springtime beauty blossoming in front of us- cherry blossoms, daffodils, bluebells- who could ever compete with that?!

And so that’s why instead of attempting to compete, maybe this should be the season we take a backseat and admire the wonders of Mother Nature from the shadows.

Hannah

(Images from style.com and thevelvetstreet).