SPRING AWAKENING

How to Wear a Floral Dress All Year Long

Here is a guide to tackling fashion’s favorite print in every season.


March 2017 - Most Wanted
Photographs by Benjamin Vnuk, Styled by Lindsey Frugier; Hair by Blake Erik for Oribe Hair care at Jed Root; makeup by Junko Kioka for Chanel at Joe Management; Model: Estella Boersma at DNA Model management; Manicure by Elisa Ferri for Chanel at See Management; Set Design by Mila Taylor-Young at D+V Management; Digital Technician: Jonathan Nesteruk; Photography Assistant: Sam Evans-Butler; fashion Assistant: Callie Turner

Floral prints never go out of style. And so, every season designers present new ways to wear them. For Spring 2017, brands such as Erdem and Alexander McQueen offered jeans, leather jackets, and trenches in floral prints, which felt both romantic and tough, while Gucci’s take came in bold and acidic embroidery. On the other end of the style spectrum, Phoebe Philo created a minimalist version at Celiné.

But with every new season, comes new challenges with styling: how do you make something old look new again? Is it about layering with a tough army jacket to play down the print’s sweetness, or taking a page from Gucci’s Alessandro Michele’s ‘more is more’ mantra and wearing a flouncy blouse underneath? To help answer these questions and more, W recruited 10 women – some of whom have not one floral dress in their closet – to give the same Prada dress their personal spin. This season is all about a positive, bold statement, from all women.

Dark, Romantic Florals For Spring Are, In Fact, Groundbreaking

“There’s a certain drama and sophistication in pitting spring’s florals against a dark palette.”

  • Rickie De Sole, Fashion Market and 
Accessories Director

Coach 1941 dress, $795, and shorts, $295, similar styles 
at coach.com; Louis Vuitton boots, price upon request, louisvuitton.com.

Photographs by Benjamin Vnuk, Styled by Lindsey Frugier; Hair by Blake Erik for Oribe Hair care at Jed Root; makeup by Junko Kioka for Chanel at Joe Management; Model: Estella Boersma at DNA Model management; Manicure by Elisa Ferri for Chanel at See Management; Set Design by Mila Taylor-Young at D+V Management; Digital Technician: Jonathan Nesteruk; Photography Assistant: Sam Evans-Butler; fashion Assistant: Callie Turner

Necklace from Simon Teakle, price upon request, simonteakle.com.

Photograph by Josephine Schiele

Attico dress, $3,446, net-a-porter.com.

Photograph by Josephine Schiele, Styled by Alejandra Sarmiento at Halley Resources

Sonia Rykiel bag, $720, Sonia Rykiel, New York, 212.396.3060.

Photograph by Josephine Schiele, Styled by Alejandra Sarmiento at Halley Resources

Alexander McQueen jacket, $8,275, Alexander McQueen, New York, 212.645.1797.

Photograph by Josephine Schiele, Styled by John Olson at Halley Resources

Roger Vivier sandals, $1,295, rogervivier.com.

Photograph by Josephine Schiele, Styled by Alejandra Sarmiento at Halley Resources

“The architect—and famous leather daddy—has a surprising fondness for gladiolas, as this lush tome about his 12-acre Hamptons eden reveals.” -Alix Browne, Features Director

Courtesy of Peter Marino Architect/Artist Rights Society, New York/ADAGP, Paris

“This dusty pink baguette with floral embellishments is spring at its most refined.” -Sam Walker, Associate Accessories and Men’s 
Market Editor

Photograph by Josephine Schiele, Styled by Alejandra Sarmiento at Halley Resources

“Even if it weren’t so on trend, I’d be into this retro swimsuit silhouette—it hides a multitude of sins!” -Karin Nelson, Senior Features Editor

Josephine Schiele

“I love the handmade quality of this Victorian-style micro-mosaic design.” -Nora Milch, Senior Accessories Editor

Photograph by Josephine Schiele, Styled by Alejandra Sarmiento at Halley Resources

“Simone Rocha knows how to do pretty in a slyly subversive way.” -Ryann Foulke, Assistant Fashion Editor

Photograph by Josephine Schiele, Styled by John Olson at Halley Resources

“What better way to ground the season’s sheer looks than with a pair of suede boots?” -Grace Fuller, Jewelry Editor

Courtesy of the designer

“This pocket-size edition of the brand’s centifolia–and–damask rose perfume is romantic without being girly.” -Mia Adorante, Associate Beauty Editor

Courtesy of Diptyque

“With embroidery this beautiful, who needs a dinner-table centerpiece?” -Esme Rene, Senior Photo Editor

Courtesy of the designer

“The single shoulder adds a sexy edge to the sweet floral pattern.” -Sarah Zendejas, Fashion Market Editor

Photographs by Benjamin Vnuk, Styled by Lindsey Frugier; Hair by Blake Erik for Oribe Hair care at Jed Root; makeup by Junko Kioka for Chanel at Joe Management; Model: Estella Boersma at DNA Model management; Manicure by Elisa Ferri for Chanel at See Management; Set Design by Mila Taylor-Young at D+V Management; Digital Technician: Jonathan Nesteruk; Photography Assistant: Sam Evans-Butler; fashion Assistant: Callie Turner
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