Florals have come a LONG way. I remember when I did not even have one in my closet because I considered them too girly. Yet today, I hope we prove that how to style a floral top is less about the print itself and more about what you pair it with.
Quote of the day: “Courage is very important. Like a muscle, it is strengthened by use.” Ruth Gordon
Of course, some floral prints read artistic or more fun. Personally, I find the larger flower prints my favorite instead of the ditsy florals, but that’s just me.
Years ago, I had a request about how to style a floral top without looking mumsy, and my original crew came up with 3 ideas:
–With modern jeans
–Layered
–Accessories
Stylist thought: Those 3 past articles are some of my favorites, showing a “frumpy” look transformed. It’s proof that it’s not JUST a clothing item that makes the look. It’s how you style them and what you wear them with.
My crew was attending a “flower arranging” demonstration, so what is more appropriate than to wear and then discuss how to style a floral top.
I think it boils down to the fact that if four women can wear florals in completely different ways, and all look modern, stylish, and a little bit bold, you know it’s not the floral that’s the problem.
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Somewhere along the way, floral tops got labeled as mumsy (a term I had never heard of until I started following bloggers from the UK). For us, in the US, we tend to use the word frumpy more often.
Details that can make ANY top seem frumpy:
Instead, your flower top can play into any vibe you prefer. It just depends on what you do with it.
If you don’t have a floral top you Love already in your closet, I found a couple for under $75 in the widget below.
Or reach out, and I’m happy to look for specific ones for you.
For our ideas on how to style floral tops, I did not request that we pair any specific items with them. I decided to let each model create her favorite outfit.
Because of this, you will see some similarities:
-I love how both my mom and Valerie wore flower earrings.
-And Valerie and I carried a purse with a 3-D flower on it.
-Mom and Valerie also showcased green pants, but each of their pants is very different.
-Then, there’s the fact that Charlotte, Valerie, and I all chose pants instead of skirts or shorts.
The fact of the matter is, this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to how to style a floral top. As I like to say, “so many options, so little time.”
Creating a color outfit is an easy way to stand out and look fabulous.
I know many women rely on neutrals to pair with a print top, but color is truly a mood booster.
My mom chose these knit fitted pants to wear with the floral top, and she left the top hanging down. It’s been surprising to see my mother style her tops this way lately, because she used to always tuck them in.
I know her body has changed a little, but many times I will style it for her, because we need to remember: OUR BODIES are fabulous no matter what their shape.
Details:
-The addition of the red purse (while it matches the floral top) does read more modern since it contrasts with the pants.
-Since most women don’t have green flats, a metallic pair or brown flats would also be fabulous.
-Did you notice that my mom made both the pants and the floral top? For the top, she told me that she even covered the buttons.
A flowy, floral top (with layers as part of the top), along with a short skirt, gives off a breezy vibe.
When you have a flowy, long top like this, proportionally, a short skirt (or shorts) works nicely.
Stylist tip: If you don’t like your legs, may I suggest more love self-talk? Again, your body is fabulous, and at our age, it’s only normal to have scars and imperfections.
The Japanese highlight these defects and call it Wabi-Sabi.
Details:
-Lesley was the boss of her necklace. She only wanted this portion to show, yet it’s a much longer necklace, so she used an elastic and hid the rest under her top and hair.
-Adding the scarf over her shoulder is such a stylish approach.
Valerie chose this pair of green wrap pants with her navy floral top.
What I love is that the pants give the outfit movement, and I love this color combination as it’s very unexpected.
Details:
-Valerie has gone all in on the brooch trend. Look closely to see a cute frog pin on the wrap of her pants.
-The best part about this look? There is NO GREEN in the print of the top. Yet it all ties together wonderfully with the browns in her accessories and the navy sandals.
I grabbed my pair of silk ruffle pants to pair with my oversized floral kimono top. It’s the opposite of what we’ve been taught (flowy tops with fitted bottoms or vice versa).
And sometimes breaking the rules creates a statement look.
Details:
-I layered 4 different necklaces for this neck mess
-The strap on this purse bit the dust, so I’ve been using other straps on it. Today, I added a light blue one that blends into my top when it’s over my shoulder.
-I’ve also bossed around this flowy top in this FB video to origami it into a different shape. For today, I used cardigan pins to hold up the sleeves.
If you take one thing away from this, let it be this:
A floral top is only as “mumsy” as the way you style it.
To keep it modern:
As I say over and over, the key to personal style is to make it your own. You were not created to look like everyone else out there.
Honestly, I love that the four of us can wear florals and look completely different. That’s the beauty of personal style, because it’s not about following rules, it’s about playing.
So if you’ve been avoiding florals because they feel dated… maybe it’s time to try again.
Just don’t style them the same old way.
Mix it up, have fun, and try new things.
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Jodie Filogomo is a retired cosmetic dentist and fashion blogger behind Jodie’s Touch of Style, where she has been helping women over 50 experiment with style in fun, creative ways for over 12 years.
Find out more about the crew, because we love to showcase all ages, body shapes, and women who love different styles.
The post How to Style a Floral Top (Without Looking Mumsy) appeared first on Jodie’s Touch of Style.
