Dress to Be WEDnesday

Dress To Be WEDnesday: Focus on Florals

Happy Dress to be WEDnesday! Spring is here, and with spring comes flowers. Right? (Eventually... they haven't arrived here, yet!) Sukey be the first one to admit, she tends to shy away from bold patterns and florals. After all--florals can get a bad rap as being too splashy, or, conversely--too dated and grandmotherly. But this season, beautiful, vibrant, youthful florals are everywhere--and She's becoming quite a fan.

Florals are perfect for a wedding because they are completely romantic and feminine. The wedding ceremony and reception will likely be filled with real flowers, so why not add a few floral patterns to wedding decor, or have your bridesmaids wear a pretty floral print?

There are so many ranges within florals themselves, that I'm certain there is a floral to suit every style. One can select anything from the bright prints of Amy Butler and Lilly Pulitzer, which are perfectly preppy, to the pretty romantic shabby chic patterns that convey grace and romance.  We've pinned a full range of floral wedding inspiration: everything from fun vintage floral looks,  to romantic Victorian tea party styles, to punchy bold prints.

Take a look at these three dresses I've selected and see if you're ready to pick a few floral trends for yourself.

Preppy Floral

 Lilly Pulitzer Briella Dress  /My Flat In London  Estate Bracelet  /Kate Spade Simon Pump / Tipsy Skipper Clutch Shellacked print in Conch /  Kate Spade Petit Rouge Earrings 

This dress is perfectly suited for an early morning or afternoon spring or summertime wedding. This is one of Lilly Pulitzer's signature prints-- if you're a Lilly fan, you may even consider this for your bridesmaids! If you're a guest, it's a perfect style for a garden reception or any kind of casual coastal or preppy themed wedding. It would be cute to wear to a bridal shower, too! I put some pretty floral touches with it --Kate Spade earrings, and I love the patterned shell Tipsy Skipper clutch with it, too.

 Ted Baker London 'Wallpaper' Pleated A-Line Dress  / Enzo Angiolini 'Demario' Pump  / Cape Earrings in Light Green  - Julie Elizabeth Jewelry   / Kotur Lace Clutch "Margo"

Sukey is such a fan of this dress. I love the dainty flowers and the pleats--it's ladylike and then some! This might just be the ideal dress for a bride to wear to her shower or to her rehearsal dinner because it's white, but then has a pretty blooms of color to add interest.  She is not recommending it for a wedding guest because She is too fearful of the "never wear white" rule,  although usually an allover print with a white background is fine. It's just that this has so much white,  and it's so special... She thinks it might be best to not to risk it.  She has styled it for a bridal shower, with little garden-y touches in the lattice hot pink shoes, the pretty floral pink and green earrings, and that floral clutch. She can see that clutch doing double duty: worn first with this outfit, and for the bride to use on her wedding day as well.

Garden Party Dress

 Ted Baker London 'Treasured Orchid' Silk Maxi Dress / Julie Elizabeth Jewelry Hutchinson Earrings /Stuart Weitzman Gold Pump Sandal /   Floral DeManta Clutch Alexander McQueen  / Julie Elizabeth Jewelry South Seas Necklace in Pink  

Isn't this floral maxi dress so lovely? It has a garden party/shabby chic/vintage/beach-y hippie vibe to it--it all depends on how you style it! I decided on the "garden goddess" route; thinking that a guest could wear this to a daytime garden wedding, or a beach wedding, but I also would recommend it for bridesmaids as well--especially if you are just having one attendant, that way the line up of floral prints won't be overwhelming.  Wouldn't this be pretty for a maid of honor to have this as a signature dress? There are lots of options with this one and I love that it's so versatile. Sukey puts in accessories with some subtle abstractions on the floral theme: stylized flower earrings,  and that unique watercolor floral clutch.

I hope this floral foray has made you bloom with ideas of how to wear this trend. Until next month, Happy Dress to be WEDnesday!

Need more wedding guest dress ideas? Visit Sukey at Dress For The Wedding