Whether you’ve headed to a cocktail party, a night out, a dinner, or a picnic, a floral dress is always a hit. It works for many different occasions, and it’s the perfect way to add color to your outfit without going over the top.
That said, not all floral dresses are created equal, and choosing the perfect one for a particular occasion is an art in its own right. To help you out, we’re listing a couple of things you need to keep in mind to make floral dresses work for every occasion.
Think about the background color of your floral dress
The background color is the color of the dress underneath the floral print – basically the main, dominant color on the dress. This color will largely dictate the choice of shoes, bags, and jewelry, and you want to make sure that the dominant color is easy to match to your wardrobe while also flattering your hair color and skin tone.
Your safest bet would be to go for a black and white version – this color combination is elegant and sophisticated and it works for both casual and formal occasions. Black has a slimming effect while white will emphasize your skin tone. This neutral color palette is very versatile, too, meaning you can easily match it with a wide range of accessories. If you opt for a more vibrant background color, choose a low-saturation one so that it’s not too visually striking.
Pay attention to the color of the flowers
Other than the background color, you should also focus on the flower color. Soft, light, and gentle pastels are reserved for events taking place in the spring, while summertime presents the perfect opportunity to wear bold and vivid colors and show off your flower personality.
For a more autumnal feel, stick with colors you’d find in nature and mimic the palette by reaching for darker flower hues and backgrounds. Think of crisp leaves, moss, and seasonal fruits, and choose your color palette accordingly. As for the winter, leave the floral dresses with too much contrast for summer and spring. Instead, stick with a darker color palette and take a more subtle approach to prints. Abstract, art-like prints, color blobs, and watercolor floral prints are ideal for cooler months, while floral lace will add just the right dose of femininity to your cold-weather outfits.
Experiment with different flower density and scale
The space between the flowers and the scale of the flowers themselves will largely impact the overall feel of your outfit. Think about the vibe you’re trying to achieve with your outfit and base your floral dress picks on that.
Large and edgy floral designs are ideal for summer when the warm temperatures are in full swing and you want to achieve a fun and carefree look. Larger density between flowers will also result in a more mature look, it’s more dramatic, but it’ll also be less slimming since it’ll slow the eye down. Denser prints are more gentle and feminine, and they’re also a better option if you want to camouflage certain features. The scale of the flowers will also affect the apparent contrast, which is another thing to keep in mind when choosing between different floral dresses.
Select the right type, style, and material of your floral dress
Finding the perfect floral dress you can wear to multiple occasions isn’t just a matter of choosing the right color palette and paying attention to the flower density and scale. It’s also a matter of finding the most flattering material, style, and type of the floral dress that will help you emphasize your best features so you can feel your best self.
Cinched-in waistlines and form-fitting tops look best on ladies with an hourglass figure, while strapless tops and A-line/full skirts look amazing on women pear-shape figures. Women with athletic body type could benefit from floral dresses with volume-increasing details such as ruffles and embellishments. Belted styles and wrap dresses look amazing on women with an apple body shape, while short dresses, vertical prints, and asymmetrical hemlines help elongate petite women’s silhouette. As for the material, chiffon, linen, rayon, and cotton work great in spring and summer, while heavier materials such as wool, cashmere, corduroy, and satin are best reserved for winter and paired with accessories such as leggings, tall boots, and cardigans.
Wrapping up
There’s a good reason why floral dresses are year-round must-haves. When paired with the right accessories, these wardrobe basics can be worn all year long, and with so many colors, materials, and styles to choose from, there’s literally a dress for every occasion. By keeping these tips in mind, you’ll manage to avoid outfit decision fatigue and nail your floral dress #ootds every single time.
