The bold and the beautiful

Nope, this isn't about one of the longest running soap operas in the U.S.

And when I say "longest-running," note that TBATB has been on air since 1987! That's 35 years!

This is about floral prints.

When people say floral prints, the first thing that comes to mind are dainty, delicate florals. They're usually mall prints set against a contrasting colour. Which is what people usually see.

But there's another type of floral print. One that's big, bold, and vibrant. Just like this print from a dress that I got from Zanzea.

From the striking hues to the oversized graphic florals, this dress looks so happy and chic. And it's perfect for a weekend stroll in the mall or just lounging around the house.

Wherever it's worn, folks will definitely remark how beautiful it is.

Walking on flowers

Still on the subject of floral prints.

Yes, they look good on ladies' shoes and sneakers, but I've always been wary about it on men's shoes.

Until I saw this pair of New Balance sneakers:

And just like that, I'm on board the floral shoe trend.

Flores de Mayo

It's the first of May. And in the Philippines, May is known as the month of flowers. It's during this month that all the "sagalas" and "Flores de Mayos" happen.

In the western world, this also heralds the coming of spring. So, there's some simultaneous floral action going on between our two hemispheres. Proof of this? Most fast fashion brands are showing a lot of florals in their collections.

(No, I will not repeat the classic Miranda line...)

Case in point, this beautiful floral shirt dress from Zara.

It works well as a dress for our summer weather. But over there, they wear it as a tunic as a foil to the still-cold weather.

No matter how you wear it, this is a perfect piece to usher in the month of flowers.

Picking flowers

In this concrete jungle, you can't really pick flowers. So what's the next best thing to do? Pick floral prints. From Zalora. Harhar.

Given that they have so, so, so, so many floral print dresses on their website, it's clear to see that this blooming trend isn't going away anytime soon. Which is perfectly fine because flowers lend a breath of fresh air to any ensemble.

And here are some of the fresh picks for the Ates.

First, this belted dress which is abloom with carnations.

Second is an elegant white neoprene dress with white English roses. This is so subtle and chic, and Ate Bullet loved it the moment she set her eyes on it.

Third is a fully floral printed frock with a deep-V back. Because skin is a good counterpoint to too many blooms.

With all these choices, I'm sure the Ates won't find it difficult to look blooming.

And still even more Florties!

It was during a meeting in BGC last week when I wandered off into some random shop inside Bonifacio High Street. From afar, a print on the rack caught my eye and drew me in. Turns out that the print was a floral print on a 40s-style neoprene dress.

That sealed the deal for me. And the dress went home to Ate Bullet.

To keep that 40s vibe going, Ate paired it with red mary janes, also a hark back to that era.

The total look might be 40s-inspired, but it definitely looks very current.

Fun in her Florties

For today's bridal fair at EDSA Shangrila, Ate Bullet decided to debut her florties look. When I dropped by and talked to her, she said that the dress was a hit. Everyone was complimenting her on the silhouette and print.

She decided to wear the green version, and she paired it with beige heels. It looked very classic and chic!

The floral print and color went very well with one of the cakes they displayed. Florals are really a big trend - not just in clothes, but in everything!

Ate loved the look so much that she can't wait to wear the blue Florties dress sometime soon.

Even more Florties

Looks like the Florties trend will be staying for quite a while. As the days progress, more and more fast fashion brands are introducing the floral print in forties silhouettes.

Today's Florties find is courtesy of Stella - one of the house brands of Robinson's Department Store. It's the brand I was raving about before.

Actually, it's not just a find. They're finds! Two dresses, in fact.

The first one is a red dress with a gray floral print. The silhouette screams "Mad Men," and that means it's chic and classy!

The dress has a nice back detail. It plunges, which is a good counterpoint to the conservative front.

The other one is a green dress with the same silhouette.

I like the interplay of colors in this one.

More Florties fashions, more opportunities for the Ates to rock the trend!

Florties!

If there's one recurring trend I noticed of late, it's floral print skirts in a full, forties silhouette. 

I thereby call this trend, the Florties! (Floral + Forties. Get it. Get it.)

And in a mall run a few weeks ago, I got Ate Lissa some uber nice Florties outfits.

It started with this black silk skirt with fuchsia floral prints. I like how the print jumps out of the fabric due to its saturated color.

Then, I paired it with this black capelet blouse with a high neck and a collar. Very Lagerfeld!

The result is a very elegant nod to the forties.

But since summer is all about bright colors, I whipped up the entire ensemble in a more vibrant color. Such as this white skirt in bright floral prints.

Echoing the green of the leaf print, I got the same capelet blouse in a pastel color.

And here's how the entire ensemble turned out.

This outfit will definitely make Ate Lissa feel Florties and fabulous!

Two ways: I'm a layer

In the U.S., September ushers in fall. That's why when you open a magazine, you're sure to find an article or a tutorial about layering.

It's important to know how to layer in the U.S. After all, it can be warm in the morning, a bit nippy in the afternoon, then super cold in the evening. To dress for three types of temperatures require skill and planning, and most Americans have that own pat.

While layering is more functional, layering can also be fashionable. With the right layer, an ensemble can look totally different from its original look. Observe:

Here's a classic button down chambray shirt and jeans combination. It looks very classic, but very straightfoward.

But if you add a tailored blazer, it looks a bit more artsy.

Particularly if the tailored blazer had ceramic floral prints.

Or, if you want something younger and more current, layer the ensemble with a cropped neoprene shirt.

This combination is unexpected, and very fun. Especially when the shirt has a vivid print such as this one.

Layering is a great way to make dressing up two times the fun.

Springing into spring

One thing's for sure. Miranda Priestly won't like this post.

But hey, nothing says Spring like florals. It might be the obvious choice, but that doesn't make it any less fashionable. With March coming in and the transition of the season is among us, it's time to bring out those flower prints and welcome the season.

Fast fashion brands are obviously jumping on to this trend. The past few mall runs yielded some interesting finds with floral motifs.

First, this maxi-dress from Zara.

The silhouette is easy. The cut-outs are interesting. The blooms are subdued and dainty. It makes for the perfect spring dress.

But to make it look a bit more interesting, we'll literally add a layer for good measure. Another set of florals, but this time in a bolder, brighter print.

Because the dress is neutral colored, it doesn't clash with the colorful blazer. And since the weather is still a bit nippy during spring, it also provides warmth for those sudden cold breezes.

This floral-on-floral combination is both apt for the season and fashionable. And who knows, Miranda might change her mind after seeing this.

Flowers on your feet

In the continuing saga of masculine meets feminine, I present these shoes from The Ramp:

The shape is that of your classic loafers, complete with the penny window. Too bad (or thankfully) penny loafers aren't in fashion anymore. I would've looked for a coin that'll actually fit in that small window.

To balance the masculinity of the shape, the fabric used is silk with a bold floral print. This gives the pair unabashed femininity.

All you need is a pair of jeans, a plain shirt and these floral loafers on your feet, and you have an outfit that's a real treat.

Neon Flowers

"Neon Flowers" sounds like the name of an American drag queen. I imagine her to be around 6'2", a bit burly, has a loud personality, wears neon wigs and is often garbed like a space cadet. She could follow the footsteps on Nina Flowers and join Ru Paul's Drag Race.

But no, this isn't about a drag queen. It's about clothes.

Neon colors and floral prints might sound like an odd pair. But thanks to some pieces I found at Greenhills and SM Department Store, I discovered that it can be a visually interesting ensemble. 

Like this one:

The top is one of those neon-colored tops that I found (and bought) in Greenhills. What's nice about this shirt is that its fabric is a bit nubby, which gives it that aged and worn look. For this ensemble, I chose the neon orange version. (Which I initially thought was neon pink, but turned out to be orange.)

I paired the shirt with this skinny, floral trousers from SM Department Store. Unlike the usual floral trousers that are loud and bright, this one is a bit more subtle. The canvas is this oyster colored fabric, and it has this watercolor-like floral print in a muted palette. There's actually some orange in there somewhere, which is why this particular top works well.

The result is an ensemble with balance. A bright top with paired with a muted bottom. A patterned pair of trousers with a plain shirt.

See, neons and florals can work together.

Flower power

The mere mention of the word "florals" immediately conjures up visuals of lush gardens, sweetness and all things dainty. Long, flowy dresses in chiffon or cotton automatically come to mind, as well as wide brimmed hats and videoke-worthy styling. (Am I describing Grace here?)

Florals and power dressing might sound like two very different and irreconcilable concepts. But if you have the right items, the right combination, and the right styling, it's easy to prove that there is power in flower!

This ensemble, despite it being predominantly floral, has an element of strength in it. Most of it comes from the fact that the pieces are sharply tailored, especially the dark jeans and the tuxedo blazer. Heck, it's so powerful, I gave those 2 pieces to Mona, who is our group's high-powered lawyer.

Some people say that too many flowers might be too saccharine. I say, there's no such thing as too many flowers. In fact, for this ensemble, I've added a floral inner blouse to complement the blazer's floral design. To even it out, I used a lighter palette for the inner garment, and the size of the prints vary from one another. It also helps that there's a black tuxedo collar breaking the patterns.

Finally, for an added touch of femininity, I've included a pink belt which echoes the hues of the flowers in both inner and outer garments.

The result is a floral ensemble with a hint of sweetness, but a whole lot  of power. And that's what flower power is all about.