Back Out on the Town: Colorful Floral Fashions for Town and Country

As mask mandates lift, and the world continues to “normalize,” fashion lovers are eager to venture out and resume their lives where they left off pre-COVID-19 pandemic. Many have a big question: “What will I wear to go out?” Fashion designers such as Cynthia Rowley, Vivienne Tam, and Kevan Hall provided a resounding answer with what they showed in their spring 2022 collection offerings. Floral prints were the big trend for the season and are popping up at every price point. Not to mention that floral-inspired clothes work for many social occasions in both town and country. While our list includes pieces that span the gamut from custom to budget-conscious, all are remarkably versatile and easy to style for many occasions.

But first, a little background about the history of florals and fashion. The floral trend has long served as inspiration for fashion designers; it has been traced as far back as ancient Egypt. Florals later enjoyed popularity in China in the 12^th century and the early 18^th century during France’s Louis XIV’s reign showing up in daily court dress. Since then, floral prints have never gone away, waxing and waning in popularity. For 2022, designers have drawn inspiration from fifties’ A-line cocktail dresses, early sixties caftans, and denim “flower power” looks from the late sixties and seventies.

The reason for the explosion of floral prints on the runways for spring 2022 may be as simple as designers living in isolation at home for months, with many taking solace in nature. In the months that followed, nature-inspired prints began to make their way into collections in a significant way. Cheerful florals may also have been a reaction to the months of drab gray and black and beige sweatpants many wore for much of 2020 and 2021. The simple act of putting on a pretty dress or top is an instant mood lift and gets you excited about dressing up again.

Below are some winning floral looks to wear when you are having fun while in town and in the country:

TOWN & COUNTRY DRESSING

Large floral prints in black and white are elegant alternatives for those who like stripes. They look good in soft gauzy fabrics and a stiffer construction, as seen at Valentino’s spring 2022 couture showing; the navy and ecru fifties cocktail dress is elegant enough to wear to a wedding. These large prints also dress up even the simplest shirt dress, such as black and ecru ones from Zara and Alabama Chanin. The latter, a tiny sustainable fashion brand, became known for its break-out moment at New York Fashion Week in 2008 when Julie Gilhart, the fashion director of Barney’s New York, famously bought the entire collection for her store. Fans continue to appreciate Natalie “Alabama” Chanin’s Southern feminine sensibility and look to her for beautiful floral pieces to add to their wardrobes. The brand’s mission statement reads, “We are a leader in elevated craft due to a strong belief in tradition and dedication to locally sewn garments and goods—both hand and machine-sewn.”

A key component in the new florals is sheer fabrications for an ultra-feminine look in both dresses and tops. Amanda Uprichard’s empire waist baby doll mini dress with a sheer overlay is the perfect transitional dress that works for everything from shopping trips in town to weekend brunch. Gucci’s ankle-length sheer black dress with hand-painted yellow and red flowers worn over a black bodysuit and shorts is a sexy choice for a night on the town.

Mixing and matching florals is another trend that’s getting traction this season. Cynthia Rowley showed long-sleeved bodysuits that had attached micro shorts; they were shown on their own at the spring 2022 presentation as a daring option for a beach party. She also showed a demure version of the blue floral print—a smock waist dress worn with skinny yellow floral pants. The bodysuits can also be combined with the same floral pants for a visit to an art gallery and dinner with friends afterward.

British designer, Ann Mashburn, is making cotton track shorts from iconic Liberty London fabric available in over thirty different prints. The pretty shorts are just right for lazy weekend afternoons in the park or the beach.

Vivienne Tam and Lilly Pulitzer offered up florals in energizing bubble gum shades. Tam went all-in with a unisex Nehru jacket, leggings, and hat. She also showed a denim dress with sleeves constructed in a brightly colored floral lace for those who want to dip their toe into the floral trend.

In the early sixties, Lilly Pulitzer became the queen of the floral dress when she launched her company while wearing a cheerful floral shift dress at an orange juice stand outside her Via Mizner estate in Palm Beach. Since then, generations of Lilly fans have continued to wear the company’s whimsical floral prints to pool parties, beach vacations, and host friend and family dinners. This season, the popular Malone Maxi Dress is updated with a high collar and tassel details in neon blue and green.

Los Angeles designer Kevan Hall produced some gorgeous silk caftans as part of his new Luxe Leisure collection last spring that he continues to deliver due to popular demand. The floral-bird print kaftan says Hall, “Is a relaxed and chic nod to the seventies’ bohemian and celestial sky…Cool caftans evoke a hipster mood for at home lounging while a touch of embellishment makes them perfect for at home entertaining.”

Lastly, for those who embrace modest fashion, there are some fabulous, embroidered florals by Indonesian designer Jeny Tjahyawati. Her latest “Bunga Lopo” collection is based on the traditional Bugis flower, called “Bunga Lopo” which is indigenous to Sulawesi Indonesia. The pieces are made by weaving viscose organza and luxurious silk Mikado fabric to give the garments structure. Afterward, they are finished with machine embroidery. The traditional-looking outfit can easily be broken up and combined with Western pieces that give it an entirely different look and feel. The outfits are made to measure and take three weeks to create. To purchase, contact: modest@miamimodest.com.

Vivian Kelly

Image credits

• town-country-01.jpg — Editorial image.
• town-country-01-mashburn.jpg — Editorial image.
• back-out-on-the-town-alabama-chanin-01.png — Credit/source: Alabama Chanin.
• back-out-on-the-town-amanda-uprichard-01-1.png — Credit/source: Amanda Uprichard.
• town-country-cynthia-rowley.jpg — Editorial image.
• town-country-viviennet-tam.jpg — Editorial image.
• back-out-on-the-town-kevan-hall-01-1.png — Credit/source: Kevan Hall.
• town-country-01-2.jpg — Editorial image.