Favorite Summer Patterns - Floral

I was going to do a post on what is trending for summer, but there wasn’t a whole lot on the list that really appealed to me and if I know my subscribers at all, most of it won’t appeal to you either. Things like bralettes and sheer fabrics, backless dresses and jumpsuits, mini skirts and halter tops have a place in the fashion world, but I just don’t think they are practical and this blog is about real life and real women, so if you prefer trendy attire, there are oodles of bloggers and Instagram accounts that cater more to those preferences. I hope that doesn’t deter you from following my blog, I just want to keep it real here.

Image by Shirley Hirst from Pixabay

Instead of doing a more trend oriented post for this 5th Thursday of the month, I thought I would share one of my favorite summer patterns. Florals, for a long time, were considered a pattern strictly for elderly women, but I have seen a definite move away from ageism and stereotyping to a more all inclusive thinking on patterns and clothing types for all ages. I have seen some rockin’ 70 plus women sporting mini skirts and crop tops and I have also seen some beautiful 20 somethings veering towards a more modest mindset donning floral patterns and midi skirts. I love the diversity of the fashion blogging world, because now almost anything goes.

Florals are everywhere and on everything. While this post is going to show you a few of my specifically summer pieces, I have florals for every season of the year. In fact, some of my favorites are ones in the darker, more brooding colors of fall and winter, but I couldn’t resist showing off a number of my lighter, brighter pieces that work well from spring, into and through summer.

Tees

Both of these tees were thrift store finds. Floral patterns on tees are an easy way to dress up an outfit. Just throw on some jewelry and your choice of bottom in a pair of shorts, jeans or a skirt and you are ready for a summer picnic or lunch with friends. You can find a plethora of floral patterns at thrift stores and whether you like small prints or large, I am sure you’ll find something suitable. I’ll include a few shopping links at the end if you prefer regular retailers as opposed to thrift stores.

Other tops

This babydoll top was a recent purchase at Maurices. I love the pattern, of course, but also the dark teal color and the tiered layers. It hides all my Covid weight gain. Ha, ha. This piece I can definitely wear into fall with a chunky sweater over top.

This sleeveless denim piece was a recent thrift store find. Denim and floral are two of my favorite things, so how could I not scoop up this pretty top?

Jacket

Once again, the combination of denim with floral is the factor that drew me to this thrifted piece. This is another one that will see wear, all year round. Often in the winter I will wear a jacket like this, just as an extra layering piece to keep warm. It will look great with a pale pink turtleneck, cream sweater or light blue long sleeve tee.

Maxi dress

You’ve seen this floral maxi dress make its debut appearance on the blog this past spring. You can see that post here. You really can’t go wrong with a maxi like this. Just throw it on, add a few accessories and maybe a shrug or sweater and you are all set for a date night with the hubby or a stylish outfit to wear to church.

Skirts

I have numerous maxi skirts and quite a few of them have some sort of floral print. I keep telling myself I need to get a few skirts that are just solid colors, but I am always drawn to prints. Both of these skirts are really good in any season. The one on the left is fully lined and the one on the right is LuLaRoe and a medium weight knit, so no need for a slip.

Pants

You can see how I styled these ankle pants on my Instagram post here. I need to think of some other ways to wear these. What would you do with them?

Bags

If you have been following me for a while, you know I love to style an outfit around a bag. The top one is a thrift find and the bottom one is Vera Bradley. I love the color combinations for both of these bags. Do you have a floral print bag?

Shoes

These are the only floral shoes I have, but I would love to get a pair of Keds x Rifle Paper Co sneakers. They have the cutest floral designs. I’ll include a few in the shopping links.

I hope you have enjoyed this look at some of my summer floral pieces. Florals aren’t for everyone, but everyone could certainly wear them. They come in all manner of colors, and sizes, and vary from realistic to abstract. Floral patterns are an easy way to jazz up an outfit and get inspiration for assembling an outfit right from your own closet.

I’m including a few shopping links for all things floral. I hope you enjoy shopping. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own. Have a lovely weekend. Stay safe and stay healthy.

Summer Trends 2018

Still in the throes of trying to get caught up after vacation, I decided to finish off the month of May with a look at what is trending for Summer 2018. I'm picking the trends that I think are fun and interesting and won't be including things like transparent rain gear or outside the box sports gear. I like to include those trends that I think most women would find interesting, but if your into see through rain gear, by all means, go for it. 

1. Color

Color is one of my favorites, as you know by my seasonal Pantone series, and this summer is no exception to the color wheel. Everything from brights, like a Crayola crayon box, to pastels as soft and sugary as cotton candy, are gracing the racks and shelves of clothing retailers every where. 

2. Feathers and Fringe

Embellishment on a clothing piece is a great way to add texture to an outfit. Often, these little details can take an outfit from ordinary to extraordinary. Check out these fun pieces. 

3. Floral Dresses

The floral trend is here to stay and I am glad. Floral prints are pretty, feminine and everyone can wear them. Whether you like tiny prints or big and bold, there is a floral dress sure to suit any woman's taste. 

4. Tropical Prints

If you can't go to the tropics, why not bring it to you? This year there are all sorts of fun tropical patterns, sure to make you feel whisked away to any number of magical places filled with swaying palm trees and moon lit beach walks. 

If you think a clothing piece is too much, then choose a colorful bag. You still get the fun of the trend, without feeling like you are a walking add for a trip to Hawaii. 

5. Checks

Checks and plaid are another pattern that seems to be sticking around through all seasons. Gingham is once again a summer staple, but so are other plaids. 

These are just a few of the summer trends that will be showing up in the stores and probably on a number of blogs, including my own. 

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the pictures it will take you to the retailer that sells that particular piece. Your clicks earn me a few cents. If you purchase something through my blog, I get a little commission. All opinions are my own. I've tried to include a variety of pieces just to show you what is available, but there are lots of options out there. If you are like me, you may already have some of these trends in your closet. 

Have a great weekend!