Head-to-toe floral

rachylou

Veteran

What do you think of head-to-toe floral? Would you wear it to work? Or is too florid?

Does it matter if it's a dress, suit, or coat?

Also, are fur trimmed hoods too casual / little kid for the corporate environment? (I'm talking puffers...)

9 years ago

Dressing

31 replies

Latest reply was from rachylou

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Hmm, it depends on the floral and the pieces, I think. I like my eye to have a little break from the pattern, and it might be too much for work, depending on the work environment. How's that for a noncommittal answer?

Oh! But that reminds me. I actually saw this a few days ago in the Nordstrom mailer and thought of you, so I snapped a photo, because you were asking about two-piece dresses, and this has that vibe. And it's floral.

9 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Ooh. I love that. That wasn't at NAS!

I am contemplating on whether or not a floral coat is a bad idea. I have this Target Tara Jamon coat (below). It's a little... ditsy/boho/something for my utilitarian work environment.

I also have a couple of floral suits that I think are a bit much for work. There's something overwhelming about them that doesn't happen with dresses. I break them out very sparingly.

Floral dresses do seem to be ok, but it's like you will be making the coffee and ordering the sandwiches. And you know, I'm not sure I'd want to wear one in front of any European co-worker. Lol. I don't know why not.

I don't wonder about my floral skinnies... but maybe I should...

9 years ago

carter

Veteran

Hmmm...I would wear floral pants, a floral jacket, or a floral coat or dress, but there's something about TWO pieces that feels like too much.

9 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

It's true. There is something about *two* pieces.

But what about something like this pic below: one piece, but a lot of it?

I'm wondering, too, if the lightness or darkness of a heavy floral does anything to change things. I *am* really liking the dark floral idea trending now. Oh and ok, I've always liked House of Hackney.

9 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Yeah, I think for a creative work environment, two pieces of floral wouldn't raise an eyebrow, but for a more corporate/utilitarian environment, it might be a tad much. I like that Target/TJ coat -- maybe styled really simply with a column of black underneath?

9 years ago

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

Maybe a two piece floral dress. But not the whole suit...even though I love that pattern and am in general a sucker for florals.

9 years ago

carter

Veteran

I think that last coat--even in solid black with black fur--makes a statement. The pattern, even if it were in a smaller piece like a moto, makes a statement. So, to me, this is still outside my comfort zone (like a two piece floral suit), but there are certainly fabbers who could wear this with panache...you included.

9 years ago

Veteran

I'd wear a head-to-toe one piece in floral (dress or coat) or even a two piece skirt/top combo like Janet showed. However, I wouldn't wear a suit or a two piece trouser/top combo. Not sure why!

To me, the fur trim takes away from the dark floral feel of the coat you showed. But you have an ALGO style, so if you really wanted to, I bet you could pull it off. Depending on your environment of course, but you're always very sensitive to that aspect.

9 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I would wear any of them if I fell in love.

What does that say about me? Bizarre. I don't even *like* florals -- in theory. But I regularly do fall in love with them, and I pretty much love every one in this thread!

I'd be most likely to wear floral dress or two piece dress. I really love the idea of a floral coat; but then, I love bright coloured coats, too. And I once had a plaid coat. Similar idea. The suit would be a bit more tricky but I would not rule it out.

9 years ago

Aida

Veteran

Hmm I'd wear that much floral, as long as the floral is one that I love I only have one floral bottom (a pencil skirt), but I may have to see if it's something I can pull in my closet. I'm also feeling the darker florals the past two years, which is weird to me. Oh, I also like (and will wear) head-to-toe plaid, so there's that. I rather like the puffer (the floral+fur) one but that doesn't look remotely corporate to me.

9 years ago

Diana

Veteran

I'd definitely do a dress (one or two pieces) or coat, but probably not a floral suit. I think it has something to do with needing some bare arm or leg.

I might also mix florals head to toe, on a case by case basis.

I look at floral coats all the time and would probably buy one (mid thigh to knee length like all my coats) if I found the right floral. I adore florals in general but it's totally a gut reaction whether or not I like a particular floral.

9 years ago

SarahTheWhite

Veteran

Well... I see the floral question as two differen questions. Would I wear that much floral to work? No. But that's me. I would absolutely support it on someone who loved it, felt confident and wonderful in it, and styled it in a purposeful way! My personal preference is for the lower contrast florals more than the dark color/high contrast pattern - but that may have more to do with my own tastes and less about work appropriateness.

As for puffer coats with or without fur? I live in Florida so must automatically recuse myself!

9 years ago

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Depends on the wearer and I think you would pull it off fabulously.

9 years ago

catgirl

Veteran

I actually love this look with the right floral. Not sure I would wear it though I did wear a galaxy suit...

9 years ago

Neel

Veteran

Oh my! That's one pretty floral suit! But I would not wear it to work. Too *on your face* I guess! But I would wear it everywhere else lol!

9 years ago

Jeanie

Veteran

I am just loving these florals and I don't even think I am into florals. Can I wear these to the grocery store? The Whole Food hipsters would not know what to think! I would just do one piece or the other for the office and then throw on the matching floral piece for a night out.

9 years ago

Active Member

I would wear the floral jacket to work. But not the floral matching pants & definitely not together. Just too much print that may get read as distracting and therefore in violation of our dress code policy where we can't wear loud, distracting clothes.
I remember reading that florals are going to be very very big for SS '15 (maybe it was on the forum itself *scratches head*), so it could be that this suit will be in super vogue next year & I might end up eating my words instead!

9 years ago

fuzzylogic

Veteran

Well, the model looks totally AMAZING!!! Like Janet, I think it would work in a fashion-forward/creative environment. Ditto for the puffer with faux/fur. Probably not for corporate workplaces.

AG- a galaxy suit???? Coooool......

9 years ago

fuzzylogic

Veteran

Oh, as for the coat, I would push that into work wear! It is structured and makes a statement but the floral print softens it somewhat!

9 years ago

Aida

Veteran

Rachy I have to say that I actually came up with several floral-on-floral ideas, so thanks for the idea! Turns out I have TWO bottoms with flowers, a red poppy pencil skirt and black&white slouchy trousers. For tops I have a sheer black floral blouse, navy floral sweater, white and blue floral blouse. And I do have a black&white floral blazer, too. I think many of them will mix up together pretty well, actually. All for cooler weather though, so it'll be a bit before they surface.

9 years ago

Beth Ann

Veteran

I have always loved a unique, bold floral. No little ditzy posies for me, though. Go big or go home!

I love the coat and the 2 piece dress that Janet linked to (I love 2 piece dresses of any sort). I think you could completely carry off the first look too, although it's more unusual. Depends on how much you need to 'blend."

9 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

The vote is split down the middle! Which is just how I feel. I'm thinking my personality is, honestly, intense enough for florid floral... but most of my life is work. And I do have a thing about synchronising with the environment and having my substance take the stage before my style at work. Style is not my work...

I may yet wean myself away from the idea of massive floral.

Or not. Lol.

9 years ago

In My Joi

(website)

Veteran

I would totally wear it as a pant suit (and I'm not particularly fond of pant suits) RachyLou, I love dark floral and I'd opt for a different style of blazer. IMO it's also translate nicely as a dress, and two piece skirt ensemble (crop top style preferred).

9 years ago

JAileen

Veteran

I used to have a floral dress. It never occurred to me that it might be too much. It was a cotton knit with a print in olive, red, and a bit of pink. I wore red shoes and a red belt with it, and thought I was fab.

9 years ago

gardenchick

Veteran

I have a poison eye for this look...almost felt a little nauseous looking at these pictures! Too frilly for my sporty style.

Janet's photo doesn't bother me quite as much, the grey sleeves tone it down a bit.

But I'll enjoy it on others...

9 years ago

DonnaF

Veteran

I think floral would be fine at work if you're a *creative*. As for myself, I don't think I would even though I don't generally see clients. It's too much dissonance. As it is, I wear color, polka dots, and a metallic silver jacket (yes, all at once) which is probably dissonant enough. I think cuz I'm short and maybe cuz I'm post-menopausal, I skew more butch than femme: No female hormones. And to me, flowers are very femme and inevitably give me hay fever.

9 years ago

gardenchick

Veteran

Hey look! Just saw this in the September issue of Real Simple magazine and thought of this thread. You're on trend!

9 years ago

purple8

Active Member

Real simple magazine has a page with great floral stuff this month...

9 years ago

Adelfa

Veteran

Assorted thoughts:

I have now learned that there's no such thing as a "work environment." Not an overarching concept.

I think you could rock anything you had a mind to rock. Not sure what to say about wanting substance to be noticed over style. It sounds laudable but fairly un-Rachy. Style is substance! You are quirky and interesting. Why not show it?

That said I have no clue what your environment is like. Are you actually in San Francisco? Berkeley? I don't know.

I have documented my attempt to soften and casualize and "LA-ify" my work wardrobe. Meanwhile attorney DD is discovering that in LA, in some firms, female attorneys are supposed to be a little bit sexy, for instance sizing down in their Theory trousers. Which is completely hilarious and would NEVER fly in the NorCal financial environments I have spent some time in.

So who knows? Do you? Have you tried it? How did you feel?

9 years ago

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