Ditsy Florals with edge - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Dressing

About: Ditsy Florals: Yay or Nay

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Ditsy Florals with edge

Bijou

Veteran

I love florals, but don't have many ditsy florals and classified myself as a NAY. However I do have some pieces, which need to have a slightly edgy feel to counteract the potential twee vibe of the ditsy floral pattern.

These are the ditsy florals in my wardrobe:

My floral Doc Marten boots are a forever piece - they will be in my wardrobe until they wear out. I love them and feel they add edge to my outfits.

The floral skirt and blouse - the bias cut on the skirt of this two piece dress makes it feel streamlined to counteract the twee print. The fact that it is a black background adds sophistication.

Pleat skirt - this one had me with the colours and tiger stripes. Add tiger stripes and it is a siren call to me.

Red dress - I wear this dress in summer because it is cool and comfortable to wear but I don't love it, mainly because of the ditsy print. I consider this purchase a failure - I am keeping it to wear because it is practical, but I could do better.

I love how Angie poses these questions to us to help us understand our style preferences and not make wardrobe mistakes. For me, if I am going to entertain buying a ditsy floral, I need to make sure that it has some element of edge and fits within my general style sensibility.

View Info

View Info

View Info

View Info

Dressing

16 replies

Latest reply was from Joy

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

The Doc Martens are to die for! I would think ditsy florals would work well for you if you can find ways to toughen them up. I struggle with them because I feel like they’re out of proportion with my body. It’s an uncomfortable mismatch.

SarahD8

Veteran

How about the red floral dress winterized with black tights, a blazer, and...those red floral docs???

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

The black 2-piece dress is like my own ditsy prints—I would not have thought of it as fitting the category, but then I look closer and realize yup, sure does. The playful tiers on the red dress are great. I can see it with boots or flat sandals and your amazing jeans jacket with the embroidery.

Jenn, interesting thought about the size of a pattern & body size. I don’t feel comfortable in Buffalo plaid, because I feel ungainly, awkward and bulky in it. Several people commented on todays blog post that ditsy florals can be a false plain. I can picture you wearing a tank top with that effect, in bright colors like your orange rock goddess shirt.

CarolS

Veteran

The Docs really are amazing! I actually really like your red dress, and I bet it looks great on you. Maybe you just haven't fallen in love YET.
Or maybe you never will. In any case, you've got some fabulous floral pieces to play with when the mood strikes!

Brooklyn

Veteran

I’m the same. I classified myself as a soft nay. I prefer large scale dark florals to the ditsy kind. However, as I said in my comments, I do find some of the Isabel Marant asymmetrical midi skirts in ditsy floral prints (like these) appealing. I might say yes to one of those if it came to me for a non-Isabel Marant price. I think the asymmetry cuts through the twee-ness.

Another possibility is to pattern mix. Small scale patterns mix well with large scale patterns. So wearing a ditsy floral skirt with a large scale diamond pattern or plaid top in a complementary colour might add some hard edge.

You could think about trying something like that with your red dress.

This post has 2 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

rachylou

Veteran

Maybe that’s why I wasn’t overly thrilled with them in the 90s… ditsy prints and baby doll dresses…

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Generally I think darker ditsy prints are easier to wear. Your docs are fabulous and the skirt set too. I could see why the combination of the tiers and the ditsy florals is not your favorite but I am sure the dress looks fabulous on you!

Irina

Veteran

I love your skirt & top set and docs!
Jenn, interesting about proportions. I don’t like small print on me against all recommendations for petite women. I would rather wear big print in muted colors

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

My dear Bijou, you are absolutely a Ditsy-YAY! All super cute items that you wear well in your glam and powerfully pretty way

Jonesy

Veteran

I love all of these pieces--they are gorgeous, including the red dress! Wasn't that one of the pieces you included in that style challenge a while back? I remember you paired it with lots of cute jackets and boots and it looked fabulous! I do agree about black or dark backgrounds sort of tempering the sweetness of these types of florals. Also nodding along with Brooklyn re. IM florals--she does so many great prints, but there is an edge, usually, in the way the garment is cut.

Sal

Veteran

I like your ditsy florals Bijou- really stylish pieces that suit you. I agree a bit of an edge makes them work.

I have the three pieces below although the pink and white dress is not quite a floral. I am not sure it is floral or animal print but I could be convinced. I find it an easy piece to wear from Oct - April and I feel it had the 70s integrity I like. The blouse is a recent second hand purchase and I like the colours a lot especially with my culottes or with denim. The white floral suddenly feels off - too short a midi. I am deciding if I will sell it ( it is a NZ designer called Charmaine Revelly) or demote to lounge wear ( it’s cool and comfy).

View Info

View Info

Minaminu

Veteran

Bijou, those boots are amazing!!!! Would love to see how you style them as I think they are a fun wildcard!!!

JAileen

Veteran

I really like the red dress. I have a red top with a small print. For me, it’s just a supporting act for my Radley Scottie bag. I like your others items, too, especially the boots!

This post has 1 photo. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Those are definitely more sophisticated cuts (or items) than you often see in a "ditsy" print. The Docs are fantastic! But I like the 2 piece dress, too, and can see how it would work really well for you -- the light bits in the print would play up your hair and the shape is elegant.

I am with you on these "Yay" or "Nay " posts. They really help us nail our own style preferences. I was a pretty hard NAY on this one. I like florals -- just not ditsy ones for myself!

Bijou

Veteran

Some really interesting comments to consider here.

Jenn - twee is not you AT ALL. There are lots of great prints out there so steering clear of ditsy prints makes sense.

SarahD8 - great style suggestions on how to wear the red dress in winter months. I will give it a go to wear around the house with sandals in summer and I am sure I will enjoy it.

Stag Fash - the black ditsy print ensemble is a favourite because it has bright blue in the mix and works beautifully in my wardrobe.

Carol - I bought the Docs about 5 years ago when I rolled my ankle and had to wear footwear with great support. They really have been a wonderful acquisition.

Brooklyn - IM and also Ulla Johnson do great items with ditsy prints - I love the skirts you have shown. I am on the fence when it comes to ditsy prints.

Rachy - yep - I am 100% with you. I would not go near a baby doll dress in a ditsy print either.

Shevia - it is funny because I never even think of the floral Docs as being a ditsy print - more a pretty Doc Marten boot.

Irina - yes I need to be very picky about adding any more ditsy prints into my wardrobe. I think I will just wear and enjoy the ones I own.

Angie - a reluctant Ditsy YAY for me! But thank you for the post because you have helped me clarify in what instances a ditsy print is likely to work for me. Previously I have focused on colour, fabrication and cut and not considered other issues, such as print to my detriment.

Jonesy - you have a great memory - the red dress was in a style challenge about 6 months ago - it has been in and out of my holding zone a few times.

Sal - funny how those shorter dresses just don't feel right now, I have passed on two dresses for the same reason in my wardrobe.

Minaminu - the Docs have been a very important part of my travel wardrobe - a shame as in the last 2 years I have not been anywhere!

Janet - you look FABULOUS in your red top and Scottie bag - super festive for Christmas too.

Suz - absolutely - the post really helped me clarify why I was on the fence when it came to ditsy prints.

Joy

Veteran

Bijou, your ditsy florals are not pastels and not twee. I like the pleated skirt best, but floral Docs are ironic. I also agree that the yay or nay questions help us define our style and prevent mistakes.