Wow! Big and interesting thread! Shannon, did you actually write, "jiggie with it?" Amy, I wanted to add that some prints that might seem dated can actually be styled to be stylishly retro. In my opinion, you could do this really well. I try to think of scale for the item. For example, a full dress might do better with a larger print, perhaps one with more background (open space) or more abstract. A blouse or scarf might be best in a smaller or denser print. At any rate, I think you were made to to do stylish retro with a modern freshness. Drape yourself in fabric. Try on florals. Trust your gut.

Heather, you could never look ditsy or matronly. Not with those arms of yours!

Amy, I can see you rocking the RIGHT floral brilliantly. I agree with Angie that the idea of them suits your style. It would all be a question of picking the ones that aren't too twee.

My personal taste is for larger, abstract, floral prints but have to be careful because they can overwhelm my petite body.

I used to have several floral summer dresses (now too big), but the combination of bare arms and legs toned down the print. Sometimes I'd toss a cardi over on top too.

I need a few new summer skirts...atleast one will be floral!

Amy! You could totally rock this frock! Try, try!

http://bananarepublic.gap.com/.....d=OUT14944

Heather, Jules, Diana and Mary - you rock florals with the best of them, and I really love your floral style. You are all Princess Flower

Amy, love the dress that Heather linked to. Agree that it could look fab on you.

Amy,
I actually like florals if they are somewhat bold ( I hate little girly florals ) and are combined with a simple silhouette. The pattern is so distinctive that I find it overkill when the silhouette of the piece is frou frou or too embellished. Yes it CAN date easily but so can many of the trends we see today so it depends on how much you want to sport the trend. I can definitely enjoy scarves and bags and shoes and maybe the occasional jacket or dress.

Jonesy posted some really lovely examples of strong simple modern silhouettes with lovely floral patterns.

HelenInCanada makes an excellent point for toughening up pieces and wearing what "speaks to you".

Angies's pictures are truly droolworthy. That #3 pic looks like a Monet!

Shannon's comment of "jiggie" cracks me up!

Roseann and Jayne and Heather posted some really lovely pics with florals!

I can't get into florals. Reminds me of the dresses I use to wear in high school in the 90s. I'd also only pick out the matronly florals. It one trend I'm not up with.

I'm the wrong person to ask about this I'm an unapologetic floral fanatic

And to think I had just finished training myself not to gravitate toward florals (and pink)! FWIW, I LOVE the BR floral sheath linked above. LOVE. I'm not sure how it would read with my grey hair. With a lot of these cutting edge trends, I feel like I need to wait until they are GRAC (generally recognized as cool--trying to coin a new acronym) in my area. Which is fine with me, because it will take a while for them to trickle down to my price range.

Amy, you could SO do florals if you like. Maybe after your eyes adjust a bit?

Oh yeah, florals scare me - or, they don't scare me enough? lol

I need my florals to have a bit of an edge somehow. I love my photo-floral top in orangey colors, because the colors project an almost dried-out quality. Like when fruit would start to rot as the painter was painting his still life of them.

I also just got a ditsy print floral tank, but the flowers are orange and lime on a black field.

I also love the ones below. Moody colors again, and the other arranges the flowers in a geometric way, which says edgy to me.