Florals Over 40

I had to attend a client’s board meeting on Friday. They’re a law firm, so dress there tends to be pretty subdued, although I’ve found they expect their creative agency to display a little pzazz. I think they like to see us as a slightly exotic species that flies in to entertain them with marketing fluff. So, as it was officially the first day of spring (and despite the driving rain outside) I thought I’d go for a touch of floral.

Now if you’re over 40 and aiming for chic I think you need to be careful with the floral trend. There are some great ditsy florals (aka smaller prints) out there which look lovely and fresh when you’re blooming with youth but risk being a bit ‘Townswomen’s Guild’ if you’re not. For example, I love the Jack Wills collaboration with the Liberty archives but unless you have an edgy style, it could easily go very wrong:

It’s the same with the John Lewis Collection – could look great, could look like your aunty.

However, the easy way to wear florals over 40 and look relevant is to go for either clashing colours, a painted effect or a digitised print. They are so 2014 that there is no risk of people thinking you’ve been lost in Laura Ashley . The only trouble is that they aren’t the sort of fabrics that retailers can buy off a role in China so they tend to be pricey, purely because they’re bespoke and produced in relatively short runs.

Florals over 40: Bright Clashing Colours

A brilliant way to liven up your core wardrobe day or night. John Lewis Collection fleur printed top, £49

Or this one from Next £24

Florals over 40: Painted effect

Ted Baker is the master of this. Their window displays at the moment are spectacular. I love the fact that there is nothing retro or vintage about this floral ‘rose on canvas print top’ £40.

I also love this skirt £129 in the same print – great for pear shapes or inverted triangles with large shoulders.

Here’s a blossom print sweatshirt £40 from Oasis for something less formal

and a simple t-shirt with this season’s cuffed sleeve detail £25

Florals over 40: Digitised

This is floral but in its most unnatural form – computer generated, 21st century floral – Jaded London from TopShop £48.

And here from Warehouse £28

If you prefer to add just a touch of floral, there are some great scarves around. I truly believe this is a piece of art, Ted Baker’s cubist scarf £69