Florals are hot for spring 2011! As the ladylike trend from fall 2010 turns into the feminine trend for spring 2011, designers have moved into floral territory. Designers in New York, Paris and Milan created flowing frocks in soft fabrics which were feminine and reminiscent of a slight breeze whisking past you in an open meadow filled with flowers and tall grass; weeping willows in background. It is only natural that in addition to the soft pastels associated with the feminine trend for spring, that designers would also add the floral prints or screen to the trend as well.
Florals appeared all over the runways in two distinct forms for spring 2011. There were small floral prints mainly on flowing skirts and dresses as well as silkscreen, painterly florals which were often artistically asymmetrical. Designers such as Chanel, John Galliano, Nina Ricci, Christian Dior, Rodarte, Vera Wangand Carolina Herrera to name a few, showed either small floral prints or breezy, artistic florals on skirts and dresses for spring 2011.

Florals prints appeared on silk, chiffon and sheer fabrics. Designers paired florals with solid colors which either part of the bold color trend or the pastel trend. Florals were shown on soft fabrics mixed with fabrics such as taffeta, lace, thicker silks and soft cotton. Even when a designer, such as Carolina Herrera who created a structured sheath dress with lace and a large floral designs, put the fabrics together in a non-flowy look, the florals still gave the frock a certain feminine allure, taking Fashionistas right back to the meadow with willow trees and flowers.
Florals have not been a huge trend in recent fashion history, making the trend fresh and interesting. The large floral designs which were off-center and artistic may turn into a new, season defining trend if the look makes it from the runways into reality. Hopefully store buyers will see the floral trend as fresh and understand that consumers are tired of minimalism and looking for more playful looks in fashion. It should be interesting to see which parts of the floral trend hit store shelves in the next three months as spring begins to trickle into the shops. When florals do arrive in stores, this is one trend you will want to jump on right away. Since the artistic florals are fresh and new, they may just fly off the racks faster than a Cabbage Patch Kid in 1983. Happy shopping and stay fabulous