Spring Flower Power
When I think of spring, I think of flowers, and not just the pretty petals in real life but also those found in the patterns of dresses and skirts. I am normally already a big fan of floral prints, spring or not, but now more than ever I need floral prints in my wardrobe and everyday outfits because they remind me of the fresh blooms I love and the hope that we will all be able to appreciate them in person again very soon.
So I encourage you to wear floral prints and patterns this spring to keep your spirits high and remember that this too shall pass. To that end, I am going to introduce my picks of trendy flower-themed items for this season.
The clothes featured in this post are all from the brand tocco closet. It is an affordable brand (the average price of dresses is 4000 yen) that produces pretty and elegant designs, usually involving flowers and trendy colors. It is universally loved by Japanese Instagram influencers like @ichaaako and @rei.cantabile, and it often collaborates with influencers to create special edition items.
I love this brand because while their designs are not jam-packed with cuteness, they sneak little kawaii details like bows and lace into clothes that you can wear to professional settings. That’s one of the many things I love about and a unique strength of Japanese fashion—you can be cute anytime anywhere, the true definition of everyday kawaii.
Each outfit in this post showcases a popular spring color this year and a different way to work flowers into your style. I hope you find some fashion inspiration and maybe interest in a new brand through this post! Also, check out the accompanying Kawaii Beauty post and video on a review of Larme’s spring-ready color contact lenses!
1. Latte x Floral Appliqué
Brown has been a popular fall and even winter color, but now it has even made its foray into spring in the form of lighter versions of the color like beige, pink brown, or latte, which is the color of this sweater. Its soft color and texture really make you think of the milky espresso drink and the cozy vibes of spring with the return of warmer weather.
Top and skirt: tocco closet; hair clip: BEAMS; socks: tutuanna.
Its real draw for me, though, is the floral appliqué detail on the shoulder. Obviously, I love flowers, so I paired it with a floral print skirt. But for those of you who are not crazy about flowers, this can add just the right touch to a plain-colored skirt or jeans. The subtlety of the detail also makes it a great piece for work. (I recently wore it to a virtual work meeting.)
This sweater is from an influencer collaboration that I mentioned above, and so is the skirt, both designed by @rei.cantabile. She has done quite a few of these collabs, and the designs she came up with each time were beautiful like the tulle overlay of the skirt. It adds an ethereal effect to the outfit, making it a good match for a lot of kawaii brand tops like the one featured in this old post. (Add link)
2. Mint x Floral Lace
Mint is a classic spring color, but it’s trending even more so this year. Whether it’s coats (LODISPOTTO’s mint collection this year is awesome), dresses, skirts, you can find a mint version of it almost everywhere. If you are like me and have lots of pink in your wardrobe, it can be difficult to start coming up with mint outfits and it’s good to start with something simple like a top. Thankfully, mint pairs well with colors like beige, white, and navy, which is what I went for in this outfit.
Top and skirt: tocco closet; earrings: le reve vaniller; socks: tutuanna; handbag: kate spade new york.
The floral lace wraps around the whole skirt and really shines through under the light, so a simple top really brings out the pattern. The daisy lace is made of a very sturdy material. Usually with pencil skirts from Japanese brands, the hip size could be a bit small. This particular design, however, has quite a roomy fit around the hips and fits very comfortably.
The point of this mint sweater is definitely the pearls along the cuffs. They look very delicate, and they are like a little surprise when you raise your arm, making it good for a date outfit too. The simple design also means you can pair it with almost any pattern.
3. Lavender x Floral Print
Lavender has been getting more and more popular each year. It’s not hard to see why—it goes well with a lot of other pastel colors like baby pink and blue. Lavender items are also more common in winter now, so it makes for an easy transition color to wear as spring gets closer. The skirt in this outfit is one example: It sports a wintry design featuring a winter white color and an icier tone of lavender.
Top and skirt: tocco closet; earrings: LODISPOTTO; handbag: kate spade new york; socks: tutuanna.
Despite its winter tones, the skirt still works well with this top, which is of a brighter lavender color. Small flowers are much more popular than big flowers right now, so the print on this skirt in on trend! The shape of the skirt is not exactly A-line. It’s in between a slight mermaid and A-line, so it hugs you around the waist a little more than a normal A-line would, making for a pretty body line.
Like the latte sweater above, the lavender sweater in this outfit features floral appliqué but all around the neckline and with rhinestones mixed in, which makes the sweater look very fancy and elegant. The fit is also roomier, offering a good contrast to the snug fit of the skirt around the waist.
People say looking at flowers and plants is relaxing and makes you happy. I believe the same is true for wearing clothes with floral prints and patterns. Especially during the current crisis, I hope you can find joy in fashion and flowers, even if they are only on your clothes!