If you’re not ready to dive head first into spring’s floral trend, there are a few ways in which you can ease in to it. One of the simplest ways to incorporate any floral into your wardrobe is with a small flower pin or sash as an accent piece. Think of Carrie Bradshaw’s flower pins she wore on her dresses and trenches to camouflage the politician’s campaign buttons. Your flower pins don’t have to be that large, nor do they have to be pins on a blazer or blouse. You can attach a floral pin onto a silk sash and wear it as an accent belt around your natural waistline to give a little special detailing to a dress or blazer .

Image: Loft

You could also wear this trend subtlety by incorporating it into jewelry. A brightly colored floral ceramic bracelet or a floral statement necklace is another easy way of wearing this trend.
Feeling a little gutsier? Try a floral clutch or even a floral slingback or D’orsay pump. Keep the rest of your outfit free of patterns or prints. I recommend a little color blocking by picking solid shades from the shoes or clutch. For example, a pink shirt with a red skirt or pant. Let the shoes or clutch become the focal point. They might even become conversation starters!

Image: Talbot

If you find you are ready to walk on the floral side and incorporate florals into your clothing, you don’t have to go for full on every-color-in-the–rainbow jeans, pants, or blazer. For curvier women, floral or large patterned pants could emphasize hips, rear, and thighs. So here are some tricks .

Image: Talbot

Try to stick with pants that taper toward the ankles and wear darker floral prints. Keep the rest of your outfit minimal. I recommend a solid, dark top with some structure. I also recommend a dark, pointy pump to create the illusion of elongation. If you’re choosing a floral pant, you’ll want the other elements of your outfit to be smooth and fluid. Take a look at the pants in the picture below. Although the print is quite bold, I recommend using neutrals, such as black, to balance the floral print and keep the lines flowing smoothly. Pair these pants with a longer blouse that covers the problem areas (rear and hips) that would normally stand out in a floral print. A boat neck or scoop neck blouse with ¾ length sleeves that exposes the smallest part of your arms will help elongate the look, just as the pants are doing with tapering toward the smallest part of the legs. It’s all about illusion. Don’t forget to add some height with a heel when wearing cropped pants.

Not a floral pants person? No worries. Maybe try a more masculine print, such as the paisley pants I have on below. Notice how my tunic covers my problem areas? And my waist is cinched with a low-slung belt, also disguising a poochy tummy. Would you believe my tunic is actually a dress?!

Another way to create an elongated and tapered look with florals is with pencil skirts. Pencil skirts are extremely flattering to curvy women, especially if they are made of cotton and have 3% spandex. They hug your curves, disguise your thighs, and taper in toward the smallest area of your legs. Take this skirt from asos.com. You can get this pattern in average and plus-sized skirts, pants, and blazers. This skirt is supposed to be high-waisted. However, if you have a stomach pooch like me, you can wear it at hip level and have a tailor hem the bottom right below the knees, like I did!

So as you can see, women of any size can master the floral trend, be it in an accessory or by incorporating it into their clothing. You just need to find the right fabric, color, and structure for your body type.

By Nichole Delehant