The fashion experts' new rules for floral dresses that stop them looking dated or mumsy

Heralding the return of warm weather by wearing florals doesn’t sound like anything new.

Indeed, the mere suggestion of flowery prints may leave you muttering a sarcastic ‘groundbreaking’, to quote Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada.

But don’t dismiss this trend out of hand, because this year it does have something more to offer. I’m not talking about ditsy, dainty floral tea dresses that are, quite frankly, mumsy. Instead, the look is all about bold, vibrant, oversized blooms that are eye-catching and impactful.

As such, now’s the time to ditch the so-called stealth wealth palette of understated neutrals. Yes, they are easy on the eye and often deemed classier, but this time of year calls for a joyful riot of colour.

Dress £165, Anthropologie; shoes £39.50 and bag £35

Dress £139, Phase Eight; shoes £149 Penelope Chilvers; bag £29.50, Marks & Spencer; earrings £32, Mint Velvet

Anna Wintour, Vogue’s Editor-in-Chief, offered a masterclass in how to style the botanical trend as hostess of the recent Met Gala. 

She paid homage to the Garden Of Time theme with a black Loewe coat scattered with red and yellow tulips that said ‘look at me’ for all the right reasons. 

Rather than drowning the coat in a sea of small flowers, larger, tactically-spaced blooms offered a level of sophistication that many daisy-print designs lack.

She also understood that bold florals need to be paired with low-key pieces, hence a simple cream dress underneath that let her floor-length coat do the talking.

And the High Street is heeding the same lessons. Burberry sent gothic florals down its SS24 catwalk, proving the style is far from twee, and this black dress from Anthropologie follows suit. Brighten the look with accessories such as this bag from Marks & Spencer, £35, which draws out the orange from the print. 

Dress £239, Hobbs; shoes £149, Penelope Chilvers

Blazer £69, Marks & Spencer; dress, £275 Me+Em; shoes £99 Phase Eight; necklace £115, Ottoman Hands; earrings £90, Hot Diamonds

Fans of colour clashing look away now, but 2024’s florals pair best with accessories in similar shades. Keep footwear simple. If a heel or wedge seems OTT, then less showy trainers are an acceptable route.

You can also go for a singular statement flower, like this striking Hobbs dress with an over-sized peony. You can find the same print on a shirt, which would team well with plain trousers.

So embrace bold floral prints and sign up for summer fashion that’s all about having fun.