The no-frills florals that will update your working wardrobe

Many of my clients are nervous about wearing florals in the workplace. Deemed as too feminine, too whimsical, or too like something that you’d wear to a summer wedding, they’re disregarded - but wrongly so, in my opinion. Florals are a brilliant tool to freshen up an outfit, and one of those trends that never really disappears - I chuckle quietly as fashion reports announce that ‘florals are back’, as if they had gone anywhere.

They come in of lots of different guises, of course. Save the country garden varieties for that summer wedding and look instead bolder, brighter pieces that will blend easily into your existing work wardrobe. Being a print-fanatic, I use them to bring colour and fun to office-appropriate outfits.

I’d avoid jackets, trousers and accessories as they will quickly date. Instead, focus on dresses and blouses which can be paired with classic tailoring. The Scandinavian brands are really good at pretty but cool floral prints. This Arket dress (which I bought a few weeks ago) has black piping running through it, making it easy to wear with a black blazer and boots; there is a matching blouse that would transform a simple black trouser suit. A print with a dark base colour, like Essentiel Antwerp’s navy-based blouse, gives you more styling options - I’d wear it with elegant navy separates.