floral dress young girlFor Spring 2016 designers are all about going big – big color, big stripes, big patterns. And one of the cheeriest of pattern trends is floral.

Couture designers have taken this to the somewhat ridiculous (surprise, surprise…) extremebathrobe floralshoulde weird with, for example, bathrobe-y looking coats and the random patch of black (for her shotgun shoulder pad?) But although we typically think of florals as either Romantic (large, darker florals) or Youthful (small, sweet paler florals) we’re getting quite a mash-up this season, offering something for almost every style type.

Here are a few: One of the biggest trends is the satin (likely polyester) bomber jacket. Thisfloral bomber jacket one (right) is an interesting, but not easily wearable, combination of Subtle saramaiBlended color along with the Natural/Relaxed style. But the blue background and red floral read as a bit more Lively Bright. A blonde with a touch of Natural and some Youthful could likely wear this. But it’s a funny combination of colors and styles. One of my favorite women over 60 in the Instagram world is jewelry designer Saramai, who rocks her own version on the left here, and it works for her – color and style.

Here’s an example of a Bright spring like Romantic for plus size.loose blue dress spring floral skirt(Refreshing that plus size ladies don’t have to hide beneath neutral ‘tents’ any longer.) And the little youthful pattern to the right in blue is kind of tent like, but in a tongue-and-cheek way.

If you’re getting the impression that the florals this year are mostly Lively Bright – or Spring – map printwarm patternyou’d be correct. It’s just what we think of in the spring. For Earthy Rich types don’t expect to find a lot of florals – but then you’d more likely be harmonious in some of the other graphic prints available anyway, like this map print on the dress on the left (both Subtle Blended and Earthy Rich – the dress to the right of it works only for a Striking winter type) or the large floral pattern on the caftan.

As for other Spring prints, Dolce and Gabbana’s new version of High Spirited and Romantic has come through loud anDG yellowD and G black and yellow dressd clear the past two seasons with their graphic prints depicting dolce patternlife scenes in Lively Brights (left) Youthful florals in Striking (winter) colors (right) and child-like drawing prints as in this yellow dress (far right.)

However you look at it, there’s a profusion of pattern this spring and there’s (almost) something for every different style type, and a lot for certain color types. The takeaway from it all is don’t let yourself fall into a rut – there’s a lot of joyous color and pattern to celebrate this spring.yellowicon

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