When thinking of spring fashion, this quote often comes to mind: “Florals? For spring? Groundbreaking.” (The Devil Wears Prada). Groundbreaking or not, while trends may come and go, style is timeless—and if there’s one pattern that has stood the test of time, it’s florals.
The pattern’s inception began centuries ago as drawings on silk pieces in China, which then moved along the Silk Road to Europe and beyond. In the early 1900s, as women’s fashion began to change and the Industrial Revolution began, florals became more widespread in not only clothing but home design as well. We’ve seen florals deemed as “gaudy,” then come back with the rise of the Flower Power movement in the 1960s and 1970s with bright colors and bold patterns (hello,Twiggy). Modern florals include a variety of pattern mixing (cue Carrie Bradshaw) and a diversity of styles and colors.
While their popularity remains untouched, that doesn’t mean every spring we need to “buy new.” Just as a flower resurfaces annually, so should the reuse and repurposing of fashion pieces. With the current focus on hugging our planet more closely (finally!), sustainability has become a hot topic. In terms of fashion, second-hand clothing has drawn a larger following, with fast fashion more criticized for its usage of nonecological practices. Secondhand, vintage, and consignment stores are gaining in popularity as shoppers look for current styles at a discounted price and to increase their positive carbon footprint.When pulling this piece together, we wanted a backdrop that showed an eclectic and inviting yet vintage setting for our photos that correlated with the theme of sustainability. We were inspired by the display of vintage furniture in a modern-day setting at the Daily Refresher in Rochester. The location provided us a moody Parisian backdrop that would show off the pop of the florals we selected for the models. These could be women in an everyday setting in any location on a spring day.
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So where can you start locally in the 585? The items used in this shoot were a mix of vintage pieces from local thrift stores, and two of the dresses were graciously loaned from Panache Vintage & Finer Consignment, boasting the popular labels of Free People and MISA Los Angeles. Panache, Second Look, the Op Shop, FOMO, Little Shop of Hoarders, and NTY Clothing Exchange are examples of local secondhand options that provide trends but also unique pieces you can’t find elsewhere. And let’s not forget the Lucky Flea, occurring every Sunday at Radio Social. The Flea is composed of vendors selling clothing, homeware, books, furniture, and more all from a mix of current and bygone eras.
Spring signals the feeling of hope and renewal, of refreshing after winter and preparing for sunshine, vibrancy, and happiness.Whether you’re wearing a vintage floral from the Flea or supporting one of our local boutiques, spring into action this season with your own groundbreaking approach to florals by rocking them sustainably!PHOTOS: Greg HollarWORDS & STYLING: Sarah Pavia, dresses from Panache Vintage & Finer ConsignmentMODELS: Maya Hudak and Lisa Houser MUA: Lamany ChanthavongLOCATION: Special thanks to Cameron Phelps and his team at the Daily Refresher (293 Alexander Street, Rochester)
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