floral preoccupation outfits
[ click for larger view and description. ]
There is something that keeps drawing me back to floral skirts again and again! Both of these were made from 1980s “prairie” style dresses I had thrifted, and since the style was rather out-dated, I just chopped off the wonderfully full skirts and remade them! Even a year after I refashioned these, I still haven’t grown tired of their cheerful floral patterns.
The above outfit I actually wore in late April, and just forgot to post until now! I was inspired by one of my favorite standbys: the 1940s summertime skirt and peasant-style blouse combination (a post is coming soon on this look!). The hair style for that day was inspired by a video tutorial by the lovely Aya. I daresay this is one of my best outfits in the past month; the combination of vintage inspiration and romantic styling is me to a “t”!
[ click for larger view and description. ]
Outfit #2 is from earlier this week, and is quite simple. I was feeling minimalist, and wanted an almost modern 40s look. I blame browsing through a few Anthropologie catalogs from last summer; some of the styling is very similar to this look. The hair was copied from one of the model’s ‘dos (although mine isn’t as pretty; the model had straighter hair, and mine definitely doesn’t like to lay flat).
So, my dear readers: do you like floral prints? What is your favorite incarnation of them? Do you like them big and bold, or the small “ditsy” prints?
Posted on May 14th, 2009 to outfits.
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inspiration week #81 »19 lovely thoughts to “floral preoccupation outfits”
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Fleur says:
Oh Casey I love these skirts so much, and yet I have nothing like them in my wardrobe! I think I should get some, really. Sharpish!
you look stunning, as always!
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Sal says:
Love both of these looks – the second one is so sassy, yet so understated. How do you DO that, lady?
I’m loving florals in dresses mainly …
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Lauren says:
Haha! I read “floral pre-occupation outfits” like pre-occupation Europe in WWII. Doh! Silly me
I ADORE your outfits! You are so good at pulling together looks, and I definitely need to learn some of your cute photo shoot tricks. -
Lauren says:
oh, and my favorite floral prints are the little deco ones from feedsack fabrics in the 1930s and rayon tropical ones from the 40s
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Franca says:
hello, great blog, I wonder why i’ve never come across it before?
I personally never wear small floral prints, although I absolutely love them on other people (like you!). If I wear florals, its got to be something big, stylised, bold and bright.
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reilly says:
I’m definitely a fan of the dense, smaller florals! I like that second skirt even more with the petticoat peeking out beneath it! I need something like that. :]
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Anabela says:
I seem to be most drawn to tiny florals, but I also have a soft spot for the big flowers on barkcloth… You look so wonderful and summery in these pictures!
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alli says:
i absolutely adore florals! you look incredibly cute, as always;)
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marjorie says:
Oh I love them to bits!!
And thanks for the link to the hair tutorials!! Such fun!! I think I know how I’ll be spending the evening!! tee hee! I can play with my hair for hours on end! It’s quite shocking, I must say!! -
Noir Girl says:
I love your floral skirts! What an ingenious way to refashion those prairie dresses! I’m going to have to find one, to try it myself.
Do you have petticoats on under them to give them that nice pouf?I think I’m a bigger fan of the large floral patterns than the small, but I’ll wear both. I adore flowers in general.
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Maegan says:
Very adorable…I tend to stay away from tiny floral…draws attention to places I’d rather not have attention drawn to! So I stick with mostly solids, and a few larger prints.
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Alyssa says:
Indeed, florals are fantastic. I must admit I was a little horrified are your modification of the 80′s skirts; as a Gunne Sax fanatic I truly hope they were a generic version!
I prefer tiny floral calicos, but I also like florals with stripes.
I wish I liked the more Hawaiian-inspired florals of the 40s, but they always make me think of my mother’s and my aunt’s poor taste in clothing that developed from their South Floridian upbringing. So instead of thinking of fashions from the Pearl Harbor movie, I always think of 90′s shoulder-padded, menswear-inspired, ugly boxy shirts :\ -
Rhiannon says:
Your outfits are always extra inspirational because of all the thought and work that goes into them . . . I love how you can build a perfectly ’40s-ish outfit around a skirt that you made from an ’80s prairie dress!
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Hannah says:
You look absolutely fabulous in the second photo, I love your heels!
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Maegan says:
Hey! I grew up in South Florida…those shirts were not a Florida creation! Just like Miami beach…a northerner brought it down as their IDEA of Florida! :p
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YeahyeahGirl says:
I’m so glad I discovered your blog, you are very talented and beautiful, I’m a little happier than one minute ago, you’re great ! I’ll be back !
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cassiopeia says:
amazingly cute skirt
you look great!xxxc
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Abigail says:
That skirt is so cute and a great idea to remake the dresses!
As far as florals go, I think I tend to go brighter/bigger. I’m introverted and petite, so over-the-top 60′s prints feel like a fun counterpoint
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Helen says:
They’re both beautiful. I love how full the last one is.
Thank you ever so much for taking time to share your comment! Although I try to answer questions, I am not always able to respond to each comment individually. But please know that I appreciate from the bottom of my heart every comment I receive!