The Chic List Flowery femininity It s not for me - YOU Magazine Fashion Beauty Celebrity Health Life Relationships Horoscopes Food Interiors Travel Sign in Welcome!Log into your account Forgot your password? Password recovery Recover your password Search Sign in Welcome! Log into your account Forgot your password? Get help Password recovery Recover your password A password will be e-mailed to you. YOU Magazine Fashion Beauty Celebrity Health Life Relationships Horoscopes Food Interiors Travel Home Fashion The Chic List Flowery femininity It s not for me By Joanne Hegarty - March 27, 2022 Fashion columnist and influencer Joanne Hegarty on toughening up her look. Recently I tried on a floral dress and had a very strange reaction. Sex and the City fans will remember the scene when Carrie tried on a wedding dress after getting engaged to Aidan – who, of course, was not the love of her life – and came out in a rash, then pulled and ripped the gown right off. My reaction wasn’t quite so dramatic but it was still very strong. A few years ago, I used to enjoy wearing floral frocks of all shapes and sizes, but not any more. Maybe it’s the trauma of the pandemic that has made me want to feel tougher, more in control in such an unpredictable world. I still want to look feminine but in a different way. Image: Victoria Metaxas So no more prairie dresses for me. Luckily, there are plenty of exciting trends coming our way that fit perfectly with my ‘feminine doesn’t have to mean florals’ philosophy. Here are five… The ballet flat After the winter months of boots and trainers, there’s now a hankering for these chic little shoes. They were huge in the noughties – then largely forgotten. I’ve learnt from past mishaps that a pointy toe and a strap are the most flattering and practical styles. Who wants to do a clueless Cinders impression with lost slippers all over town? Equestrian chic A big trend for spring, at the fashion shows Chanel and Hermès showed how alluring, feminine and authoritative the horsey look can be. Think scrumptious tailored jackets in leather and wool, paired with minis or leggings and sexy riding boots. Working girl With more of us returning to the office, the runways reflected a distinctive back-to-business feel. Cool, crisp button-down shirts, loose trousers and lightweight blazers exuded a slouchy-yet-smart attitude. I’m wearing my shirts over jeans and tucked into leather pencil skirts. Statement knits Something interesting has happened in the world of knitwear. While cosy knits have always been a wardrobe staple, the rise of leisurewear and the increased focus on sustainability have pushed the whole industry to the forefront of fashion and brands are seeing a big demand for standout pieces. This summer lighter knitted and crochet dresses are set to be huge hits, while the sweater vest will still be going strong. Everyday glamour After months in slippers and joggers, it’s time to get out all those dressy pieces that were relegated to the back of the wardrobe. Do forgive me if mine aren’t floral… Vibrant and stylish. Make every day a dress-up day. Dress, £59.99, shop.mango.com Pointed and perfectly formed. Shoes, £98, boden.co.uk Wear with flats or heels. Accessorise with a horse! Leggings, £117, Leset, net-a-porter.com Wear over a slip dress or as a beach cover-up. Dress, £380, Sara Cristina, matchesfashion.com Goes with everything. Bracelet, £175, Inthefrow x edgeofember.com Team with leggings and boots. Jacket, £59.99, zara.com Follow me on Instagram @thestylistandthewardrobe RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR Rochelle Humes has launched a gorgeous new edit with Next Shop the YOU Magazine Instagram YOU picks the best new-in buys from M& S Popular in Fashion Laura Jackson has teamed up with Next for the chicest knitwear January 22, 2020 Holly Willoughby’ s birthday dress is another Zara bargain February 10, 2020 The Instagram-famous & Other Stories wool blazer is back in stock August 31, 2022 Lorraine just wore Emma Willis’ Next collection from head to toe March 17, 2020 The prettiest spring dresses under £100 March 1, 2022 Everyone is buying Holly’ s gorgeous gingham Oasis dress May 14, 2020 13 bargain dresses to buy in ASOS’ s extra 20 per cent June 10, 2020 This £20 H& M dress is set to be the social media June 26, 2020 Stacey Solomon x Primark is back for a third collection with July 20, 2020 Searches for this perfect heatwave summer top style are up 5000% August 10, 2020 Popular CategoriesFood2704Life2496Fashion2240Beauty1738Celebrity1261Interiors684 Sign up for YOUMail Thanks for subscribing Please check your email to confirm (If you don't see the email, check the spam box) Fashion Beauty Celebrity Life Food Privacy & Cookies T&C Copyright 2022 - YOU Magazine. All Rights Reserved