Flowers in Bloom

I have a confession for TVC readers:  I was prom queen. 

That’s right.  Me, queen of satire, sweatpants and with glasses to boot, was once a high school glamazon.  In addition to preternatural bronzed skin thanks to the local tanning salon, a crown of highlights that I still wouldn’t replicate today in favor of my natural hair color and a plethora of rhinestone jewelry from Macy’s, I donned a $400 floor-length taffeta dress that was the very epitome of a Cinderalla story.  (I should also note that I begged and pleaded with my mother to buy me this dress, as my salary as a coffee-slinging counter girl didn’t exactly make the cut for such an extravagant purchase.  She obliged mostly to shut me up and to regain some “peace and quiet around here.”)  The dress, which was white, had a tight, corseted bodice encrusted with Swarovski crystals and flowed to the floor with twenty-something layers of mesh tulle.  When paired with clear resin heels and an attitude straight from a Janet Jackson music video, my 5’4” frame towered over my classmates and won over the reception hall staff, our “judges” for the evening.  (Take that, Perez Hilton.)

That was my story then.  Nine years later, my catwalk consists of the sidewalk; my competitors are the other rush hour commuters with bagels and briefcases in hand, not dreamy dates from the soccer team or a Bonne Bell lip gloss.  Our judges consist of the narrowed eyes on the seat next to us in the subway, which subtly glance up and down at the fashions du jour and make mental notes to avoid a trend at all costs or to fly like hell to the nearest H&M before it’s completely sold out.  And with prom season in full swing, memories of that floor-length dress flood my memory and force me to notice the flux of women in maxi length dresses on the streets of the city. 

Interestingly enough, some of these dresses – often printed with funky floral or geometric patterns – could be considered prom-worthy, if paired with the right heeled sandal and silky pashmina.  When paired with bejeweled flats and a pair of oversized sunglasses, though, the maxi dress is contemporary, cool, and a relief to women everywhere who want hemlines shorter than their nether regions.  As is the case with many styles that sit on the fence of being pushed to black tie or totally bohemian, the key is to accessorize wisely. 

The maxi dress:  a flashback to that special night of dancing to Boyz II Men and raucous in a limousine, or summertime’s newest “It” piece?

-Karyn Polewaczyk 
 

 April showers bring May flowers – and with them, floral prints on gauzy skirts, perfectly prim tops and a host of other fashionable, adult-friendly florals. Whether you’re on a long-stemmed budget or that of a mixed bouquet, The Vogue City will pluck a basket of fashion picks that will bring your wardrobe into full bloom – while nipping overpriced duds in the bud.

Spring wouldn’t hold such a mild temperament without picnics, bike rides, and the epitome of preppy prints, Lily Pulitzer. Their Ollie dress, $248 at LilyPulitzer.com, is a fresh blend of white and yellow:

The ruffle at the hem adds a demurely sweet-yet-age appropriate touch (is there anything worse than a woman over the age of 5 stricken with ruffle overload?), while the combination of yellow and white looks crisp and fresh. Pair now with a lightweight cashmere cardigan in a contrasting color, like a light plum or kelly green, neutral peep toe pumps and a silk clutch for dinner downtown; transform it into a summer staple come June with strappy metallic flat sandals and an oversized straw tote.

Missoni splays a delectable blend of sunwashed floral plus the eponymous Missoni hexagonal signature print in their silk Ethel dress, $1975 at Neiman Marcus:

Nevermind picnics and bike rides – with a dress (and price tag) like this, you’re better off spending April on a yacht off the coast of Capri with men named Carlo and Maximo feeding you prosciutto-wrapped melon by hand. Buon giorno!

Old Navy hits a home run with their maxi dress, $32 at Old Navy stores (a steal like this is not surprisingly sold out online), in hues of mixed cobalt, aqua and cream:

Add flat sandals of your liking (heels with a maxi dress spell trouble, unless you’re Diana Ross and it’s 1975) and top with sprinkles, and you’ve got yourself one tasty springtime treat.

As a rule of thumb, small prints – whether they be floral, herringbone or polka dot – work best with small body shapes, while larger prints help to balance a fuller frame.

-Karyn Polewaczyk