15 of the best floral pieces to wear this spring

15 of the best floral pieces to wear this spring – in pictures

Thandiwe Newton wearing a floral dress, model wearing floral summer dress, floral converse trainers, floral sleveless top, and floral halterneck summer dress — From left: Thandiwe Newton (Getty Images), model wearing yolke.co.uk, trainers, converse.com, top, aligne.co, and dress, Faithfull The Brand from net-a-porter.com Photograph: pr

As the saying goes, March winds and April showers bring forth May flowers. We’ve had plenty of inclement weather this spring, so let’s get to work on our florals.

Borrow a styling trick from the Oscars’ red carpet and sharpen your look with a crisp white shirt. Try Zara’s deep-cuff style (£29.99) tucked into a mini or midi skirt. For every day, style your florals with white trainers or pull out one accent colour from the print for your sneakers or jeans to match. Rixo’s pansy-print blouse looks great with jeans.

If you’re after a floral update for your holiday wardrobe, try Ganni’s cami and shorts set, Reiss’s cutaway multi-floral panelled sun dress, or Ted Baker’s long-sleeved blousy blooms in yellow with lace insert mini dress – perfect with flat sandals.

Take inspiration from the catwalk. Simone Rocha showed fabrics such as antique eiderdowns in rosebud-strewn brocade, while Emilia Wickstead chose the backdrop of the topiary garden on the Badminton Estate in Gloucestershire to present her signature chintzy florals. The Vampire’s Wife has timeless floral dresses with offbeat twists – such as a shaped shoulder – that create a retro glamour loved by celebrities, including the actor Haley Bennett (below). Search online vintage stores, like blue17.co.uk and goldsmithvintage.com, for preloved pieces.

Actress Haley Bennett in New York City. (Photo by Raymond Hall/GC Images) — Actor Haley Bennett sporting a floral dress, in New York City. Photograph: Raymond Hall/GC Images

If full-on floral makes you feel like a retreating wallflower, opt for accessories such as Reclaimed Vintage’s inspired mini flower hair clips (£10.99, asos.com) or Pond London’s bouquet studs.

Alternatively, go for a more leafy print like Jigsaw’s cream and green maxi belted puff-sleeved dress, (£250, available from May) and Zara’s pearl and resin leaf bag.