Floral feelings and Raoul Dufy

Lots of lovely floral recs in this one!

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Art by me inspired by Raoul Dufy

I think when it comes to the world of print, there’s a tendency to become bored with what you see often. Growing up in Australia, I feel like I saw florals a lot in shops like Kmart and Target, especially in a cotton jersey print.

But living in a residential area of Tokyo, I’ve realised that I rarely see florals in the shops or on people. And I miss them.

A few months ago, I did a class on Raoul Dufy via the London Drawing Group (sliding scale tutored art classes online) and my mind was blown. The vibrancy and expressive nature of his work paired with the tenderness and appreciation for flowers made me see them again in a different light.

Bouquet of flowers by Raoul Dufy, 1937 from Wiki Art

I’ve always liked illustrations of herbs, of fruits and vegetables, I can see the deep beauty in all of these ordinary things. Yet for a really long time, I didn’t share that same passion for florals.

Why?

As much as we can be influenced into thinking we're into something (all the microtrends), the opposite can be true too.

I've long held a secret love for florals while also following what people believe about them. That they're basic, casual, for everyday and ordinary.

There’s that sarcastic quote by Miranda Priestly in the Devil Wears Prada about florals for spring being (not) ground-breaking i.e. boring, dated and ‘ordinary’.

When I was looking at the designers that showcased at Paris Fashion Week, I realised many of them avoided print. This is one of my (many) objections to solely relying on high fashion to influence our taste.

Maybe florals are often gendered as feminine and seen as part of the domestic sphere. Maybe we’re trying to avoid all the gendered assumptions while we wear florals.

Which is strange really because artists like David Hockney and Raoul Dufy get to enjoy flowers and their artworks are revered.

The charm of flowers is that they exist as part of the ordinary, a natural element of our surroundings. And the ordinary, when looked at in a different perspective, can be truly beautiful.

It's hard to decipher what we really love.

But I can honestly say that I love florals.

Floral prints are incredibly beautiful in all the different arrays and can also be versatile.

Depending on the garment, textile and design, they can be dramatic and bold or they can be soft. A flouncy dress at a wedding or picnic. A cotton blouse with puffy sleeves tucked into a pair of trousers at work. A slinky dress dress from the 00s for a date. A sleeveless flowy dress for lounging at home or as nightwear. They work amazingly well with the ‘wrong shoe’ theory and pair well with run-down sneakers or chunky boots.

But where can you find sustainable, size diverse or inclusive styles in lovely florals? I’ve got some recs below! Lots of new brands added to the directory :)

(note: I try hard to use photos of fat models. If I can’t find one the particular style I’m recommending, then I’ll opt for a close-up of the materials or design where possible)