Trend alert: Flowers are the new skulls

Not sure about you, but the whole skull trend always made me retch. It lost its edge early on and nothing depressed me more than seeing middle-aged dads wearing bedazzled skull hoodies.  If you have to advertise that you're a bad ass, you're probably more of a pompous ass.

Anyway, I am thrilled to report that designers have abandoned their faux macabre ways for spring. In other words, a flower hath bloomed out of the empty eye socket of every skull we saw in past seasons. Gaultier (left), Armani, and Christian Dior showed floral concoctions at the recent couture shows in Paris. Prada, Balenciaga and Marni are using flora in various forms.

Burying skulls and unearthing flowers makes me wholly optimistic. Maybe the Democrats will even win this election? Perhaps I will lose a few pounds and be able to wear pants again? Peace in the Middle East? OK, I'll stop.

But seriously, the trend is easy to access. This jersey dress from Tibi (right) at netaporter.com is a veritable garden on your sleeve ($420). The cut is modern and flattering; the color will buoy any spirit.

If you want to ease into the look at a smaller price point and less fanfare, check out this cute purse from J.Crew.com ($58). It has a Marni feel to it with the chunky block print and it reminds me of Bermuda bags that I carried back before I incurred major sun damage.

Finally, this floral silk scarf imported from Japan at UrbanOutfitters.com at $28 makes the perfect blooming accent to jeans and a tee. Contrast the feminine element with a tomboy-ish get-up. Now, use your head and get rid of all those skull-emblazoned bags, shoes and sweaters.

Photo credits: Gaultier, style.com; dog hoodie, fuzzytogs.com

Comments

[Paul]

Wow. Hideous.

[sean k]

Yep. Hideous as all hell. And whattya mean trend? When did these stupid flower patterns ever go away? Maybe you wanna look like your grandmas sofa, but I'm certain no one with a modicum of independent thought would deck themselves out in flowers in this day and age. Actually no one with the least bit of independent thought gives two cents about "keeping up appearances" in Hollywood or anywhere else for that matter. And as far as you non-sequiter political observation, I hope dems win too... and all the little old bible thumping ladies who come out to vote republican will be wearing flowered dresses, not skulls.

[sean k]

Yep. Hideous as all hell. And whattya mean trend? When did these stupid flower patterns ever go away? Maybe you wanna look like your grandmas sofa, but I'm certain no one with a modicum of independent thought would deck themselves out in flowers in this day and age. Actually no one with the least bit of independent thought gives two cents about "keeping up appearances" in Hollywood or anywhere else for that matter. And as far as you non-sequiter political observation, I hope dems win too... and all the little old bible thumping ladies who come out to vote republican will be wearing flowered dresses, not skulls.

[carlos]

I like the flowers. I have a gray hat with black flowers on it that I like to wear when dive on the oil platforms. My buddy tells me "Not everyone can wear that hat." Yeah.

Skulls are kinda depressing. I think the chihuahua would look better with a colorful jacket, too.