Apr 30, 2016

How to Dress Prettily (Without Ever Losing Your Edge)

by Hannah Almassi

Do you want to dress prettily and embrace spring/summer's super-girlish mood but not resemble Carrie Bradshaw circa the opening credits of Sex and the City, resplendent in a pink tutu and matching bodysuit? Yup. That's the very same sartorial quagmire we've found ourselves sinking into of late: We're keen to dive headfirst into florals (now that it's all about doubling the print up) or go head-to-toe into pink, but the risk of losing cred is palpable.

So, in order to walk the is-it-too-saccharine tightrope, we've enlisted the major skills of the style blogging community: They've been getting their spring style on over the past week or so, and, in the process, proving that you can get these ratios right. Go through the gallery to see the pretty fashion formulas to know now, plus shop the pieces to complement them…

Floral Pants + Black Top

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The You Way

Pernille Teisbaek of The You Way gives silky, embroidered floral pants a directional twist with her bell-sleeved black top and clashing pink sandals.

Bloom-Print Blouse + Raw-Edge Jeans

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Alice Point

Alice Zielasko of Alice Point has cleverly paired her ultra-feminine Gucci Blooms Print Blouse (£450) with sawn-off denim and chunky black accessories.

Broderie Anglaise + Boyish Extras

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Amlul

Blogging at Amlul, Gala Gonzalez shows broderie anglaise doesn't have to be for prairie girls only: Her shrugged-off coat, Louis Vuitton backpack and thick-soled brogues bring it well into the city.

Fancy Pants + Bomber Jacket

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The Fashion Guitar

The Fashion Guitar's Charlotte Groeneveld wears a double dose of silk—and it works! Due to the roomy silhouettes of her bomber jacket and cropped trousers, plus a pair of casual suede sandals—this evening-wear fabric looks ready for action.

Lace + Patent Accessories

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Atlantic Pacific

Blair Eadie of Atlantic Pacific gives a spiky edge to her super-pretty top and shorts combo from Zimmermann by wearing it with all-black, all-patent accessories.

Tailoring + Craftwork

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Desert Mannequin

Desert Mannequin's Anum Bashir gives a sleek makeover to utilitarian culottes and a slick tuxedo jacket via her crafty, embroidered floral Fendi bag and tufted Rachel Comey shoes .

Sequin Tank + Jeans

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@gilda_grazia_it

Gilda Ambrosio has made us rethink our going out tops: Layer one over a white T-shirt, pair with jeans and heels, et voilà, you have the ultimate 15-hour outfit.

Baby Pink + Denim Blues

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@eleonoracarisi

Eleonora Carisi hasmade a baby-pink T-shirt look oh so casual thanks to savagely ripped jeans and black shades.

Prim Outfit + Beach Bag

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@adenorah

Anne-Laure Mais of Adenorah has turned the classic Clueless combination of a shrunken sweater and a miniskirt into something new via her beachy styling.

Printed Coat + Striped Jersey

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Natalie Off Duty

Natalie Suarez from Natalie Off Duty has taken a very feminine spring coat and make it look eclectic thanks to her mix of leathers, prints, denim and mussed-up hair.

Shop the look:

Zara Embroidered Jacket (£70)

Found your weekend fashion vibe in here? Tell us how you'll style it in the comments box below…