Hooks the Look

Powers The Flower: Abstract Floral

When I first saw the dress you see in these photos, I was drawn to the pattern which is called by its retailer an abstract floral. Abstract as an adjective means “existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence” and in reference to art, the term is used when a depiction “does not attempt to represent external reality, but seeks to achieve its effect using shapes, forms, colors, and textures”. That, in a nutshell, describes the lovely pattern of this dress.

fwe-ptf-abstract-floral-110516-1

It’s no secret that I adore florals but I prefer them to be less prairie and more chic. The ones offered from the Simply Vera line at Kohl’s often meet this standard and this abstract floral fit and flare dress is no exception. I have quite a collection of floral prints from this brand as seen in In Real Life: East Coast Travels and Rose Quartz & Serenity.

fwe-ptf-abstract-floral-110516-3

The color palette has a high contrast look that is muted a bit by a sepia wash effect that removes the harshness of the tones and adds to the abstract quality of the pattern. In these photos, I’ve paired the dress with gray shoes and a cream-colored cardigan but it also matches well with black.

fwe-ptf-abstract-floral-110516-4

I like the added coverage from the longer length of this dress and similar to the one shown in my recent East Coast Travels post, this dress has a hankerchief hem. I hope this hemline is not a passing trend because it adds a flattering style element that softens the harshness of the horizontal line and adds a flirty “now you see ’em, now you don’t” effect with my calves and knees. Oh, and did I tell you yet that this dress has pockets? How heavenly is that?

fwe-ptf-abstract-floral-110516-6

With the bold print and fairly open neckline, I opted for a short necklace and selected one that I’ve had for quite a while and first appeared on the blog this past January in Blooming Jewelry. I like how the necklace picks up on floral motif and that the gems compliment the colors in the dress.

Shop The Look

Let’s Wrap This Up

Now, onto the Fine-Whatever link up for this week. My featured contributor is a relatively new reader and follower of this blog. Pamela, from It’s Pam Del, who says that her perfect day is lots of thrifting and lots of coffee and that that the trend of pleated metallic skirts speaks to her soul. She sounds like my kind of gal.

pamela-110516

So, while this post has a concrete existence and is therefore not abstract, I will conclude this abstract on my dress with the abstract floral pattern with this quote from graphic designer Paul Rand – “Pictures, abstract symbols, materials, and colors are among the ingredients with which a designer or engineer works. To design is to discover relationships and to make arrangements and rearrangements among these ingredients.” Isn’t that what we try to achieve with our personal styles?

Letโ€™s connect! Subscribe, tweet, follow, friend, love, pin, stumble โ€ฆ all options are available and waiting for you. I look forward to hearing from you. And don’t forget to add a post or two to the link up.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Loading InLinkz ...

29 Comments

    • Rena Post Author

      The hemline is a fun look, makes the dress a bit less serious. Thank you for the heads up with the start time delay on link up.

  2. BiTi

    Hi Rena,
    Thank you for featuring my turtleneck post last week and for the fun party. I love the flower dress on you! Have a lovely weekend.
    BiTi

    • Rena Post Author

      I’m glad you like the print and the hemline, Andrea, and thank you for always supporting my link up.

  5. Nancy Baten

    I love a hemline like that. I am also a big fan of the high low hem. This dress is really fiattering on you! Beautiful!

    • Rena Post Author

      Thank you, Nancy. That is a lovely compliment and it’s brighten my day.

  6. Sheela Goh

    Yes, most emphatically, Rena. Creating an outfit is the pairing of this with that and perhaps those, to see what abstract vision forms before our eyes. Whether it is pleasing or additional touches are warranted. It’s all about coming up with the right formula and balance. Which I feel you’ve achieved quite harmoniously with this dress (and its heavenly pockets and kerchief hemline)!!

    • Rena Post Author

      It’s an art and a science, isn’t it? Thank you for ‘seeing’ things my way ๐Ÿ™‚

  7. girl stuff

    Ooh, I love that the floral dress has long sleeves! So hard to find dresses with sleeves these days.

    • Rena Post Author

      I’m right with you on loving the long sleeves as well as the pockets.

    • Rena Post Author

      Thank you, Rania. I was a little skeptical of the color palette at first but it has grown on me.

    • Rena Post Author

      Mary, I do like how it moves and flows and it’s got a lot of subtle detail. Thanks for stopping by.

  12. Jess

    Love the print Rena, I see what they mean about abstract, however I can certainly make out the flowers. I am like you, I like a more chic modern floral.. not so much prarie. The color is fab as is the bottom hem of the dress on you.
    stop by if you can
    jess xx
    http://www.elegantlydressedandstylish.com

  15. Jennie

    The handkerchief hemline, muted colors, and abstract print make this dress a stunner! It looks fab with your cardigan and peep toe booties.