May Flowers — Blooming in Spring Fashion

Ahhh, springtime! I know some of our readers who live in other parts of the country have been enjoying spring in all its glory for maybe even a couple months now, but here in New England, spring doesn’t truly show up until May. The saying “April showers bring May flowers” rings very true for us New Englanders. This year it rained and rained and rained and rained some more in April, and even into early May. But the flip side of all that dreary, raw weather is that the budding flora was well-watered, and once the sunshine of May finally graced us with its presence, the plant life and flowers exploded in a rainbow of lush colors, scenting the breeze with heavenly fragrances. And best of all, we can officially put away our cold-weather clothes! Here’s what we’re wearing this spring, inspired by the gorgeous flowers blooming or about to bloom in our gardens.

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Lisa in Peony Pink 

As I said in the Q&A section of our About page, peonies are one of my favorite flowers. I love the dramatic proportion of the blossom, the showstopping texture of the ruffly petals, and the subtle, fresh-floral scent. They are bold yet refined. But what I also love is the dazzling range of colors they come in. We used to live in Ann Arbor, MI, which is home to one of the largest peony gardens in the world with a staggering array of varieties. The breathtaking spectacle of the garden in full bloom is a sight to behold. But I think of all the colors, I am most drawn to this deep-pink variety, because of the simply radiant saturated fuchsia shade.

I love this tunic (similar) for many of the same reasons I love those deep-pink peonies. The vibrant color is gorgeous, the balloon sleeves give it dramatic proportions, and the exquisite floral embroidery work gives it lots of visual texture. If only it came scented with a fresh-floral fragrance! But a little spritz of my favorite perfume can take care of that! I like to pair this statement top with these simple white shorts and understated wedges (similar).

Jillian in Hydrangea Blue 

I love hydrangeas! I chose them as my wedding flowers. They are also plentiful on Nantucket, where we have family and which we visit every summer. So I associate many good memories with them! Every time my husband is planning to plant something in our garden he asks what I would like, and my answer is always another hydrangea bush–despite not having as much sun as we need for them (sigh)! We do have a few at my brick nest, and I relish in their coastal bright blue color!

The blue shade of this top perfectly replicates the color of the hydrangeas I so love! Why not let the color of one thing you love inspire another, seemingly unrelated color choice? After all, I painted my daughter’s bedroom in a beautiful blush color inspired by a blush-colored top I own! The texture of the eyelets on this top also reminds me of the multitude of little petals that make up each flower. These white jeans are perfect to tie together that crisp coastal vibe that I love. I bought these wedges (similar) a few summers ago in Nantucket and love how comfy and versatile they are. I added a little basket purse that I had to round out the look. I also adore this one though, and may need to add it to my summer wish list!

Lisa in Daffodil Yellow

Is there anything more cheerful than a daffodil? One of the earliest flowers to sprout and bloom in the springtime, they are like rays of pure sunshine in flower form, heralding the arrival of spring. They always put a smile on my face. Their yellow color is definitely associated with happiness and is partially why I love them, but their cute little ruffled cup shape is also charming.

This outfit admittedly is on the summery side, but as soon as I saw this breezy little one-shouldered dress I immediately thought of a daffodil! The light-but-bright shade of yellow just says “fun in the sun” and the playful, fluttery shoulder ruffle reminds me of that ruffled cup in the center of the flower. The airy, super lightweight slub cotton material means this dress will transition right into the hotter months of summer. Back in this post, I mentioned I like yellow paired with aqua, so I chose to accessorize this dress with a statement aqua earrings, an adorable straw basket purse with an monogrammed aqua stripe ribbon, a simple lucite bracelet, and gold and white flat sandals (similar). I think this shade of yellow would really pop with a tan, but I’ll have to fake it with my favorite bronzer.

Jillian in Lilac Purple

Lilacs are another favorite of mine! I love the sweet floral smell of these beautiful pale purple blooms. We have a small lilac bush in my yard now that supplies the vases in my home, but before planting it, I may or may not have been know to find a stray lilac bush to clip for these fragrant blossoms!

This extremely comfortable pale-lilac dress has beautiful details and a flowy fit that gives it lots of swingy movement. Spring has been taking its sweet time this year, so while my outfit inspiration flower has bloomed, the weather up until last week has been quite chilly. I styled this dress a little warmer for these pictures with a pair of boots to show that this dress could not only be great with sandals in late spring and summer, but can work well even on cooler days or into the fall. Plus, the more rugged boots give this sweet and feminine dress a little country-girl edge. I added the earrings for a little splash of color, and this simple outfit is done! This dress is so fun to wear, it kinda makes me want to do this!

We hope you found these beautiful flowers as inspiring as we do. It just feels so good to bloom (or swing!) in spring fashion! 🌸