Color and style inspiration: fashion forward flowers

It’s that time of year again- when I find myself practically driving off the road every time I pass a garden center. Oh how they taunt me… the colors, the containers- the promise of that cloistered garden that will one day be mine.

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But just as I’m about to turn into their fragrant lots the harsh reality of my blogger’s budget strikes and I realize that an afternoon at my friendly nursery could equal another harsh reality- next month’s credit card bill.

So I remind myself of the vow that I made as the last winter frost had thawed…this year I will only purchase herbs and vegetables plants ( my compost bin gets delivered this weekend- I am now fancying myself a real rustic eco kind of girl ) and I will limit myself to some choice plants and create knock- out container gardens ( 2 urns by my front door and 1 big one out back on my patio) that will satisfy my color and style cravings all summer long. After all a good container arrangement speaks volumes to the style of any outdoor space.

But before I drop my first dime-I always think ‘inspiration’, and since there will be another style and color sector under heavy budget this year- let’s just say I’ll be doing way more shopping at the Gap than at Gucci- I figure I could attempt to ‘kill two craving birds with one garden stone’.

So I went online to the ever awesome Proven Winners website and discovered a few fashionable plant combos that may as well have taken their inspiration right from the fashionable ‘looks’ that I think are key to this spring’s prettiest runway trends:

I know I featured this Gucci dress last week… but honestly I could look at it all day.  It’s drifty-boho meets Marrakesh is so hip and now -and that brilliant blue together with green and silvery green foliage is just my absolute favorite at the moment.  I love this arrangement ( I think this may be the one I attempt for my front urns)… I even love the name.  ( click on the names to find out more info on the plants used in each container!)

Day Dreamer

Marc Jacob caused quite a stir with his eclectic prairie girl meets Eliza Doolittle collection.  Very prim and proper… yet with an edge.  I think this flowerpot has that same sensibility- I even like how the grass is slightly askew like the models hat!

Yorkshire Manor

I love Oscar de la Renta so much- If I could meet any designer right now, he’d be the one.  I saw him speak at The Met a few years back and he seemed just so cool and gracious.  His bold, deep florals were an exciting feature on his runway this year ( I love how the colors in the print are so unexpected with that milky pink background).  I think this container is equally sophisticated.  I hope Oscar would approve…. I know that he is as wonderful of a garden designer as he is of a fashion icon.

Joyful Noise

There were a lot of references to the American spirit of sportswear surrounding Micheal Kors’ show.  Vibrant, retro and somewhat larger than life were his polka dot and stripe prints.  I’m not sure there is a more summer classic flower than the red verbena. The bigger- the punchier- the better. They are the workhorse of the garden and their bright colors will never fade ( very much like the American spirt!)

Hustle and Bustle

Embellished is the new ‘beaded’ and Lanvin’s 3-D pieces almost looked as if you could pick off one of the delicate flowers and present it to a friend.  Love the color combo here and the draping.  I think this pot is such a fun rendering…even the strips of the pot seem to match the skirt’s movement.

Grand Victoria

I love, love this classic with a modern twist arrangement.  I’m gaga for urns anyway, but these brightly colored flowers and big leafy leaves immediately has me dreaming of being at some fabulous manor sipping tea out in the garden.  This Badgley Mischka gown immediately came to mind as the perfect thing to be wearing for my fantasy fete!

It’s De-Lovely

fashion images from Style.com