Flower patterns aren’t just for garden parties and country hoedowns anymore. That’s because this season, they have a definite urban edge. As personal stylist Jihan Amer points out, the trend is in full bloom and ready for picking.

“Floral prints have always been in style, but this season they’re taking over,” says Amer, calling the Straight from the backstage area at Vancouver Fashion Week. “Walk into any store right now and it’s like a flower bomb—you instantly know spring is here.”

If you want to get on the botanical bandwagon, there are many ways to go. Among the most obvious are an ultra-feminine dress like the Mink Pink Bad Romance shirtdress ($99) at Plenty (various locations) or a bi-seasonal short-sleeved top like the Courtland blouse by Allison Wonderland ($128, allisonwonderland.ca/). Both are lovely, easy-to-wear pieces, but they aren’t exactly playing with the floral trend so much as riffing on timeless spring-fresh classics.

With that in mind, if you want to dip your toes into a floral pattern yet still have some fun with it, local stylist Jessie Carlson (www.jessiecarlson.com/) recommends starting with a bright, pointy floral pump like the Ivanka Trump pair ($175) she’s been eyeing at the Bay (various locations). Rock those with blue jeans and a white T, and you’re good to go.

The next level of flower power is cropped denim. If you think a posy print is going to widen your load, you couldn’t be more wrong. Remember that cut trumps colour.

“The myth is, ‘Floral jeans will make me look fat’—not true,” says Carlson, calling between clients. “Wearing a hot pair of well-tailored floral jeans won’t make you look bigger. Wearing a bagged-out, ill-fitting top will, though.”

In terms of great-fitting florals, Fidelity’s Monet jeans ($240 at Urban Rack [2207 West 4th Avenue]) are hard to beat. They fit like a dream on curvy women (no love handles), and they’re just short enough to show off a nice heel. Not only that, but the beautiful impressionist landscape of deep greens, peaches, and golds will look good on a wide range of ages, whereas pastel prints are better suited to teens and the 20-something set.

In terms of mixing and matching florals, every stylist has her own preferences. Michelle Addison (michelleaddison.com/) takes it to the max.

“I like the head-to-toe look, but you have to be brave and keep the prints in the same tone,” she warns, calling from her home office. “Separating the pieces with a skinny coloured belt looks really good too. And fabrics are really important—you want a mix of textures.”

Ergo, no sheen-on-sheen action, or you’ll cheapen the effect. And if flower-on-flower seems a tad too petalicious for your taste, Addison is all about rocking striped tops with floral-print bottoms. For a somewhat more conservative yet equally fresh look, she suggests working in the tone-on-tone trend that’s also really hot this season—think topping off floral bottoms with a white blazer over a white top.

Amer, on the other hand, likes the idea of coordinating floral bottoms with a solid-colour T.

“Pick a colour that pops out at you, and then go with your heart and work with that colour—just whatever makes you feel good,” she says. “Florals are romantic, so have fun with it—it’s spring!”

While all three stylists agree that the brighter and richer the motif, the better, there are some great neutral floral denims available as well. Serena ($98) from Mavi (2112 West 4th Avenue and 333 Helmcken Street) comes in a super-cute grey-and-white blurry flower finish. A warning: since they’re low-rise, they’re better suited to small-hipped ladies. As well, Fidelity’s got the aristocratic-looking black-and-white Scoop Batista ($188).

Of course, it doesn’t have to be denim. Addison is loving cropped pants, which are plentiful and cheap at stores like Topshop and Zara. And if you dare to bare more this spring, Gap (various locations) has some adorable clean-front floral shorts ($54.95).

As for accessorizing your floral prints, perhaps Addison says it best: “Go all the way and be bold. Vancouver needs it.”