The Perfect Outfit: How To Wear Florals, Miami Style

We like things with a little edge around here. Sure, summery florals are great, but by the time August rolls around, if we see one more flower-printed sundress or smock, we might simply expire of floral overdose. But a life without florals is no life at all, so in order to amp up our favorite print, we need to give it a sharp kick.

These two ladies we spotted during Miami Swim Week provided the no-brainer solution to punked-out prints: just add black! By putting the pattern on a black background instead of something a little softer, we still stay summery (without getting saccharine).

We've been fans of these Zara pants for a while, but Barbara Dobrzanska takes it from day to night with a healthy addition of leather. The sleeves on her jacket and her cutout heels take what would be overly match-y in any other hue and toughen the entire look. And, the classic Ray-Bans, of course, add a layer of cool that is undeniable.

Basics, like a simple gray tank and your go-to denim vest (which you have, because everyone ought to), suddenly gets rejuvenated with a fitted, floral, pencil skirt. Kari Jones is owning casual cool, and in the stifling August heat, the solid but breezy outfit is like a breath of fresh air. Smarten up the look with a leather clutch, or for a day around town, try a mini-backpack.