The runways in New York, Milan, Paris and London looked like they were blooming human gardens for Spring 2013.  Floral appliques were a huge trend and seen on wedding dresses, cocktail dresses and even casual clothing. They were also made out of all kinds of different materials: beads, chiffon, fabric, leather, sequins, pearls and all kinds of other baubles.

One designer that was covering his gowns, both ball gowns and bridal offerings, head to toe with floral touches was Raf Simons.  One of his signature looks was a floor-length sleeveless tube dress with a flared kick pleat that featured a band of flowers across the bust and white flowers thickly studying a lacy front. The stiff formality of this particular look was diminished with slouchy deep side pockets, which made it look less like a fussy Bridesmaids dress and a bit more like a mod dress.

George Hobeiki for Christian Dior created an all white creation that featured a lace and sheer chiffon body hugging gown studded with beaded flowers. However the piece de resistance was the train, which was like a carpet of crystal fabric flowing from the waist down the back.  All of the beads and flowers on this train would make quite a sensation; it would be quite heavy and would need more than a couple of people to take it down the aisle.

Not all of these floral gowns were in white. Valentino showed a gown with various appliques from head to toe in a brilliant brocaded crimson and red gown. This gown had sheer long sleeves also studded with a vine of flowers. The black and red combination gave the outfit a distinctly Spanish Flamenco dancer kind of feel. He also showed a dress in pure black with the same type of treatment but with huge beaded black flowers instead,

Zahia Dehar offered a different notion of couture by thickly appliquing pink yellow, violet, red, green and white petals allover short miniskirts.  Giambetti showed a ensemble that combined a cropped top with a sheer skirt covered with big violet, pink and white daisies.

One of the pioneers of the look is Beata Grabowska who creates and models her own flowered fantasies.  Her cocktail dress made fashion headlines this past Spring. The dress is a stretchy Lycra number with a boat neck that reaches to mid-cath and has long sexy tight fit.  Huge crimson blossoms decorate the front of the dress in a trailing pattern.   She wore this looks with big pin-up style platform heels.