Blake Lively's Latest Outfit Shows Us How Not To Wear Summer 2024's Floral Trend
On Monday, June 10, Blake Lively attended the 17th annual Tribeca Festival Artists Dinner in Manhattan, New York, dressed in a Chanel pantsuit that has fans in a tizzy. The "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" star's stunning style transformation is as inspiring as it is impressive, but this time around, her wardrobe choice has us questioning her fashion prowess. Her misuse of florals and bright colors, in particular, has stirred up chatter on social media, with many Instagram users not being afraid to give their two cents on the 'fit. "I totally thought these were pjs," one user commented on E! News' video. "My grandma wants her pants suit back," another user wrote.
To be fair, the "Gossip Girl" alum certainly turned heads in her printed floral suit jacket and matching flared bottoms. The pantsuit belongs to Chanel's Spring-Summer 2023/2024 Ready-to-Wear Collection, worn in honor of the fashion house hosting the event. Floral pantsuit aside, this isn't the first time this year that Lively's had a case of poor style. The 36-year-old star recently landed herself in fashion headlines due to wearing several questionable outfits while filming "It Ends With Us," an adaptation of Colleen Hoover's book of the same name. That said, actors don't typically hold much sway when it comes to on-set wardrobe choices, but this double-breasted neoprene suit, on the other hand, is entirely on her — and the perfect example of summer florals gone wrong.
Blake Lively's outfit is a failed lesson in florals
Fans have long associated the Serena van der Woodsen ("Gossip Girl") actor with her impeccable fashion sense. In fact, she was the brand ambassador for Chanel's Mademoiselle handbag line back in 2011, with designer Karl Lagerfeld dubbing her "a kind of American dream girl" to WWD. What's more, Lively has been a Chanel devotee from a young age, adding to the outlet, "It is timeless, chic, graceful, intelligent, iconic and ever relevant."
Still, her association with the French design label didn't quite land as she intended. The colorful outfit was peppered with palm-sized flowers and glitzy Chanel emblems in the spirit of summer. However, even someone as fabulous as Lively couldn't pull off this dizzying pantsuit. Additionally, her feminine, multi-colored rings did her no favors. Instead, Lively could have opted for subtler accessories to balance out her outfit's striking florals and vibrant colors.
On the flip side, she painted her own nails to match the suit, and we love her playful design. "Aren't they incredible?" Lively mentioned to E! News. "I had time for that. I literally did it while at work. It was a little chaotic." She also styled her iconic "Serena van der Woodsen blond" tresses in loose beach waves and added silver stud earrings. We're glad she had fun with her hair and accessories, even if the other elements of her outfit stole the spotlight — a serious faux pas wherever floral patterns are concerned.
Blake Lively doesn't rely on a celebrity stylist
The "Age of Adaline" actor once confessed that she doesn't consult a stylist when dressing for red-carpet events. As for why she decided to become her own stylist, the A-list celeb jokingly told WWD, "Probably because I have control issues and a big ego – that's probably the honest answer." Then, more seriously, she added, "I just like it. I love design and I love fashion and it's a way to be creative." The mother of four likens the creativity potential of styling her own clothes to acting, but appreciates the fixed time period of the styling process versus acting work being ever ongoing.
All in all, her style choices are far from disappointing considering she coordinates directly with designers for all her outfit ideas. Lively's style may sometimes appear outlandish, but the star's love of designer pieces and creative attire makes up for any fashion mishaps in our books. Her lookbook has remained solid up to this point, so we forgive her for this transgression. She's the unofficial "it girl" of the Met Gala, after all.
To that end, there's a lesson for everyone here: When sporting summer florals this year, remember to balance out vivid colors and patterns with modern garments, such as elegant appliqué details and simple, two-toned pieces. Our final tip: Avoid wearing colors from all across the rainbow for a more sophisticated look.