In addition to the athletic-chic trend that dominated many New York Fashion Week collections, vivid prints and florals also popped up on the city’s runways. Many designers have opted to embrace the femininity of frocks with outlandish flower prints that explode in bright color, heralding an exuberantly optimistic forecast for next spring.

The floral motif manifested in delicious Skittle-colored hues that ripened both dresses and leggings at Peter Som, Cynthia Rowley and Chris Benz. With a head-to-toe take on flower power, designers like DVF flaunted the botanical trend in Marimekko-patterned dresses and, most notably, in jumpsuits and track-inspired suits reminiscent of extraordinary wallpaper design. Libertine and Karen Walker also cued into this same Marimekko theme with pieces that seemed in line with Andy Warhol-style pop art. Beautiful black and white florets added balance to the saturated mix of rainbow intensity.

When flowers were not the focal point, designers used canary-yellows as if to emphasize the sun’s role during the budding spring and summer months. At Rodarte, Vera Wang and Alice + Olivia, the lemon shade was seen in solid skirts and tops, which added refreshing elements of light and sky amid the otherwise fanatic floral ensembles.

Elsewhere, the nature trend picked up in flirty, girlishly chic prints such as butterflies, polka dots, birds and palm trees that transformed collections at Jill Stuart, Erin Featherston, Suno and ADAM. These prints evoked the feeling of innocence and youthfulness that dominated the collections overall. Rain or shine, spring/summer ’12 has all the tinsel and trimming of a festive season.