PERENNIAL FLORALS
Floral prints are a given at this time of year, emerging annually to herald the arrival of the spring/summer season, but this year they come imbued with an added resonance. Flowers are symbolic of renewal and a fresh start in any guise is warmly welcomed.
SS24 catwalks erupted with bountiful blooms, from dainty ditsy prints for the more bohemian amongst us, to the abstract for those who prefer a more directional approach.
Demand for floral dresses has reached new heights – or indeed lengths (mini, midi, maxi – take your pick), their throw-on-and-go ease embodying a lighter mood as we collectively shrug off a heavy winter.
DRESS FOR THE OCCASION
Printed summer dresses don’t have to be an event. This season features plenty of casual dresses that are perfect for parks, picnics and pub gardens.
But even those more elevated styles, from swing silhouettes to tailored fits, don’t have to be saved for best. Parade your prints on city strolls, trips to art galleries, dinner with friends. The secret is in the styling.
FLORAL PRINT DRESSES TO BOOKMARK
THE FLOWER PRINTS
Lace Flower Print Shirt Midi Dress + Belt and Silk Cotton Flower Print Midi Dress + Belt
One print, two interpretations, two midi dresses. Our Flower print takes on two guises this season, one features a dark base scattered with florals in cream and pink that covers a machine-washable yarn woven with recycled fibres, while the other heroes a cream backdrop with pink details. While both dress styles feature optional belts, our Silk Cotton Flower Print Midi Dress is topped with a V-neckline while our Lace Flower Print Shirt Midi Dress boasts an adjustable zipped one instead to accommodate all bust sizes.
THE SNOWDROP PRINT
Cotton Sateen Snowdrop Print Cap Sleeve Maxi Dress
Set on a pastel blue backdrop scattered with light cream and green detailing, our bespoke Snowdrop print makes its debut this season. Covering an ankle-skimming maxi dress cut with a flattering V neckline framed by cap sleeves and crafted from breathable cotton with a subtle occasion-ready shine, it satisfies different dress codes. Style it as your plus one to garden parties and weddings with a colour-pop tailored blazer or achieve a more pared-back finish with our Elasticated Strap Mary Jane (coming soon) and Bouclé Swing Jacket.
THE LANTANA FLOWER PRINT
Lantana Flower Print Midi Dress and Lantana Flower Print Drawstring Maxi Dress
While our Lantana Flower print appears on two different dresses, the design of the pattern remains the same; it keeps its green backdrop and scattering of cream flowers outlined with pink, pastel blue, deep burgundy and black detailing that unlocks more year-round styling potential with cold-weather staples like black ankle boots. Catering to all figures and heights, the midi dress is topped with an adjustable neckline to accommodate all bust sizes and features gathered detailing at the waist to create a flattering silhouette while the maxi which also has an adjustable neckline is signed off with a drawstring waist to perfect the fit.
THE ROSE PRINT
Cotton Sateen Scattered Rose Print Cap Sleeve Maxi Dress
What’s clever about the fabric of this floral maxi dress is that it’s machine-washable cotton sateen, meaning that it looks polished and elevated yet is easy to care for, the ideal summer floral dress for weddings and events. The simplicity of the V-neckline and the shape of the cap sleeves cuts through the prettiness of the floral print, making this dress as easy to style with trainers as with heels for day-to-evening practicality.
STYLING A FLORAL DRESS
Be not afraid of styling a statement print dress. Although wearing top-to-toe print may seem daunting, there are a few tricks to make them approachable for all.
We design each print using the season’s colour palette, so when it comes to styling, simply pick out one of the colours and use that as a jumping-off point. We will often include black trims as well, so that as autumn comes around a summery print will look just as comfortable styled with black boots and a thin black polo neck layered underneath. It’s a little design trick that ensures your investment works throughout the seasons instead of having to be retired as soon as the leaves start to turn.
A leather jacket will balance out the femininity of a summer floral dress and instantly elevate casual dresses. Vice versa, a chore or denim jacket is ideal for dressing a smarter piece down for day.
FINDING THE PERFECT SHOE
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a white trainer is a style essential regardless of what you’re wearing, but with a floral dress it provides just the right finish, a sporty, nonchalant foil for something pretty.
Our lace-up Retro trainers are low cut at the ankle to expose more of the leg, creating a gap between the longer hemline of a floral midi dress or maxi and your trainer. Keeping with a flat sole, our Suede Clog creates the same space but with a less sporty edge. This gap is key: going straight from dress to shoe without even a peep of leg will only serve to make you look shorter. To make it even easier to achieve the gap, we always cut our dresses with a dipped hem that is shorter at the front and drops lower at the back to show off more leg.
As the weather heats up, swap in a sandal or slider for day and a heel for evening. You’ll find that ankle boots, from heeled to hiking, work just as well come autumn and winter.
