We’ve had another heatwave here in the U.K. and while I enjoy the brighter days, the heat and humidity definitely kick my butt. Nothing I can wear practically for work comes close to keeping me cool and comfortable, so it’s a relief when I can get home, take a chilly shower and change into one of my summer dresses. Anything made of a light cotton instantly eases my discomfort, so this check halter number is a true relief.
When it comes to summer frocks, is there anything more superlative than red gingham? I suspect not. Add pockets and a full skirt and I am one happy pinup!
The Annie dress is one of Dolly & Dotty’s staple dress cuts, released each season in a variety of new prints and patterns. Whether you love florals, embroidered designs, quirky patterns, winter checks, or even lace, there’s an Annie (or several!) for you. I own a handful already, and they’re always easy to throw on to quickly create a great outfit around. My newest Annie is this little gingham number, so you know I’m in my very best summertime picnic feels! Let’s go walk barefoot through the meadow together, shall we?
Polka dots is one of the patterns that’s prevalent in the vintage inspired clothing realm. It wasn’t something I ever thought much about until I saw someone comment somewhere on social media that they hated polka dots and how common they were in repro clothing. Personally I quite like a small or medium sized dot, especially when done in black and white, but I share an aversion to very large polka dots which feel more costumey to me, so I can understand their complaint. There are plenty of ways to wear spots without looking too twee nor too rote, though, and today I want to focus on one of my favourite ways–playing with texture and layers.
With July right around the corner, there’s a fair bit of summer left still to play out, but sadly it’s the end of Miss Candyfloss’s SS21 season, with all of their newest pretties fully released to the world. It might have been their most patterned spring-summer line yet, but as always with Miss Candyfloss they released plenty of beautiful solid coloured pieces which make for wonderful staples in your wardrobe. This Korrina-Minty is one such piece, a lovely pale sage swing dress that offers simplicity and style in one lightweight summer serving.
It’s been pretty dreary here in the UK for what feels like an age. It’s been rain, showers, and more rain, but in a shocking twist of fate this Bank Holiday weekend has heralded the return of sunshine. So it was wonderful timing that this glorious The Pretty Dress Company piece turned up this week just in time to enjoy said sunshine in true summer fashion–in gingham!
There are many ways the pandemic has changed my outlook on life and refreshed my sense of gratitude. One of the smaller, more insignificant ways it’s had an impact is the way in which it’s allowed me to reconnect with my natural curls and given me room to appreciate more casual ways of dressing. My love for 1950s silhouettes has not diminished even remotely, but it’s nice to allow oneself room in one’s head to have quiet, easy dress days rather than self-applying pressure that every chance to slay must be seized. Nah–now, and in future, I will cherish more casual days when I crave them, and dresses like this abstract wrap dress from Chi Chi London prove that being a little more casual does not mean being any less stylish.
There’s something about red dresses that feels so vintage yet unmistakably modern. Maybe it’s the confidence they exude, the power. Either way, red dresses offer something special, and this Mona-Rose from Miss Candyfloss is even more exceptional than most.
I don’t wear a lot of purple but I associate it with my mum and my best friend Menna, so it’s certainly a special colour. This dress in particular, with its bruised burgundy, lush lilacs and rich aubergine, definitely gives me English country garden vibes, so I figure where better to showcase it than my very own English country garden, in the sunshine.
Border prints are one of my favourite parts of vintage design because they just aren’t commonly utilized in modern fashion. I used to be quite happy to wear quite novelty border prints, but novelty tempts me less so these days. A simple graphic print, though, I still find lovely, and this Danube print by Collectif is certainly lovely.
