Flower Power
Right - more of this dress malarkey. And whilst perusing a million dresses, I realised that there were just too many to choose from and I needed to do some correlating of sorts. First and foremost we have the floral numbers.
Now I don't normally do a flowery dress. Maybe I have dress overload. Maybe it's that I'm having a dress renaissance with my new found determination to wear dresses this S/S. Or maybe it's just that there are so darn lovely print dresses out there.
The great thing about a floral dress is that actually it sings on it's own. There's no need for a large necklace or detailed accessories - a plain bag (which I have, check), plain shoes (again which I have in either black or nude, check) and you're away. So minimal outlay for the day. Unless of course you need justification to purchase more shoes or bags or jewellery and just holler.
I'm also adamant that I shall be wearing mine more as well. (all those dresses that I don't actually own yet) Dinner, during the day for a fancy lunch (clearly I will have to be booking some of these in so I can get wear out of the plethora of dresses I would like to be purchasing. Which is handy.) and any number of evenings out.
So starting with a couple of randoms, which, last night seemed like a good idea after a couple of glasses of wine. I was fired up to get dressed up. In the cold light of the morning, I'm retreating under my skinny jean shaped rock and these seem just ever so slightly too grown up for me. Having said that, I love the shape of them and the prints are gorgeous (even if I may secretly prefer some of them chez moi on a napkin)
LK Bennett Teos Floral dress £145 Actually this is a great shape and I love the shades of the print. Perfect with a pair of nude heels or you could pick out a pink or yellow and really make a statement of it. With black heels this would be a great evening dress as well. (see, I've almost persuaded myself that I have to try it now...)
Alexon Floral Printed Dress - £125 Good lord, how much wine did I have last night? Alexon? Having said that, this again is a really flattering shape - the pleating over the front would hide a multitude of sins and the colours are so summery. Again, whilst being rather mainstream, with a bling pair of shoes this would look fab. I think the print reminded me of a VW pattern... (runs and checks alcohol percentage of the wine she was drinking)
Kaliko Rosalyn Pleated print dress - £90.00 Love the colours of this dress - the most ideal dress for a wedding guest. Just gorgeous.
Whistles Victoria Floral Dress Here we are very much back in my comfort zone, despite the brightness of the colours. This, I think is actually a navy background to it, so I'd probably have to splash out on a pair of navy shoes. What a shame.
Whistles Bella tropical print dress - £155 Whilst this isn't the most high summer of dresses - for the Spring (ie this weekend when the weather is going to revert to being single digits again. Pooo) it's perfect for those chillier nights of which we unfortunately have many. Also a great dress to take you through to Autumn. (that's assuming we ever get a summer in the middle when it's too warm to wear it . One can dream.....)
Damsel in A Dress April Dress (currently £126.75 as on price match) This is a great longer length and would look amazing with white shoes. Specifically some fabulous white shoes that I have my eye on. Please tell me I'm not the only one who very occasionally buys something to justify another purchase? Sounds utterly bonkers but it works.
Great Plains Orchid shift dress - £95 but now only £57 at House Of Fraser Slightly less fitted, more of a tunic shift shape - I fear it may be rather short for the Gulliver-esque amongst us. However this is definitely one of the most wearable floral dresses that I came across. I don't think there's any reason why this couldn't be worn on a daily basis with some flat sandals.
Same dress in a different colourway but unfortunately still at full price at Coggles. However if you think you'd get a lot of wear out of it, I think it's a great price.
Pied a Terre Printed Cocoon dress - £62.50 Ditto to all of the above. This is half price at the moment. I am completely in love with this dress and shall be ordering it and praying it covers my lady bits when I bend over.
Pied a Terre Printed Cocoon dress - £62.50 Ditto to all of the above. This is half price at the moment. I am completely in love with this dress and shall be ordering it and praying it covers my lady bits when I bend over.
Julie Brandt Coriander Printed dress from Atterley Road £175 This I think is stunning. I love the simplicity of it, the androgynous shirt style to it, the colours of the blue and the William Morris style print. The only reason why I wouldn't order it is again as I think it's just going to be too short. Oh but I do love it so. For during the day as well with little ankle boots..... hmmmmm
Warehouse Sleeveless Floral Print Wrap side dress - now £28 with the promotion at House of Fraser. Staying on the navy theme, this is fabulously cheap and cheerful number. Looks much better and more expensive actually on.
Paul by Paul Smith from Coggles £195 I'm starting to get slightly dejected at my liking all the expensive ones a lot more than anything that's more reasonably priced (hence I shall be ordering the Pied a Terre one and offering up prayers to the gods of decency) Fortunately I'm looking for something more formal and whilst this would definitely fit into the newly created "day dress" hole in my wardrobe, at £195, it's much too expensive to fit. Gorgeous.
PLEASE please please can someone buy this dress so I can live vicariously through them. I would wear this dress till it was threadbare - I would eat sleep and dream in this dress (which actually makes it quite good value cost per wear if you put it like that... hmmmm)
Vivienne Westwood Anglomania Eight Dress £584.99
Hoss Intropia Yellow Floral Lace Dress £219.95 Slightly left field here but this again is a perfect dress to go to a wedding. Any of my friends fancy getting married again? I know a great place in Italy that we could all go to?! This would be completely ideal. Love.
And here we have photos from yesterday. I had forgotten to put my necklace on actually so before we went out for the day, I bombed back into the house (which is literally across the road from these pics - how lucky are we?!) and got my Alex Monroe Bee necklace. Completely naked without it.
White silk loose boxy top - Zara (another new holiday purchase...)
Dad Boyfriend jeans - Current Elliott
Tan leather belt - Primark
Dove grey leather sneakers - Gap
Grey Cherelle Cross body bag - Whistles
I am still up to my eyes in dress research so will be back later or tomorrow with more. Never let it be said that I don't take an outfit seriously.....
I am laughing so much because out of all that you have selected here the Alexon one is my favourite! I think you have to be over 67 to buy from there though?
ReplyDeleteI also love love love the Hoss Intropia Yellow Floral Lace Dress - this TOTALLY is a dress up dress down dress and for that reason THIS IS THE ONE you should buy.
Fiona
Ha yes, sod's law isn't it! To be fair, when I saw it I didn't even notice it was Alexon! Lesson learnt. Never judge a book by its cover. Yes, the yellow one is gorgeous. Again though, I fear it's literally just arse covering. Sob.
DeleteI'm with Fiona ... never did I think I'd see the word 'Alexon' on your blog lol. Totally LOVING the Zara boxy top btw .. plan to investigate further. Enjoy the rest of your hols. (PS: Sorry - forgot about the dresses ... the Vivienne Westwood one ... obviously!!)
ReplyDeleteha ha ha! Yes I LOVE the boxy top - it is the perfect PERFECT summer cover up. £29.99. Go forth and shop. And yes, obviously the VW one wins hands down. Bugger.
DeleteYou've done it again. I bought the Great Plains orchid one. Would be rude not to. Fingers crossed it looks lovely. If it does, I don't think I'll be wearing anything else all summer.
ReplyDeleteYay!!! Fingers crossed! xxx
DeleteAdore the LK Bennett & Whistle Victoria Floral oh and the yellow daisy one. But the LK Bennett is the winner for me!
ReplyDeleteNic x
I have to say , the LK Bennett would definitely be one of my faves and probably the most suitable for a First Holy Communion.
DeleteNever mind all these flowery dresses (gorgeous tho they may be) what about the discovery of Next Older Girls shoes? I just bought these lovelies http://www.next.co.uk/x512694s2#768839x51 for £26 in a size 6 - genius. Thank you so much for the inspiration
ReplyDeleteOh you are more than welcome - so so pleased! xx
DeleteQuite a few lovely choices here but love the Julia Brandt one, but I agree that it would probably be too short on you, but I still love it. Failing that the Great Plains ones are lovely too and very 'you' I think! Can't wait to see what u go for Kat!!
ReplyDeleteI love it too but yes, I fear it will be indecent on me! Not sure if I'll end up with a floral one. As much as it seems like a great idea in principle, I"m sure I'll cave at the last minute!
DeleteOh I am thrilled to see this post! I hummed and hawed over buying this dress for a wedding next month here in San Francisco- plus was onsale- arrived this week and fit is fabulous- I'm glad I'm 'in' w the floral trend! http://m.neimanmarcus.com/#product?itemid=prod152660403&source=
ReplyDeleteThrilled to be of help and how gorgeous?! xxx
DeleteOooh what a dilemma? They all look good in their own way....but I do love the Hoss dress, I have a few of their pieces and I always feel a bit special in them! Big up for the Spanish designers too!xx
ReplyDeleteYes love Hoss things although have to say my fave are definitely the Danish crew! A gorgeous gorgeous dress you're right. x
DeleteI am desperate for a grey dress to wear to a wedding in September w pink hat and tremaze neon pink bag (£14 H&M bargain) - there's a Westwood one in the same print as the one you linked to that I adore but it is a. too spendy and b. sold out, so am longing for plain, non-prom-dress-shaped, poss ruched grey dress recs.... Will watch with interest and hope!
ReplyDeleteLove the Zara top, I have a v similar one.
Sophie x
Hmmm I'm sure there is a grey Helmut Lang dress around that sounds like it would fit the bill. Have a look on either www.coggles.com or www.Julesb.com as I"m sure they both have it. x
DeleteThank you! Have seen that dress and it's on the shortlist but I am larger of nork so worry that it may not be as flattering as I'd like.
DeleteI like the Current Elliott jeans and have seen a non-distressed pair that are calling to me on Ebay - any idea what waist size equates to a UK 10, though? Thanks in advance. Sara x
ReplyDeleteoh I"m SO sorry I've only just sen this. A UK 10 is a 27 or 28. Hope that helps, xxx
DeleteCan you wear a trouser suit to a communion?? I have a grey Stella McCartney suit. Was thinking of wearing it with a pair of pre-recession Rupert Sanderson snake skin sandals. Any H metallic grey clutch (also pre-recession) and a simple cream top. Too boring or with red nails would it do??
ReplyDeleteSounds stunning!
Deletehttp://item.mobileweb.ebay.co.uk/viewitem?itemId=321118040935&index=17&nav=SEARCH&nid=08307320451
ReplyDeleteThe yellow hoss dress you liked is for sale on ebay
oooooh thank you. Have a horrible feeling it may be too short. Darn it!
DeleteGreat collection of floral. amazing idea and also you are looking very good.
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