Granny’s curtains are suddenly in Vogue!
AWInTEr floral dress? I know, a bit counter-intuitive. But at a dinner party the other night, I was among three party guests wearing midi-length dark flowery frocks.
We all gave each other little side glances as if to say: ‘Got the memo!’. Because not only were we looking on-trend in our moody hues, long sleeves and calf-grazing hemlines, we were warm.
Winter florals are everywhere right now, from sumptuous catwalk looks (Erdem, Mulberry, Gucci) to a myriad brilliant High Street examples. You probably have something that will fit the bill hiding away in the back of your wardrobe.
Although, a word of caution: this is not about repurposing your summer frock.
Wear anything too light, too pastel or too wafty to a festive cocktail party and you could easily end up looking like a woman who’s forgotten to get dressed and is still in her nightie, which is not what we’re going for here.
Look instead for a print with a dusky base colour — forest green, midnight blue or even black.
The good news is that prints with darker hues look more expensive on winter High Street fabrics than their summer cousins. (Just one of the reasons the dark floral party dresses in the H&M collaboration with designer Erdem flew off the rails).
If you missed these, may I guide you to Warehouse’s dreamy Devore number (£99,
warehouse.co.uk) or the Boden Icons Hettie dress (£250, boden.co.uk).
I trace fashion’s current love affair with these romantic, slightly retro prints back to Valentino’s absolute gem of a collection for pre-autumn 2015, when the Italian house collaborated with British textile queen and ex-wife of ossie Clark, Celia Birtwell.
She created exquisite prints and embroideries based on Sandro Botticelli’s famous Primavera painting that became instant collector’s items. Their joyous influence soon trickled down to the High Street.
Another perhaps less obvious inspiration is upholstery fabric (stay with me here).
There are some fabulous
brocades and jacquard weaves in the shops now that would look equally smashing as a pair of curtains. To wit, the gorgeous floral trousers at Massimo Dutti. (£69.95, massimodutti.com).
Let us remember that the interplay of interior design and fashion has a long and illustrious history, as anyone who headed to Chatsworth House this summer for the amazing House Style exhibition knows.
In fact, the fashion/homewares crossover is a huge retail
trend, with companies including Gucci producing ultra-luxe cushions and china that make my heart skip a beat.
British favourites Preen has launched a range of cushions and eiderdowns in splashy, extravagant prints that echo the bold, romantic stylings of its womenswear (preenby thorntonbregazzi.com).
But back to fashion and the business of accessorising. An ankle boot will give your winter floral frock a bit of oomph, whether you choose a spikeheeled sockboot, a Seventies knee-high or something with more stomp.
And if you are still uncertain about whether you can go the whole hog, try a winter accessory like a brocade boot — Uterque has the dream pair (£150, uterque.com).
My stylist friend tells me she plans to wear her chiffony, print Celia Birtwell dress with flirty heels on Christmas Day, then adapt it for more dressdown days with a navy cashmere boyfriend pullover and trainers or biker boots.
Perfect! I say. Insouciant modern glamour… and no cold shoulders.