At last! You can sit d A NEW B
NoW that four adults from two households are allowed to meet outdoors, the empty spaces in our diaries are starting to fill: chats on park benches, coffee catch-ups beneath the cherry blossom — and from April 26, six adults from three households can meet outside too.
As well as an opportunity to dust off our rusty conversational skills, it’s also a chance to wear something
more exciting. Suddenly, repeat-wearing our favourite outfit is no longer an option. So, what makes a great alfresco look? Jumpsuits or trousers, or a midi/maxi hemline are wise, so you don’t have to worry about flashing your knickers when sitting on the grass.
Speaking of which, if your picnic blanket took a battering last summer, consider a top-notch replacement, such as the Fortnum & Mason check rug with a leather carrier (third from right). A fresh, bright palette — sunny yellow, pale pink, crisp white, sky-blue — gives your outfit a spring-like lift, even if you’re quite covered up. Take Hobbs’s long shirt dress in daffodil yellow (second from left), for instance.
Park bench picnics demand a touch of whimsy, with woven bags, broderie anglaise, floaty florals and gingham. If you want to wear checks in a grown-up way, the lightweight Italian wool jacket and matching trousers from The Fold (middle) hit the right note. Just add gold hoops.
And if you’re after good-quality dresses with a difference, try Seraphina London’s striped style with a bib front (third from left), or Lily and Lionel’s silk floral print (second from right).
For nippier days, you’ll want a denim jacket, such as Reiss’s mid-blue wash style (far left). A trench is another spring staple — I love the pastel colour-blocking twist on Palones’s design (far right).
With the world starting to open up, everything feels more hopeful, and even choosing what to wear to sit on a park bench is a thrill. So fill a flask with coffee — or grab paper cups for some rosé — and pray the weather stays fine.