Vırginia Chadwyck-Healey What to wear... in late summer

What to do when autumn is around the corner? Look for florals that will bloom all year

I’ve finally bid adieu to my sweet peas, my beloved hydrangea has been singed by the recent sunshine, and I’m nurturing the last of my dahlias, which certainly would not give Charlie McCormick a run for his money but which, nevertheless, are providing clusters of joy. It’s been a wonderful few months of planting, learning, watching Monty, inviting new varieties into our garden, and being reminded, once again, how rewarding these treasures are.

Likewise, flowers and florals are a much-adored constant in the fashion zeitgeist. From Laura Ashley-inspired tea dresses to William Morris-meets-The Sound 0f Music (in a good way) Liberty London fabrics. Or take Erdem’s organza works of floral art, or Emilia Wickstead’s rose motifs in her latest collection. Expect plenty more today, the third day of London Fashion Week where the joys of spring/summer 2022 will be shown for the first time.

I’ve gone in search of florals (but ones that don’t scream “summer”) and I’ve found some lovely pieces from British brand Phoebe Grace. Both tops feel like the fashion equivalent of perennials. They will go with skirts, trousers, jackets; for cooler days and springtime sun. Just what we want from a new item. A long, blooming good life. They are not so dramatic that they wouldn’t also work in the back-to-work wardrobe, because even if you’re only in the office three days a week you want some element of departure from the much-debated WFH uniform. Too whimsical with your floral top and you might detract from the seriousness of your board meeting.

Janet Newman, creative director of Phoebe Grace, gains inspiration from nature: “An early morning walk on Peckham Rye can become the catalyst for the next creative brainstorm.” The daisy is a big theme in the current collection but reworked and dissected in such a way that gives the flower clout from a distance. It’s a piece that would work as easily on a 20-something as it would on Ethel, age 92, after whom the shirt (right) is named. So often daisies can be a little girlie, but Phoebe Grace’s have achieved ageless appeal. The top’s structure is such that, while it’s not boned, it feels like a rigid, supportive fit. You have to stand with poise in this top – never a bad