Wallflower

"She never danced, not in the open

But once she closed her dark blue eyes

She was the centre of the party.

She heard the sounds of all the laughter

Glasses full or being filled,

She was the princess of the non-existing empire

Of the wallflowers that blossom on an extraordinary day"

~ Peter Heerings

A lot of my fashion dreams have come true recently; from getting hold of an almost exact replica of a vintage outfit I'd seen Kate Moss wear years ago (here), to wearing extraordinarily beautiful dresses on the red carpet at film premieres (here and here), it's fair to say that it's been a pretty exciting time on the fashion front. There was however, one fashion dream I never could have imagined coming true. I never thought I would get a second chance to own the one that got away; my Gucci dress of dreams.

A glorious floral masterpiece, the dress first appeared on the Gucci catwalk in Fall 2015. It was so far out of my price range, and sold out so quickly, that all I could do was gaze longingly at pictures of it and dream of wearing it. And then, two years later, the great Alessandro Michele reimagined some Gucci classics for an exclusive 20-piece collection for Net-a-Porter. In doing so, he inadvertently made my fashion dream come true.

There, amongst the beautiful pieces emblazoned with Herons in flight, the 19th century tapestry prints, the Dionysus bag and the Ace sneakers, was my floral Gucci dress. This time I didn't hesitate, I snapped this beauty up before I could even take a breath! Everything about this dress is everything I love in a dress; the floral print, the rich red colourway, the loose 70s inspired silhouette, the fluttering pleated ruffles. It is, to me, the perfect dress.

Get The Look:

Dress: Gucci Floral-print silk-georgette mini dress (similar here and here)

Shoes: Reiss 'Cedar' Wood Platforms in cognac (similar)

Earrings: Blue Nile Gold Hoop Earrings

Photos: Jason Connery ©

Cherry Blossom

"Are we to look at cherry blossoms only in full bloom, the moon only when it is cloudless? To long for the moon while looking on the rain, to lower the blinds and be unaware of the passing of spring—these are even more deeply moving. Branches about to blossom or gardens strewn with faded flowers are worthier of our admiration"

~ Yoshida Kenko, Essays In Idleness

The hottest fashion label of the moment is Rixo London. Offering timeless pieces with a retro 70s feel, their collections can be seen gracing the pages of all the best fashion magazines, and they have become the go-to favourites of fashionistas and celebrities alike. Everyone wants a piece of Rixo.

For their Fall '17 collection, the brands founders Henrietta and Orlagh got their inspiration from Shanghai chic, with vintage inspired pieces adorned with moons, clouds, bamboo, brightly coloured blossoms, and hand-painted jungle prints. I won't lie, I fell in love with the entire collection, but the 'Alanna' dress, with its bold yet sophisticated print, was the hero piece for me. Cut from silk-jacquard, the dress is panelled with cherry blossom florals in vibrant, contrasting colours. Fine pleats at the waist, and gathering under the bust are a nod to kimono styles, while the buttoned cuffs and shorter hemline add a modern, contemporary touch.

I jazzed my dress up even more by pairing it with an equally vibrant Rixo star print neckscarf. I love the unexpected clash of colours and prints. A simple pair of flats and some 70s inspired accessories were the finishing touches to a show-stopping look that is full of Eastern Promise.

Get The Look:

Dress: Rixo London 'Alanna' Mini Dress in cherry blossom
Scarf: Rixo London 'Alexa' Mini Star Print Neckscarf

Shoes: Ops and Ops No. 10 Bronze Flats

Earrings: Blue Nile Gold Hoop Earrings
Sunglasses: Chloe Square Framed Acetate Sunglasses in taupe
Photos: Jason Connery ©