I’ll admit, it takes a lot for a floral dress to stop me in my style tracks. They’re such a permanent fixture in our wardrobes that it can sometimes feel as though we’ve seen every possible version, and this summer alone, overblown motifs and botanical prints are just a few of the countless iterations I’ve seen emerge.
However, every so often, a print comes along that makes florals feel fresh again, and right now, it’s the more painterly designs catching my attention. Unsurprisingly, M&S’s new £55 Floral Midi Tea Dress is making a rather eye-catching case for them.
Rather than neat, clearly defined blooms, its pastel print has a hazy, almost watercolour effect, with pinks, lilacs, greens and yellows blending into one another. The result? A motif that looks a lot less like a traditional petal print and more like a Monet painting hanging in the National Gallery.
As with most dresses, the style is especially easy to wear. Cut to a midi length, it comes with chic flutter sleeves, a round neckline and tiered hem (a popular silhouette trend this year) for added charm making chic dressing easy breezy to achieve.
For a late summer wedding, it’s an easy starting point for an occasion look. Toe post kitten heels, a leather look clutch and gold jewellery will keep things polished, while flat leather sandals can instantly give it a more pared back edge.
And it needn’t be packed away come September. Layer with a fine cream cardigan and introduce chocolate brown accessories to make those soft pastel shades work surprisingly well into early autumn.
