Friday Frocks: 500 Days until Summer

I had to reference one of my favourite films there, sorry. It's been a gorgeously bright and sunny day here in Southampton - but frosty as hell too. But there are green shoots in my garden, daffodils on my table and that suggests to me that spring is perhaps nigh. And after spring, comes summer, no? A lot of online shops are getting their summer collections in even though it'll be months before we can wear them without being drenched/suffering hypothermia, and you know summer dresses are my absolute FAVOURITE. Even though this summer I will most be in a mumu/PJs/maxi dress and won't be sporting any of these, who am I to keep you away from all the loveliness? Let's hope it's not 500 days until we get weather warm enough to wear one, eh.

People Tree, £60

Rai of the fabulous Blarge Fargle drew my attention to this charming People Tree frock - I love the colour and the elegant cut, as well as the fact that it has bicycles on (even though, ahem, I can't ride a bike...) plus I know from my beloved Orla Kiely for People Tree teacup frock that their organic cotton is absolutely exquisite to wear, especially in summer.

Fever Designs, £75

I can never resist a rich floral on a black background - there's something so flattering and alluring about them. Especially if you're dark of hair, I think. This is courtesy of Fever, one of my favourite frockmakers, who feature twice here.

Yumi, £45

Yumi/Uttam/Mela 9whatever they are called) can also always be relied upon for a sweet little dress. This polka dot confection is no exception (I'm rhyming!) It would be just gorgeous with some red accessories.

Fever Designs, £85

And finally, a second bout of Fever. I have been on a hunt for the perfect black broderie anglaise 1950s frock for TEN years (I really have), and it's just not happened yet. Alas, this comes in navy, rose, white and this fabulous rust shade, but not black. Rust looks gorgeous with sunkissed skin though, and this would be beautiful with a cream cardigan and a burgundy or maroon beaded necklace.

Le sigh. Now, don't forget to wrap up warm when you go out...

Friday Frock: Teacups at the End of the Rainbow

These photographs were also taken a while ago, again, tell-tale absence of thick woolly tights - I promise I will start posting new wintry OOTDs soon, but I need to find a good location in my new house! I think we can agree from this mirror shot that this isn't it...

But, just how amazing is this Orla Kiely for People Tree dress? Green/maroon teacups on a crisp, thick cotton, 50s style with a bow at the waist, and POCKETS (which were a surprise, as they weren't even advertised on the description - why wouldn't you mention that a dress has pockets? it's a total dealmaker in my opinion).
 

Dress, People Tree, petticoat, Ebay, cardigan, New Look, ballet pumps, Office, earrings, Etsy.

My mind almost explodes at its perfection. I call it my "patriotic Bangladeshi teacup" dress, as the colours of the cups are so similar to the Bangladeshi flag (for this reason I wore it to see Akram Khan's Desh, I'm a bit literal with my outfits!)

print

Bangladesh flag!

Here it is summered up with a lovely yellow cropped cardigan, but I've worn it more recently with rust coloured tights and an oatmeal cardigan too. It reminds me of the quirky Anthropologie I used to love from afar, and this outfit reminds me a lot of some American fashion bloggers I follow.

It's for People Tree, so impeccably ethically made. And the quality and relatively affordable price has inspired me to buy their recently published book, Naked Fashion, because I'd like to know about the production chain and the process behind making ethical clothes. At this point in my life, I can't afford to shop 100% ethically, and I'm not sure if I would ever fully do so, but it's something I would like to know more about.

I accessorised this outfit with one of my favourite pairs of earrings, which I bought from Etsy a few years back. All the stones are semi-precious or precious, and just putting them on is like putting on a bit of sunshine. I'm 32 but I still love rainbows.

Friday Frock! OOTD: Knackered Candystriper

My apologies for looking dishevelled, minus makeup, and generally exhausted. That'd be because I am, having had one of the busiest and most exhausting two weeks I've had for ages. But though not officially a "frock' but a skirt, this is as "frock-like" as a skirt can get I think and it has been perking me up no end. It's a new arrival in Primark, and £16. I've not tried a high waisted full skirt before (I tend to wear mine lower on the hips) but I really like this look - and it's very flattering I think!

Skirt, Primark, black top, Dorothy Perkins, cardigan, New Look, tights, M&S, red bow ballet pumps, Office, necklace, Accessorize, earrings, Accessorize.

Close up of the print - which contains pretty much all of my favourite colours:

Friday Frock! OOTD: Sugar and Spice and... Bugs

If you recall my post on my printed dresses, I have a thing about whimsical prints, and I especially love bug prints, though not being the greatest fan of insects in real life. I love the subversiveness of the dress with bugs on - feminine on one hand, a bit weird on the other. My Topshop bug dress looks like leopard print from a distance - but has created shivered responses when people realise what the print is. I love that!

Dress, Dorothy Perkins, cardigan, New Look, patent black Mary Janes, Clarks, single pink pearl choker, custom made, pink pearl earrings, Aarong Bangladesh.

This Dorothy Perkins dress has become a smart work event staple, it's a pretty pinky taupe and from a distance it looks so sweet with the discernible butterflies. It's only when you look closer that you see the bugs!

The etched print and pinky shade make me think of Prada's Fairy collection, one of my all time favourite fashion collections. It's whimsical in the same vein, I like to think...

Friday Frock! OOTD: Candy Zoo

So I have decided to make myself do more OOTDs by making it a regular weekly occurrence - by replacing NARS Lipgloss Fridays with Friday Frocks! And I have a newbie to start this all off. Say hello to the Candy Zoo dress!

So, sale-bargain regrets. How many of us rue passing things up, to be haunted by "the perfect dress" or the "perfect shoes" forever. I basket-danced with a dress when I saw it on Ulrika's blog last year, but missed out on my size at the sale price of £35.

Luckily, kids, there is summat now called Ebay. I'm not a major Ebayer, but go to it when I want something specific, utilising my honed search-term skills (I kid you not, I can find anything online, super-fast). This dress popped up last week - and I was lucky enough to win it! Ideally I'd have liked a 14 but at £3.26 (including P&P) I can't be too fussy, and 12 fits fine. It's a bit short and so sugar sweet I do wonder how long I'll be able to wear stuff like this for (I'll be 32 this year) but given I still look pretty young I'm just going to enjoy it for the time being. And not wear it to work!

Dress, New Look via Ebay, heart embroidered cardigan, New Look, leopard print hairband, Dorothy Perkins, flower earrings, Accessorize, woolly tights, Marks and Spencer, tan ballet flats (unseen), Primark.

Apologies for absence of feet - we're moving stuff around in the house so there's no places for pictures at the moment!

The print has: lions, birds, butterflies, deer, horses - and I just spotted an elephant - as well as the tiny polka dots. I love the dusty muted colours, which perfectly match my OPI Mermaid's Tears manicure (coming up!)