Gilded Bloom Print

My love letter to a summer garden. I painted soft watercolour florals in pink, peach, butter yellow and blue, then laid them over navy and white stripes so the print feels both romantic and graphic. The georgette has gold lurex woven right into it, so every stripe catches the light when you move.

The four pieces

The Lily One-Shoulder Maxi runs the stripes on a diagonal under one bare shoulder — the dressiest of the group. The Poppy Wrap Dress is a short-sleeved floral wrap with a showstopping ease. The BellaDonna Kimono is made entirely of printed georgette, gathered at the waist and falling to maxi length, and it works over a swimsuit or over a slip dress. The Dahlia Blue Top is a sheer georgette blouse with floral appliqué, multicoloured buttons and flared sleeves.

The gold is in the fabric

The lurex is woven into the georgette, not printed on top of it. That means it does not flake, fade or sit flat — it catches light from whatever angle you are standing at, which is why this print photographs so much better in person than on a screen.

Where to wear it

Summer weddings, garden parties, rooftop evenings and holidays. Navy and white keeps it from reading as too sweet, so it suits women who normally avoid florals. The Lily is the ceremony dress; the Poppy moves from a daytime wedding to a dinner the following week; the kimono is the holiday piece; and the Dahlia is a blouse you will reach for with jeans far more often than you expect.

Fabric and care

Georgette is a fine, slightly textured fabric with a dry handle and a lot of drape, which is why these pieces move the way they do. It is also the most delicate thing I work with, and with metallic thread woven through it I would dry clean all four. If you do wash by hand, use cold water and a mild detergent, do not wring it, and hang it to dry out of direct sun. Press on the reverse at the lowest setting with a cloth between the iron and the cloth — heat is what kills lurex. The Dahlia's appliqué and buttons want the same care.

Made in a limited run

Sizes XS to 3XL, made to measure available, runs not repeated.