Moonflower Print

Flowers after dark. Pale gold blooms and forest green leaves on black, with strokes of cobalt, printed on sparkly georgette so the gold catches the light.

The four pieces

The Hera One-Shoulder Maxi is designed for moments that demand drama — an asymmetric neckline and a floor-length skirt that moves. The Opal Wrap Dress has balloon sleeves and a tulip-front midi skirt with side ruching, which creates movement in a photograph and ease in a room. The Gia Black Maxi makes its case on sleeves. The Alice Sparkle Mini is an off-shoulder shift with an asymmetric hem, and it is the one customers come back for.

Where to wear it

A black dress is the safest thing in a wardrobe and usually the most forgettable. This print is my answer to that: black from across the room, gold and green and cobalt once someone is close enough to talk to you. Black tie optional weddings, cocktail parties, New Year, theatre, birthdays and anniversaries.

Why black, when I never wear black

I spend most of my life arguing against black, grey and brown, so this collection needs an explanation. There are rooms that ask for a dark dress — a winter wedding, an opening night, a dinner where you are not the point of the evening. I wanted a dark dress that still had something to say. So the black is the background, not the subject. The gold and cobalt do the talking, and they only start once somebody is standing near you. It is the quietest way I know to wear colour.

Fabric and care

Sparkly georgette: fine, dry to the touch, with a lot of drape and a metallic thread running through it. I would dry clean all four. If you wash by hand, use cold water and a mild detergent, never wring it, and hang it to dry away from direct sun. Press on the reverse at the lowest setting with a cloth between the iron and the fabric, because heat is what dulls the sparkle. Store hanging rather than folded so the skirts keep their fall.

Made in a limited run

Printed in small batches with artisans in India, and the runs are not repeated. Sizes XS to 3XL, with made-to-measure available on every piece.