Paper Garden Print

Retro-graphic florals in aqua, cobalt and coral, with a healthy dose of '70s glamour. The kaftan is made in lurex cotton for a little gold.

The two pieces

The Vienna Printed Midi takes the geometric side of the print and cuts it into a midi with real '70s swagger — it nods to European glamour without dressing up as a costume. The Retro Kaftan is an ode to the '70s jet set and a more-is-more aesthetic: a relaxed robe silhouette in lurex cotton, with gold running through the weave, made to layer over a bikini on the way to the coast.

Where to wear it

This is a holiday print. Poolside, beach clubs, cruise days, long Mediterranean lunches, honeymoons. The kaftan goes over swimwear; the Vienna takes you to dinner afterwards. Aqua and coral are colours that look their best in strong sunlight, which is exactly where I intended them to be worn.

How to wear the two together

These two pieces were designed to travel in the same suitcase. The kaftan packs flat and weighs almost nothing, so it does the daytime work — pool, beach, breakfast, the walk to the market. The Vienna is the evening half of the same wardrobe. With gold sandals and hoops it reads as a dinner dress; with flat sandals and bare legs it reads as a long lunch. Between them you have five days of holiday dressing out of two pieces, which is the whole argument for buying fewer, better things.

Fabric and care

Lurex cotton is woven with metallic thread rather than printed with it, so the shine is part of the cloth and will not wear off, flake or fade. Hand wash gently in cold water with a mild detergent, or dry clean. Hang dry — never tumble, which shrinks the cotton and dulls the metallic thread. Press on the reverse at a low setting. The kaftan's robe shape ties and drapes rather than fitting close, so it works across sizes.

A small print family

Only two pieces exist in Paper Garden, which makes it one of the smallest runs I have made. Sizes XS to 3XL, made to measure available, and this run will not be repeated.