The floral midi dress tips to take from the royals
It’s that time of year, when the calendar fills up with weddings, garden parties and smart sporting occasions such as Wimbledon and Henley Royal Regatta.
From a style perspective, this means just one thing: it’s floral midi dress season. Yes, there are many appealing alternatives – relaxed suiting, a co-ord, even a solid coloured midi – but many of us return to florals because they feel right for summer occasions. There’s something about flowers being in bloom and wearing flowers on our clothes that makes sense.
No wonder, then, that the Royals rely on these prints so heavily at this time of year. The Queen, Princess Beatrice, the Duchess of Edinburgh, Zara Tindall, Lady Louise Windsor – all have championed the look in recent weeks.
And yet finding a truly beautiful print combined with a flattering dress silhouette is not an easy task. Far too many on the high street do little for the wearer, clinging in the wrong places, or have awkward cut-outs or a too-high slit. And beware the backless dress, with which wearing a bra is impossible. The Royals seem to navigate all of this effortlessly.
Of course, they have a couple of advantages: style advisors or personal shoppers, who help with planning, acquiring and coordinating outfits for specific events. They also have generous budgets that allow them to shop designer brands like Zimmermann, or commission bespoke versions of Emilia Wickstead or Laura Green dresses.
Still, there’s plenty we can learn from them. Lesson one is that there are florals and there are florals. A generic ditsy print doesn’t look particularly special; something more thoughtfully designed, like Suzannah London’s which are created in partnership with artists, will stand out. Don’t feel you have to lean towards a particular aesthetic, there’s something out there for everyone: retro, graphic, painterly, vintage-inspired.
They don’t have to be expensive either; all of Boden’s prints are designed in house. So are those at British dress brand St Clair. “I think an oversized, blowsy floral is so romantic and feels contemporary too,” says Blaire Donald, founder of St Clair. “Our prints are all original, hand-painted in watercolour and inspired by English flowers.”
Lesson two: fitted or tailored silhouettes keep the look elegant; anything too blowsy may run the risk of looking frumpy. Consider getting a local seamstress via The Seam to alter a high street dress to fit you perfectly.
“To keep it modern and fresh I always combine one of our signature artist collaboration florals with a slick silhouette, and made in a cloth which offers ease, effortlessness and versatility.” says Suzannah Crabb, founder of her (eponymous) brand Suzannah London .
And on that note, lesson three is that prints will always look better on a quality fabric, ideally linen, silk, cotton poplin or a blend. They’ll also feel cooler and more comfortable to wear.
If you can’t stretch to a £1000+ style from Suzannah, Zimmermann or Beulah, brands which have become staples in the collective royal wardrobe, consider renting one for a fraction of the price. Hurr has the strongest offering.
For something you’ll wear time and time again, look to the higher end of the high street, where you’ll find a strong floral occasionwear offering at Cefinn, Me+Em and Rixo – all Royal-approved.
Farm Rio, Tresse and Justine Tabak are still niche enough that you’re unlikely to encounter anyone else wearing the same thing. The same applies to Joanie’s upcoming collaboration with 60s and 70s textile designer and Hockney muse Celia Birtwell – the collection drops on 24th July.
Whatever your budget, occasion and taste, there will be a floral take to get you through the summer in style – and for summers to come too.
This article is an extract from The Telegraph’s Your Royal Appointment newsletter. Sign up here to get exclusive insight from our journalists, including royal commentator Hannah Furness, delivered directly to your inbox every Wednesday.
