I wanted to call this post THE PERFECT GARDEN PARTY DRESS * IS NOT NECESSARILY A FLORAL MAXI * Yeah that was too long…

Oy enough with the floral maxi’s already! If you want to stand out at your next garden party forget that floral maxi dress & go for a chic royal blue broderie anglaise instead. This dress is a classic shape reminiscent of the fifties. With a flattering fitted bodice & full skirt it’ll never be out of fashion & truly suits every figure. Indeed making it a closet staple although often over-looked as such, yet this is exactly what curating your wardrobe means. Being the curator of your own closet doesn’t mean you only buy obvious pieces. Naturally we all like to have the ubiquitous breton & the perfect pair of jeans. However it’s these unexpected special pieces that give your collection pizazz & make your outfits not only limitless but also unique. In every post I always feel there is so much more to say about this, so many chapters to the topic that writing a book is inevitable. Be that as it may, my future best seller will have to wait for now. Let’s crack on with today’s outfit shall we?

As usual I’m wearing something I already had in my wardrobe so I’ve found a few alternatives for you to get a similar look. I also chose a couple of slightly different cuts to accommodate various preferences such as covering the arms or liking a longer length.

My inspiration for today’s post is the sunshine we’ve been enjoying lately. Summer break is on the horizon so perhaps I should start planning our first American holiday? As you know, my life here to date has been less than ideal but now there are clear skies ahead it’s time to relax & settle into the community. We are going out & about more, exploring local hotspots & have some dates in the diary. Hoorah, it’s that time of year again when all the parties are outdoors! Everyone eats al fresco & the bars swing open their doors to patios, courtyards & even side walks!
As much as I love the casual barby (what Aussie doesn’t?) it’s fabulous dressing up for a cocktail garden party too!
This year we’re seeing a lot of floral maxi dresses for these events & although I’m a huge fan of this boho style it’s nice to be a bit different isn’t it? Broderie anglaise is ideal for a change yet still incredibly feminine especially in this elegant dark blue.

Matches is having a terrific sale at the moment where I found a similar style of dress to mine. This navy blue broderie anglaise dress by Self Portrait is absolutely stunning & there are still sizes left in UK8/US6, UK10/US8 & UK12/US10. It’s a terrific price at 50% off for $272.

As I’ve mentioned before my favourite espadrilles are by Castaner. Buying a neutral beige canvas pair was perhaps a tad uninspired however there’s no doubt playing it safe in this case has served me well. These comfortable yet girlie shoes literally go with everything!

Although what I wouldn’t give to add this divine pair from Valentino to my shoe collection…sighh

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