Weekend Shopping: Fairytale Florals

This season's fashion florals seem to split into two categories - the exotic, tropical prints seen in collections for Stella McCartney resort, Alberta Ferretti, Altuzarra and Givenchy resort, versus the more modest, English Country Garden style blooms featured at Erdem, Dolce & Gabbana and at Louis Vuitton through Marc Jacobs' Broderie Anglaise daisy patterns.
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One of my favourite set of books growing up was Cicely Mary Barker's exquisitely illustrated The Flower Fairies.

This season's fashion florals seem to split into two categories - the exotic, tropical prints seen in collections for Stella McCartney resort, Alberta Ferretti, Altuzarra and Givenchy resort, versus the more modest, English Country Garden style blooms featured at Erdem, Dolce & Gabbana and at Louis Vuitton through Marc Jacobs' Broderie Anglaise daisy patterns. The latter reminded me of my much-loved childhood books and, as I browsed various brands' takes on these trends, a whole host of Flower Fairyesque looks surfaced.

Mixing motifs of lowly field flowers like the dandelion or daisy, with luxe fabrics, silky textures and sharp cuts, sometimes also incorporating lace for a more ethereal edge, feels so modern.

Whilst florals for spring may not be 'ground breaking', the success of the recent Laura Ashley Archive range for Uniqlo and print pro Mary Katranzou's line for TopShop - which launched yesterday for the start of London Fashion Week and has already sold out of most designs - shows if they're done right, they certainly are popular.

Here's my selection of great fairytale florals out now or coming very soon...

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From top left:Lazy Oaf summer collection Fast Flowers dress, £55, Stella McCartney L.I.L.Y eau de toilette, Daisy by Marc Jacobs travel scent set with atomiser, Lola by Marc Jacobs perfume all at Selfridges, Floribunda Liberty Print khaki waxed Barbour jacket, £219 from Liberty, Preen/Edition Floral Chino £45, Roksanda/Edition Lace Print Dress £75 both from Debenhams,

Monsoon Martinique Top, £45, and Martinique Jacket £55, both out March; Hobbs Unlimited Iris Trousers, £149, Wolford's stunning fairy gaiters - delicately sexy lace and ribbon accessories for neck and/or wrists - ADORE these! from www.wolfordshop.co.uk and various stockists, Pixi Tinkerbell super cute make up range - see www.pixibeauty.co.uk for details.

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