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I’ve never really been one for wearing prints. Or dresses. Or skirts, or that matter. Until this summer, when I’ve suddenly gone crazy for all three. It started with an apple green and red floral print maxi dress by Rixo which I picked up in the sales (after some very focussed and intense online stalking). Then a post-box red dress with tiny blue and yellow flowers by Ghost which I spotted on an Instagrammer. Then a leopard print silk skirt from Danish brand, Ganni. All special pieces which I love so much they have relegated my jeans to second place this season. The shops are practically bursting with a riot of dresses and skirts in ditsy florals, bold stripes and statement animal prints at the moment. Here’s my pick, with some items already in the sale.

Dresses

Rouje dress, Zara Sandals, Warehouse denim jacket (old)

My favourite brands for summer dresses are overseas ones – in particular, LA-based Faithfull the Brand, and online only brands Rouje and Realisation Par. The only problem with these is the blah blah tedious overseas charges they come with, although a limited range of Faithfull is stocked by ASOS and Net a Porter (you have to be quick off the mark though, it sells out quickly) and Realisation Par is opening a London pop up early July (big woop). Closer to home, this pale yellow button through dress from & Other Stories is a sunny gem, and this vibrant red dress from Zara will look killer with a tan. I am generally not a fan of waist cut outs in dresses as they can look a little meh, but the length of this floral Top Shop dress keeps it modest. If you’re going floral, I think it’s nice to toughen up your look a notch with a vintage look denim jacket.

Skirts

Polka dot skirt from Flynn Sky Bridal , button through camisole from Top Shop, jute striped tote from Maison Bengal and rope sandals from Urban Outfitters

I’ve never met a long, floral skirt I didn’t like, but then I was a teenager in the 90’s and grunge will always live on in my heart. This red maxi from Urban Outfitters takes me right back to my weekly pilgrimages to Camden Market circa 1991 to seek out falafel and red hair dye. It’ll look great paired with a loose t-shirt, tucked in, maybe one by an old school sportswear brand, such as Hilfiger, Fila or Champion (stocked by Urban Outfitters, or pick them up second hand on eBay). I like the candy coloured stripe and the front slits of this super flattering linen midi from Mango, into which I would tuck this simple linen camisole from Topshop. At the other end of the spectrum is this quite loud animal print skirt from Zara, which is similar to my Ganni one, which I wear with this cute (and very good quality) embroidered t-shirt by Meylor Goods (picked up at one of the Occasional Home Store fairs J!)

meylor t shirt.jpg — Embroidered Tee from **Meylor Goods**

Button through camisole top from Topshop

Footwear

T-Short from Meylor Goods, Skirt from Ganni and trainers from Veja

I think prints look best with simple footwear and this summer, I’ve been living in my Veja trainers. Veja is a Parisian “eco-friendly” trainer brand, which you can pick up at Arket and elsewhere in an array of styles and colours - I like their classic canvas sneaker the best. I’ve also thrown in a pair of neutral Gazelles as they are a timeless classic – I really like these in deep burgundy too. I’ve seen so many gorgeous leather flats on the High Street this season, particularly in Topshop. These from Dune look remarkably similar to a Hermes style which cost a gazillion pounds, and this pretty braided pair, again in leather, from Zara look a lot more spendy than £30 and also come in black. For when you are feeling truly pedi ready, there are these super simple strappy sandals from Free People.

Bags

Dress from Ghost, Shoes from Zara and Bag from Mango last season

Remarkably, in some shops, you can still buy a bag that is NOT made of straw or raffia. I’ve recently brought a larger, striped, jute macramé bag from Maison Bengal (a fair trade company, stocked by lots of fancy shops but I bought mine direct from their website and it arrived super quick). Their shaggy number might divide opinion (my husband thinks it looks like one of Chewbacca’s cousins), but they have plenty more amazing options on their website, all handmade in India. This red macramé tote from LF Markey is now in the sale, but a quick search on Etsy will unearth literally dozens of vintage versions in this style for around the same price or even less. And then there is the classic French string shopping bag – stocked by Grey September amongst others – just don’t pack anything in it which you don’t mind losing.

Macrame Tote LF Markey at Urban Outfitters

Happy shopping!

Emma x

It has taken me a very long time to write something for Malmo & Moss's blog, as I am fairly certain that there is not much demand for my idea of winter fashion, which involves wearing a half dozen jumpers in black, shades of grey and navy on heavy rotation until I feel warm again, i.e. mid May, or they develop (noticeable) holes on the elbows. However, I will happily ditch my much-loved woollens for a party – including the big daddy of them all, New Year’s Eve. Then I think it’s kind of nice to reach for something a little more luxe, be it velvet, sequins, leather, metallics, silk … anything goes, really. Purely in the interests of research (ahem), I have scoured the High Street for some festive gorgeousness to help you choose your New Years Eve look. Bonus – some of it is now on sale too. Here is my round up of the pick of the lot, with no single item coting over £150 as I appreciate that a lot of you have a serious soft furnishings habit to feed too.

ASOS Blazer £35, Trousers £31.50 (on sale)

I love a velvet suit. If you got your hands on this dreamy, high waisted tux by &Other Stories this season, which sold out in what seemed like a nanosecond, then lucky you, as I think it’s perfect. I also really like this slightly more relaxed, navy suit by ASOS and, if a suit is not so much your thing, these black velvet culottes from Sandro (both on sale). I’d tuck a silky top (like this satin pyjama style blouse from Topshop) into the culottes and add some simple, strappy heels for an easy evening look. I think the ASOS suit would look pretty cool dressed up with a silky vest, or dressed down with a T and a pair of flats as well.

There are more oversized blazers than you can shake a stick at in the stores at the moment. This tux-y looking, tailored one by Pepe Jeans (via ASOS) above caught my eye, and would really suit a mini. There are also some great looking sequinned dresses in the stores this season, including this crew necked, long sleeved version from H&M. Sequins can be a bit Marmite, so if they are not your thing, you could wear the blazer with a leather mini instead, like this high waist one from French Connection, and maybe a loose, fine knit jumper or a vintage T. I’d top the outfit off with some ankle boots (I really like these white leather ones from Topshop).

A little peek inside my wardrobe at home with my own version of the French Connection leather skirt

These white courts have been a staple for me this season

“But it is too cold to go out in a mini, you fool!”, I hear those of you who were born south of Watford cry. I am a sucker for a dress with long sleeves and leopard print, so I bought this leopard dress from Zara as soon as I saw it. It is very flattering on and a great length (somewhere between a midi and a maxi – a mid midi maxi?!). I wear it with my trusty black, pointy ankle boots. I also really like pyjama suits, and I think this one from H&M, with its exotic print and red piping, looks way more spendy than it actually is. To add a bit of boom to these looks, I’d add some big old earrings, like these ones from Mango (although be careful you don’t have someone’s eye out on the dancefloor and avoid leaning over any lit candles). Lastly, I adore these sequinned, cropped trousers from Miss Selfridge’s premium range, which are now half price in the sale. Admittedly, they are a little blingy, so I’d dress them down with a snug, black turtleneck and some suede heels, like these from Topshop. The oversized blazer would work well with these trousers too.

So there you have it – my little round up of this season’s festive party wear. Ultimately, of course, the best party outfit is the one you feel awesome in, whatever that looks like. This explains why I will more than likely end up wearing the camo print boiler suit I have just snapped up in the sales to my NYE dinner with friends, along with the mega sized Mango earrings … It’s like I said at the outset, anything goes! Happy new year!