The Budget Fashionista

Natalie gives us her take on the latest British style trends and how to get them on a budget
I can’t wait for summer to begin so I can throw on a pretty floral tea dress and go picnicking with my friends in the gorgeous British countryside. The Spring/Summer shows offered a whole bouquet for us to feast our eyes on. Pansies and poppies bloomed on sculpted jackets and pelmet skirts at Balenciaga, and Prada embraced romance in their Cruise collection, with dramatic dirndl skirts bedecked with blossoms. Go full-skirted yourself with New Look’s flowery recreation, at only £25 ($49). And the utterly fabulous British designer Luella Bartley returned to our shores with prom dresses, pleated skirts, and secretary blouses in floral prints, punked up with spiky skater boots. I saved my pennies and splashed out on one of her fun Batman t-shirts, but have been wearing it with Topshop’s very ‘Luella’ flower-print ra-ra skirt, for an affordable £30 ($59), and a little birdie tells me that you can pick up a button-up shirt very similar to Lu’s, for only £12 ($24), at Matalan.

Summertime means parties, parties and more parties. But what to wear… Try H&M’s strapless prom dress, patterned with a flurry of florals – at £24.99 ($49) you’ll still have money left over to buy yourself a Pimm’s. If you want to be part of the petal parade but fear that you’ll end up looking like your Great Aunt Betty, pick flower power accessories, such as Topshop’s £6 ($12) carved rose ring, or pay homage to Carrie Bradshaw in anticipation of the SATC movie by pinning an oversized corsage onto your blouse – Johnny and Rosie’s giant rose pin (£25/$49) is my absolute favourite, but H&M offer thriftier versions. One day I’ll save enough to own an Hermes scarf, but until then, New Look’s flowery alternative at £8 ($16) will do nicely. Until the sun comes out here, I’ll fight the unrelenting English rain with a rosy umbrella from the Princess of the Posies, Cath Kidston. Blooming marvellous.

Runway pictures courtesy of style.com.
Background image: Paris Rose linen fabric from Cath Kidston.