Handmade and the high street 2: Summer flowers and maxi dresses

The current vogue for maxi dresses and flower patterns has me drooling.  Soon it might even be warm enough to wear them!  Here's a selection of high street and handmade items to prove once again that the two go really well together.




I was spoilt for choice searching floral maxi dresses online, but this one from John Lewis with its really dramatic neckline and muted colours really took my eye.  Love the butterflies too.











This Paul Smith handbag from House of Fraser would be perfect with the dress (floral prints together are so cool!)  I think the bag is currently sold out but clicking on the image will take you to a selection of Paul Smith bags including similar floral ones.










You need a lovely pair of sandals to go with these, so to carry on the floral theme, here are some gorgeous ones from Roberto Vianni at Debenhams:

Don't they have a great gladiator feel about them too?  I still have a pair of beloved gladiators from Office, which must be about five years old now.  I think they've lasted so well because I can't walk outdoors in them so they have, ironically, lived in a drawer in my office!!


Here comes the handmade bit, and a shameless plug for my handmade jewellery this time.  Mookaite (or moukite or mookite) must be my favourite gemstone at the moment and it's been a big seller for me.  The contrasting deep reds and mustard yellows are the reason behind that, I think - you wouldn't think they'd go together, but they do.  Here's my take on this summer's trend - a long tassle necklace dangling from a central flower charm, matching earrings and a bag charm for that lovely handbag.  Simples, as the meerkats say :-)

Hope you've enjoyed this taste of handmade and the high street again.  Many thanks to John Lewis, House of Fraser and Debenhams for permission to reproduce their product images.  Do let me know what your favourite item is.