WHAT TO WEAR

THE CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW

Few events have the power to draw a global gardening crowd like the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Flower enthusiasts and green-thumbed revellers flock to the Royal Hospital Chelsea’s grounds to see some of the most cutting-edge and creatively cultivated plants, sculptures and garden arrangements. And while there’s no official dress code for the event, attendees swap the gardening gloves for something a little more polished and a little less grass-stained, while still keeping the practical needs of the day in mind.

LEAN INTO THE THEME

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If there ever was a better time to wear florals than the Chelsea Flower Show - the day when you can truly stop and smell the roses - then we’ve yet to hear about it. Luckily, our floral dresses span a range of flattering shapes and colour palettes while retaining an enduring comfortable edge.

The perfect homage to the garden grounds, our custom Modern Botanical print is used across a multitude of styles. From the vibrant Raspberry Red pouf-sleeve midi dress in fluid and airy crepe to the more streamlined textured-cotton cream style, shaped with cap sleeves and a figure-skimming fit-and-flare silhouette.

If you’re in luck with the forecast, then choosing a lightweight and breathable fabric like linen is a wise choice for a day in the sun. Look to our innovative Crease Less linen-blend styles like the Wild Bloom Print Midi Dress, trimmed with sheer lace around the bodice and hem, or the Stencil Meadow Print Midi Dress + Belt which has a neat point collar and puff sleeves.

THE PERFECT LAYER

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Since it is the Great British Summer Time, there's always a good chance that you'll need to take a jacket. Even if it's just to drape around your shoulders, you'll be glad for the extra layer when you set foot outside the warm + humid indoor displays back into London’s distinctly less-tropical climate.

All our jackets are designed with an exact end use in mind. If you have a dress with a belted or defined waist, then one of our crop or boxy styles like the Houndstooth Box Jacket or our Textured Short Jacket (bonus points for the easy-to-spot-in-a-crowd Iris hue) are designed to finish at just the right hem length, so as not to cut you off at an unflattering place. For a more streamlined dress silhouette, a fitted style like this Cotton Utility Jacket or the Cotton Herringbone Crop Jacket is ideal. Plus, the clean neutral shades mean they can be easily styled with bold patterns or block colours alike.

FRESH SUITING

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Tailoring is the perfect look to accompany a midday break in the Champagne Bar. This season’s suiting colour stories - Camellia Pink and Peach Sorbet - both come with adaptable mix-and-match layers, so you can build your custom look.

We’ve chosen a luxurious Italian summer suiting fabric that has a slightly slubbed surface and includes silk fibres for enhanced fluidity for our Camellia Pink pieces, which include the choice of the Sharp Shoulder Blazer, the Lightweight Tailored Shirt Jacket or the Tailored Sleeveless Crop Jacket. Any of which seamlessly style with the matching Straight-Leg Crop Trouser, intelligently designed with single-stitched pleats that expand into inverted folds and create a streamlined wide-leg silhouette. 

If you prefer a more muted shade that wouldn’t be out of place in David Austen’s famed English Rose garden display, then look to our Peach Sorbet suiting. This three-piece set delivers the ultimate take on feminine-masculine codes by balancing the clean lines of traditional suiting with the softness of pastels. Made from fluid tailoring fabric, these lightweight pieces are ideal for warmer days and include a range of trouser shapes to choose from - slim crop, cigarette or exaggerated tapered leg.

SMART-PRACTICAL

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We’re adding an extra consideration of practicality to the loose smart-casual dress code for those who plan on treading every inch of the grounds. Look to this season’s contemporary yet timeless neutrals like Summer Chocolate or Soft Washed White to build the perfect smart-practical look.

Start with the classic base of white denim, our Relaxed Baggy Jean to be specific (avoid grass stains by bringing a picnic blanket or securing a deck chair if you’re relaxing by the bandstand in Ranlegh Gardens). The wide-leg, slouchy fit and lightweight non-stretch denim works effortlessly with the soft fluidity of our Hydrangea-print silk halterneck top. Match the brown of the floral print with our Sharp Shoulder Blazer in Summer Chocolate, then complete the look with our Travel Loafer - ergonomically shaped with a wider toe box and a cushioned insole for all-day comfort.

TIMELESS WHITE

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A white dress is a spring-summer hero style for a daytime event that’s hopefully in the sun. And since everything goes with white, it’s a blank canvas to build your look around with a jacket and accessories.

For a classic cotton style, look to the feminine Modern Zig Zag Broderie Dress. Crafted from lightweight and breathable cotton voile, this maxi has fluttery sleeves and a fitted waist, before falling to a long, floaty skirt with a semi-sheer banded hem. Similarly tactile but with a more structured look and feel, our Tweed Zip Front Midi Dress comes in cotton-blend herringbone tweed with a clean point collar and classic fringing trimming the edges. A front zip running the length of the piece means you can adjust the neckline to your preferred coverage.

If you’re partial to something that’s less textural and more modern + minimal, then opt for crisp cotton poplin with the Maxi Shirt Dress + Belt or our Contour Seamed Maxi Dress, equipped with a boat neckline and elasticated back ruching to enhance the fitted waist.

WALK FOR MILES

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With a total showground size of 11 acres, 3 of which alone house the Great Pavilion (that’s big enough to park 500 London buses), comfortable footwear is a must. That’s where our intelligently designed styles come in, equipped with cushioned insoles, supple leather + suede and wider, more comfortable straps.

CARRY ALL IN STYLE

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To ensure you’re prepared for the full day, make sure you’ve packed the essentials: a water bottle, suncream and let’s face it, an umbrella to be on the safe side. A generously sized bag that accommodates everything, while not being so big it gets in your way, is key.

INTELLIGENT SPF

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Aside from your everyday SPF, there’s nothing like a hat and sunglasses to make sure you’re extra protected from the sun, especially if it’s going to be a long day outside.