If it’s good enough for Brigitte Bardot’s wedding dress, it’s good enough for us
Words and Styling Nini Khatiblou
Photography David Nyanzi
Dress, MOTHER OF PEARL
Hairclip and bag, both SKINNY DIP
Trainers, SUPERGA
Ring, MVDT Collection at WOLF & BADGER
In times of fashion-induced frenzy, I often find that taking inspiration from the calendar month provides an easy route to a killer outfit; bauble-worthy metallics for December, pastel co-ords in April, a nautical stripe around July (you never know when an impromptu boat party might occur)… And what better way to celebrate May’s two bank holidays than with an outfit reminiscent of a giant picnic blanket?
In case you hadn’t heard, gingham is big news this spring-summer and looks set to replace the trusted Breton stripe as your new favourite print. It’s mega versatile too; wear a gingham shirt layered under denim dungarees, a pair of cropped gingham trousers with an oversized white shirt, or in this case, a gingham midi dress with a pair of chunky dad trainers.
A favourite amongst fashionistas, I’ve been a die-hard fan of Mother of Pearl since its launch three years ago – their oversized coats, exaggerated kick-flares and a pair of their big bowed flats are forever on my wish list. So it was no surprise that it was gingham love at first sight when I set eyes on this voluminous beauty. Summer dresses can all too often err on the sickly side, which is why this ticks so many boxes with its relaxed ‘throw on and go’ vibe. From the flattering bell sleeves to the cute bow detailing, it strikes the perfect balance between girly and not too done.
You don’t need to add much to a dress like this, but in the spirit of street style, why not crank it up a notch with a gingham bag shaped like a lunch box? This one from Skinny Dip, where I also unearthed this nifty hairclip. Clips are (literally and figuratively) huge this summer, so overload your hair with jumbo-sized pins, grips and clips.
Finally – onto the shoes. This dress can take a heel (preferably a chunky flatform) as well as a flat, but for long May weekends spent lazing around in the park, a pair of dad trainers will do.
NINI’S PICKS
NINI KHATIBLOU
Fashion Editor and Stylist
Nini is a London-based stylist and Contributing Fashion Editor at PHOENIX. With over 10 years experience working on the UK’s biggest-selling magazines, she currently splits her time between styling celebrity and fashion shoots for PHOENIX and working with a host of commercial brands in a consultancy and styling framework to create some of the biggest ad campaigns on the market.