English Garden Party

This post is inspired by a recent Enchanted Garden Ball that I attended at the University which was held at the beautiful grounds of Shobrooke Park, Exeter.  With the theme being "wonderfully formal" I combined a bright coral Zara dress with a multi-coloured garland from Accessorize and a pink and orange sandal to create a colourful summery look.

Because no garden party is complete without croquet

When it comes to planning an outfit for an English Garden Party or Wedding, I believe the more eccentric, the better.  Take inspiration from the whimsical and the wonderful to create a look that stands out but take care not to cross the line of excessively twee (while weaving your daisy garland).  For me, Florence and the Machine's video for Rabbit Heart captures the whimsy of an English Garden and I can't get enough of the eccentricity of the whole video.

A summer wedding is the perfect occasion to wear florals.  Keep it modern by choosing items with simple silhouettes like this sarong dress from Zara.  A nude sandal and white blazer will become your wardrobe staples because of their versatility.

Kate Moss' Wedding

  

   

Britain is home to some of the most beautiful gardens in the world, take inspiration from the wild meadows of the Cotswolds and the beautiful grounds of the Lake District when creating an outfit.  With floral prints like the ASOS skirt below it's better to keep the rest of the outfit simple.  An easy way to accessorize floral patterns is to pick items that match the colours within the print.

  

Erdem S/S 2012

Hidcote Manor Garden, Cotswolds

St Fagan Gardens, Cardiff

New Grove Meadow, Gwent

Exeter University Campus

Exeter University Campus

When planning your wardrobe for a holiday in ol' Blighty, it's essential to plan for the unpredictable British weather.  There's no point putting all that effort into an outfit if you're just going to cover it up with an ugly old coat so I've gathered a few rain-friendly items that prove that keeping dry doesn't mean compromising on personal style.