Backyard

During the darkest days of the pandemic, my garden became a source of comfort, calm & refuge from everything going on in the world & the relentless cycle of bad news as now, as we start to emerge from the Covid 19 bubble with cases still on the upswing, the cost of living rapidly increasing, a federal election in five weeks & a war in the Ukraine, it appears that I may be needing the restorative power & irrepressible optimism of nature for the forseeable future. Here are four little snippets of floral-centric outfits that never made it beyond my front door but provided hope, happiness & inspiration for me & I hope for you, too....

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Dress: Faithfull the Brand via The Iconic cotton/linen

Sandals: Blowfish Malibu via Williams the Shoemen vegan leather

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The first look, captured in photographs taken underneath the backyard mango tree in the shade, comprises of a beautiful pastel floral linen shirred midi dress with tie straps from Indonesian-based label Faithfull the Brand's exclusive collaboration with online fashion emporium The Iconic & a pair of comfortable yet stylish gold, silver & rose gold vegan leather strappy sandals from eco label Blowfish Malibu via my local Williams the Shoemen store.

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Jumpsuit: Princess Highway linen

Heels: Kitten D'Amour vegan leather

Bangles: Gift, vintage silver

Bracelets: Jeweled Bazaar faceted beads

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The second look is right at home amongst the fairy garden hedge in the area we have taken to calling "The Green" where once upon a time we had an above-ground swimming pool & comprises of a vibrant, 1960s-hippie-dippie-flower-power-inspired linen jumpsuit with tie straps from Aussie label Princess Highway, a pair of mauve vegan leather deco heels from Kitten D'Amour, a stack of vintage silver bangles (gifted by friends) & an armful of colourful faceted beaded bangles from Jeweled Bazaar.

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Dress: Sussan linen, tassel

Surf Sandals: Aldo molded rubber, satin

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The third look, with its more muted tones, is happy "sitting pretty" on the wrought-iron swing in the dappled sunshine & is made up of a beautiful pink & green palm & hibiscus print linen smock dress with ruffled neckline & tie from Sussan & a pair of relaxed molded rubber & satin "surf sandals" from Aldo.

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Dress: Ankoa cotton

Heels: Gorman vegan leather

Bag: H&M woven straw

Bangle: Gift, vintage shell mosaic

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The fourth look, once again captured beneath the mango tree, is made up of a stunning cottage floral cotton prairie dress with ruffled neckline, mother-of-pearl buttons & drawstring waistline from Aussie slow-fashion label Ankoa, a pair of purple vegan leather slingback heels from cool-girl brand Gorman, a natural woven straw shoulder bag from my local H&M store to carry any of the essentials should I want to "take this show on the road" (aka to run some errands) & a chunky vintage shell mosaic bangle that some friends gave me for Christmas.