The party season has really made an impact on my dress sense this year. Maybe because there wasn’t much partying in 2020. I’m daring to wear anything that’s shiny, sparkly and stepping away from beige. It looks like 2022-me will be a little more fearless and daring when it comes to expression.
I must admit black has made a major comeback into my fashion life. I’m absolutely loving the chiffon and satin blouses from Next. Every other day I click my way over to the Next website, filtering through almost every category. Mentally ticking off everything I want to throw into my basket, while I patiently wait for their next sale.
Ninety per cent of my closet is colourless and printless. All that can be found in my drawers are blocks of single colours in beige and black. However, this is all set to change thanks to courageous me. Up until recently I hardly paid attention to anything patterned. It was during my latest e-window shopping skim on Next when I started noticing patterned blouses. I Halted my scrolling midway as my eyes caught sight of William Morris designs. With each downward coil, more prints straight out of the 19th-century archives appeared in the grid.
The brand’s logo stamped on the top right-hand side of each image confirmed the collaboration. With a little digging, I learnt it was in celebration of Morris and Co’s 160th year. A fine selection of time-honoured craftsmanship had been picked from a large catalogue of fauna and flora designs. Interested, I tapped on the pictures to get a better look at the seamlessly replicated prints. During my discovery, I spotted Snakeshead, Strawberry Thief, Wandle and Honeysuckle and Tulip.
As William Morris once said, “I do not want art for a few; any more than education for a few; or freedom for a few”. His harmony of verdigris, pine, leaf and chartreuse are now accessible apparel.
Morris and Co date back to 1861 when Morris began his mission to improve interior design aesthetically through a symphony of nature-based patterns. Ever since my early school visits to The William Morris gallery in London, I’ve studied and admired his work. I spent long hours during art class tracing my pencil around unfurled petals, ripened fruits, birds taking flight and intertwined leaves.
Blame It On Art 