Evening Standard

For a workwear look to cure your winter blues, take your cue from Hollywood. lets the sunshine in

Trends Emma McCarthy

-

THEY say that when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. And life recently has been very generous on the citrus front. But through the glut of sickeningl­y bitter political and economic fruit we’ve had to swallow over the past few months, there came the sweet relief of La La Land.

While there’s no shortage of sugary treats in Damien Chazelle’s smash hit dance-a-thon — see the hand-graze in the cinema, the duet at the piano and many, many seriously glorious sunsets — the most delectable is leading lady Emma Stone’s lovely lemon frock.

And while I have heard a rumour that not every moviegoer in London is a megafan of the film (though I’m not sure I believe it), this fashion desk at least is firm in its belief that Stone’s floralprin­ted tea dress is the perfect antidote to trump Trump’s tangerine tirade.

Such optimism has permeated the rest of the fashion industry too, with sunshine springing up like buttercups this season. But embracing a sunny outlook need not mean tap-dancing down the street with a light-footed Ryan Gosling in tow (though we wouldn’t be complainin­g). It turns out that a drop of lemon is just as good for perking up your deskbound perspectiv­e too.

Making a case for brightenin­g up the boardroom is Victoria Beckham, who’s doppelgäng­er for Stone’s picture-perfect frock has been stripped of any floral fussery and recast as an executive-class dream. Team it with the colour-matched coat for a look that’s both statement and seasonally-appropriat­e.

For other perky new deskmates, see Whistles’s daffodil yellow printed kimono dress — landing in stores this spring — or the Crayola-bright silk dress – now available to pre-order – which plays a starring role in Mango’s new campaign and wins bonus points for its dedication to a full flared sleeve.

Of course there’s no shortage of dresses to dance the night away in either. See Preen, Erdem and Emilia Wickstead for a highlight of the evening primrose-hued options for night owls this season, while

 ??  ??
 ??  ?? Mellow yellow: left,
printed belted silk dress, £245, Whistles
(available May 21, whistles.com). Far left, drape-wrap silk midi
dress, £1,495, and short-sleeve silk coat, £1,195, Victoria
Beckham (victoriabe­ckham.com)
Mellow yellow: left, printed belted silk dress, £245, Whistles (available May 21, whistles.com). Far left, drape-wrap silk midi dress, £1,495, and short-sleeve silk coat, £1,195, Victoria Beckham (victoriabe­ckham.com)

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom