Somewhere there’s a picture of my Mother, sisters and I at the pyramids in Egypt in the late ’80s where we’re wearing matching Liberty print floral dresses (I know – we were the very epitome of cliched mini-me style and I loved it), roman sandals, and basket bags.
A couple of times this season I’ve caught myself buying things and then thinking “my god; my Mother would wear this exact thing” – a thought which definitely would have terrified my teenage self (when I’d spend my time trying my hardest to be the opposite of her). I actually had to return a dress I bought from Topshop (specifically this one) last month because I literally looked like her. I tried belting it, wearing it with heels and red lipstick, with sneakers and messy hair – but no matter what I did I looked like like my Mother channeling Princess Diana (her style icon).
Wearing: Dress // Bag // Shoes // Sunglasses // Necklace // Earrings
I thought that was the end of the accidental impressions of her until I saw these photos of myself in this dress and realised that without even meaning to, I could not be channelling her style here more if I tried.
She was the queen of floral midi dresses and oversized sunglasses (the bigger the better), and was wearing baskets bags way before they were cool. In fact – I remember there was even an entire bookshelf in the cellar reserved solely for baskets (which would be hilarious if it wasn’t so absurdly true). Of course this might also go some way to explaining my tendency to hoard buy 30 versions of the exact same thing (hey, I know what I like…), but that’s a whole other story for another time.
So here we are. I suppose I’ve accidentally turned into my Mother. But since we’re never able to go shopping together or compare style notes (she died just as I turned 21 – I wrote a bit more about her here), it makes me happy knowing there’s a bit of her influence in my wardrobe, and that everything about her style is cool again today.
If there’s one style lesson I’m taking from this realisation; it’s that floral midi dresses will always be chic.
Wearing: Topshop dress (also comes in this style or in plain black + olive green // Whistles bag (sold out, but the clutch version is available here + cheaper version here) // Boden sandals c/- (past season, but this year’s versions here + similar style available here) // Chloe sunglasses (I also love this rainbow version) // Isabel Marant Etoile belt (past season, but similar style here) // MISSOMA necklace // J.CREW bracelet (past season, but similar style HERE) // MONICA VINADER ring // SYDNEY EVAN ‘love’ ring // Shashi earrings (similar style here).
Beauty: Fresh sugar tinted lip balm in ‘Candy’ // Charlotte Tilbury blush in ‘Love Glow’ // Deborah Lippmann nail polish in ‘Shape of my Heart’ // Clarins tanning lotion.
P.S. Please say I’m not alone in this; have you (accidentally or otherwise) inherited any style habits from your mother?
Love, Briony xx
Photos by Joe Galvin
This was so lovely and heartwarming. Your mother must have been a very stylish woman indeed so I think there’s no harm in finding yourself dressing like her. I definitely dress more to my mum’s taste these days, I used to like elaborate and embellished clothes but mum has always liked me in minimalist and plain clothes which is definitely what I go for now. I know we’re the same person really but it doesn’t scare me that much, I think everyone is some kind of version of their parents somehow 🙂 xxx
Lucy @ La Lingua
Thank you! And I love that so much!
B xx
And you look SO radiant in it!
Thank you so much, Carly!
B xx
Ahh I love when you find things that remind you of family. Really digging this floral dress on you!
Whitney
Thank you so much!
Briony xx
You’re mother sounds like one hell of a stylish lady 💕 Mine was too, but in her own way – she was very into punk and that whole look which is a world away from the floaty floral dresses and unashamedly girly style I tend to lean towards 🙈
Kara xx
I swore I would never become my mother, but I guess some things are inevitable 😉
Briony x