Dark-Background Graphic Prints: The Best Florals to Wear in Winter

Today it’s all about The Dress.

A dress that I’d had my eye on for aaaaaaaaaages, and one that I waited for patiently to come back into stock (most likely someone returning one in my size, in other words).

My patience paid off, and this Monki dress with the weird-but-wonderful graphic jungle print full of palm trees, tropical flowers and bizarre eyes(?) became mine at the end of this summer. The dazzling colour combination of orange, candy pink, light grey, slate grey, white and sage green jumps out from that dark background… would it work as well on white? That’d be a Hmmm, nope.

It’s the black that gives the bold colours the richness they deserve, and let’s take a moment to all hail the beauty that is a print with a dark background making it suitable for that weird ‘it-can’t-be-winter-surely-it’s-still-summer’ time of year, shall we?

Photography by Giles Caldicott
Location: Ham House, Richmond-upon-Thames

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Shop the look:

I guess what I’m trying to say is that I’m a sucker for a bold print. And although I like (love!) florals, sometimes you want something a little more punchy than your standard run-of-the-mill autumnal small floral print with a dark background. So this Monki dress ticks all my boxes (bold / orange / comfy / midi) and very soon it’ll be sporting a roll neck, boots and tights underneath for warmth.

(Though not usually one for black, I’m actually drooling over the thought of what it’ll look like with a black roll neck worn under it.)

Below I’ve included a selection of dresses I’ve found online that have that dark background thing going on – yeah there are quite a few florals, but hopefully none of them are too predictable. My best bets for some fabulous prints would be Boden, Raishma (a new-to-me brand I’ll be featuring soon), Monsoon and, of course, vintage at Etsy.

My only regret with this [when-it-was-still-effectively-summer] outfit is that I didn’t wear a hat with this look. How is it that a hat just finishes off an outfit like nothing else does? I do have a small head so a hat often makes up for une petite tête, lol.

Are you feeling the dark background prints? What shops would you recommend for something a bit more exciting than a safe floral? Comment below…

Stay safe, XOXO

Dress: Monki (wrap dress in same print)
Vest top: Marks & Spencer (similar)
Belt: Mango (similar)
Heels: Asos (I like these)
Sunglasses: Asos, old (love these)

Photography: Giles Caldicott