Guest blog: BrandAlley and The Pretty Dress Company collaboration and competition by Helen Canning of cocomamastyle.com

Summer’s coming and with it, summer soirees and wedding celebrations so we’re all on the lookout for the perfect occasion dress.  Just in time to save us from our shopping stresses those clever designers at the Pretty Dress Company have collaborated with one-stop-shop BrandAlley to design an exclusive collection and best of all, we can win one of the dresses from this limited edition capsule collection and snap up the rest in a fab flash sale.

Brit brand, the Pretty Dress Company specialises in dresses to fit, flatter and flaunt that are guaranteed to keep you looking glamorous at any occasion and this season they’ve designed a gorgeous range especially for BrandAlley to celebrate their garden at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show…..

Visit the BrandAlley blog to read the article in full

It’s made from chuck-it-in-the-wash, comfortable to wear viscose and has a popper front, just perfect for breastfeeding.  The waist is gathered at the sides to add a touch of definition to your shape and the slim v-neckline will flatter bigger boobs yet not flatten smaller busts.

Dresses, all now £3.99, H&M sizes 6-24

Working mamas can smarten it up with heels, a blazer and skinny belt for comfy yet smart office chic and mamas on duty can work it as grab-it-and-go daywear.  Just add a cardi and leggings on a cooler day and wear with flat sandals in the sunshine.

Choose from 5 neutral colour-ways that will go with anything and team with on-trend neon or summer brights now and dusky tones come next season.

The brand new capsule collection from George at Asda has been designed by Colchester Institute fashion graduate Harriet Simons, who won the 2012 Graduate Fashion Week Childrenswear award, and it’s spot on for pretty, quirky, little lady style.  The 24 year old designer chose contrasting prints and clashing colours to make a bold statement with price tags starting at a purse-friendly £8.

We’ll certainly be filling our shopping basket with these printed lovelies.

Graduate fashion designs for George at Asda, from £8 each.  9 months – 6 years

It’s all in the detail, clashing colours and contrasting prints bring these dresses to life.

Clockwise from top left: Necklace, Banana Republic; Rose detail top, Dorothy Perkins; Feather earrings, Oasis; Bangle, Debenhams; Trainers, Zara; Printed scarf, Bohemia design; Fluoro wellies, River Island; Maxi dress, Boohoo.com; Cardigan, Cos; Satchel, Cambridge satchel company; Maternity jeans, Vertbaudet; Printed dress (on model), ASOS maternity; Flat sandals, Zara.

Is bright and bold orange finding its way into your wardrobe this season? How will you wear it?

After posting this feature I was asked on Facebook:

Q) My question to cocomama: I love that colour, do you think ‘older’ mamas can wear it though?

A) Of course! Age doesn’t matter at all. It’s more about choosing the shade of orange that’s best for your skin tone.
As a rough guide, if you have olive to dark skin go for the vibrant tangerines and mangoes. If you have fairer skin try melon and paler coral shades to see what works.

But if you’re used to wearing (and feel comfortable in) reds, try the rusty end of the orange spectrum and if pastels are usually your thing you’ll feel more comfortable in the peachy corals.
You can always ease yourself in with some bold accessories contrasting with denim or navy until you’re ready to go all the way! Hope that helps!

The chain strap is perfect if you need to be hands-free, and if you have the luxury of a spare hand, it tucks neatly inside. Oh, and it’s small enough that you won’t have to carry your other half’s phone/keys/wallet but there’s room for those wet wipes for sticky fingers!

Discreetly opening at the front and available in short sleeve or sleeveless in a selection of wearable neutrals and pretty brights, Vertbaudet‘s tops won’t stretch the budget too far either.

All Vertbaudet

Sizes range from 6-20 and prices start at £18.75.

In need of some maternity style tips for every stage of pregnancy? Take a look at Vertbaudet’s Maternity fashion timeline with garment suggestions for each trimester based around your growing bump. So you can stay stylish but comfortable with key pieces.

First up are these designer-look ASOS lovelies in at just £35. In colour-popping on trend orange with luxe-look metal details and a low block heel you could chase a toddler, push a buggy or carry a baby bump in, these sandals tick all the boxes for purse-friendly sweet ‘n’ chic style.  And if orange isn’t your thing, they also come in super sleek black.

Block heel sandals, ASOS, £35

I chose the Mayflower, a white dress (daring with a toddler, I know!) with a painterly print of blue irises creeping up. Florals are of course a summer style staple and never go out of fashion so this dress will feature in my wardrobe year after year.

Designed and created in the UK, Damsel’s dresses can be found in selected John Lewis, House of Fraser and Fenwick stores but if you’re further afield those clever people have every new mums best friend, the online shop.

Back to the Mayflower dress and I was asked to style it to feature on the Damsel in a Dress blogand Facebook page for a blogger style-off. Think The bake-off with dresses!  I kept the look simple with nude heels, subtle silver jewellery and a classic bun with shocking pink nails to contrast with the turquoise and cobalt flowers.
It’s easy to over-style dresses and tempting to get carried away with belts, jewellery and statement shoes but sometimes you need to let the dress do the talking, especially when it’s as beautiful as this.

One dress three ways

There are ways to put together an outfit without detracting from the key piece, yet still getting your accessory fix.  I’ve created three easy ways to complete a look with this one dress, with the idea behind each working for any printed dress.

The dress:  Floral print dress, Damsel in a Dress

Look 1. Choose 2 shades that blend with the colours within the print

Jacket, Oasis; Sandals, Zara; Bracelet & Earrings, M&Co.

Look 2. Use only the main colour in the print as a bold accent.

Necklace, M&Co.; Box clutch, Kurt Geiger; Sandals, Zara

Look 3. Go for gold. Or silver, or bronze. Metallics go with any colour and add a dressier feel to your outfit.

Necklace, Envelope clutch, & Wedge sandals,  all Oasis

What Damsel in a Dress said…

Helen of Coco Mama Style is the embodiment of effortless elegance in our printed mayflower dress. her choice of nude peep toes and delicate accessories paired with her sweeping chignon hair style makes this ensemble ideal for sophisticated wedding guest style.

If you like how I styled the dress you can head over to the Damsel in a dress blog or Facebook page to vote for me to win.

How would you wear yours?

Thank you to Damsel in a dress for inviting me to take part and for gifting me this beautiful dress.

Grazia call them the Slice, you may call them a low wedge, but either way, these are the elegant and comfortable way to do sandals this season. They’re dainty, even when studded across every strap and feel a little smarter than your basic summer flats.  With designer inspiration from the likes of Lanvin (metallic, below right), Marc by Marc Jacobs (yellow, above right), and Mr Choo, the High Street offering of slice-heel sandals is pretty impressive even on a budget.

Clockwise from top left: Gold stud effect, Oasis; Red with gold detail, New Look; Black patent, J Crew; Black studded, Zara; Blue, M&Co; Gold, Monsoon; Nude and silver, Aldo; Black patent,  Matalan; Brown plaited, Zara.

Here’s the CocoMama pick of the mini-me styles…

All dresses, Little Mistress/Little Misdress, from £40

And if you prefer to keep your style individual there are looks to complement one another too…

All dresses, Little Mistress/Little Misdress, from £40