Saffron and Delft blue, running in bands of flowers and small birds — then cut on
the bias so every stripe meets in a long chevron down the centre, front and back.

That mitring is the whole trick, and it's the expensive part: nothing runs
horizontally across you. The lines travel on the diagonal and converge, which is
exactly what stylists reach for when you'd rather the eye didn't settle at your
middle — a diagonal blurs where a horizontal announces. Then the pattern stops
dead at a contrast band at your natural waist, and begins again below it.

It's tailored, not thrown on, and that's what carries a print with this much
history: a seamed bodice, a real waist, long bishop sleeves gathered into narrow
cuffs. The V runs deep — but it's the only bare thing on you, sleeves to the
wrist and hem to the ankle, which is the proportion that makes a plunge read
elegant rather than exposed. A plunge bra sits underneath and stays out of sight.

And long sleeves in July aren't a compromise. Linen breathes, your shoulders stay
out of the sun, and you'll be the only one at the table not hunting for a wrap
when the air conditioning finds you.

Linen · deep V neckline · long bishop sleeves gathered into narrow cuffs · fitted seamed bodice · contrast band at the natural waist · full A-line maxi skirt · engineered indienne stripe with florals and birds, mitred to a chevron front and back · close through the bodice, defined at the waist, full through the skirt · densely printed throughout, so the pattern does real covering work · size to your bust; the bodice is fitted and seamed, so size up if you're between · model is 5'7" and wears a size M · in Saffron Provence · machine wash cold, gentle cycle, hang to dry, warm iron while damp