Barbara Hulanicki Leopard Print Dress

I absolutely love this time of year. I feel like I say it every Autumn, but I just can’t help myself – bright, crisp October mornings are my favourite. Don’t get me wrong, I love the freshness Spring brings, and endless sunny Summer days, but nothing beats the seasonal ritual of unpacking your woollens and winter coat and embracing cosy evenings in. What’s more, autumn/winter dressing is my style favourite too, with jewel hues, layering, new boots and faux fur. Joy!

A jersey wrap dress with long sleeves is perfect for awkward trans-seasonal weather, especially on days where it can’t quite decide what it’s doing. This leopard print wrap dress was a recent thrifting find: it’s by one of my favourite ever designers, Biba’s Barbara Hulanicki, from a high street collaboration she did a few years back now. Her designs are instantly recognisable – I love her bold, retro prints so I did a double-take when I spotted (!) this dress for just a few quid.

The length and cut are really flattering, and the attention-grabbing print does all the hard work. The muted colour palette gives leopard print a subtle and sophisticated makeover; don’t get me wrong, I love a bit of leopard but something about the blue-black combo makes it that bit more wearable, work as well as weekend appropriate. I’ve worn it in both contexts, paired with a smart trench coat and heels or, as here, with leather jacket, fedora and ankle boots.

I’m all about simple and versatile outfits at the moment, with minimum faff or fuss involved. Maybe I’m getting older, or busier, or maybe my priorities are changing – but this dress is a throw-on-and-go dream. What about you – what’s your go-to, go-everywhere dress? What are your favourite trans-seasonal pieces?