Baroque Style Floral Blue Maxi Dress

A shirt dress is the most useful thing you can own, and this is a good one.

The baroque print does the talking — deep blues and golds in a pattern that reads expensive from across a room. Underneath it is simple: a proper collar, buttons all the way down, short sleeves, and a hem that falls past the calf. Wear it buttoned as a dress, or leave it open over trousers as a layer.

• Full button front — closed as a dress, open as a coat
• A real collar, which gives it enough structure for somewhere smart
• Busy prints hide creases — useful if you are travelling in it

Fit: UK 6 to 22. Cut straight through the body rather than nipped at the waist. Add a belt if you want shape.