La Dolce Vita

We may be in the heart of winter and wrapping up to suit but as a spot of cheer Rural Living is giving readers a sneak preview of the Loobie’s Story Spring/Summer 2016/17 collection.

With every season Loobie’s Story is inspired by travel to an exotic locale, with designer, Laurinda Sutcliffe’s own travel memories coming to the fore in the label’s uniquely feminine designs.

With this in mind La Dolce Vita takes the wearer to a sun-baked, Mediterranean coastline where the local women are unashamedly feminine and the days filled with celebrations that last long into the night.

“The Italian way of life is just so passionate and filled with colour,and La Dolce Vita draws on that love of life and Italian aesthetic,” Ms Sutcliffe says.

Featuring a colour palette focusing on whites and brights with that washed out in the Mediterranean sun look, La Dolce Vita includes a range of digital prints created exclusively in house. These are manipulated across a range of base fabrics.

The hero print for the season is ‘Positano’ named for the iconic cliff-side village along Italy’s Amalfi Coast.

It speaks of laid back summer months and a relaxed Bohemian style.

The ‘Botanical Blooms’ trend also comes into focus for the season. The ‘Wildflower’ and ‘Amalfi’ prints feature across fabrics as diverse as the ever popular, super wearable ‘stretch silk’ and more classic ‘silk georgette’, whilst prints are also rendered digitally on linen viscose knitwear in sweater and kimono cardigan styles.

Looking ahead to party and wedding season, La Dolce Vita brings fasionistas an array of options for daytime and evening, in a selection of pieces that fall under the ‘Lace Luxe’ banner.

Pieces such the Santa Rosa and La Scala dresses sit perfectly atop the season’s need for unique and wearable occasion wear, whilst the standout ‘Fiore’ digitally printed lace print epitomes an effortless mix of bold colours and signature Loobie’s style.

Last but by no means least, the denim story for the season sees the label’s signature viscose/cotton/spandex blend reinterpreted in new, flattering shapes and a the punchy mid indigo colour.

This story includes an essential jean, a short and a must-have, soft denim jacket.