A Few Palm Trees

When you think of summer you think of white sand beaches, the smell of sun lotion, crashing waves, blue skies and the silhouettes of palm trees cutting through the sunset hues. This painted image of a California dreaming summer makes us all sigh at our desks as we work through the week and wait excitedly for our holidays. But as with most summer daydreams, fashion has the answer to cheer you up and allow you to express your visions in playful ways.

Up and coming New York based designer Elle Sasson made her mark on the fashion scene with her totally tropical debut SS14 collection inspired by artist Ed Ruscha’s iconic series, ‘A Few Palm Trees’. Her playful prints, whimsical silhouettes, and modern cuts were praised for their ‘sophisticated-yet-youthful aesthetic’, and the collection taps into Elle’s love of travel, photography, film and music.

It looks like Elle caught onto something big with her collection, and emboldened popularity in the palm tree print this summer. Many of our favourite high street brands have incorporated the shadows and shape of this iconic beach side tree onto their breezy garments. Topshop’s Trapeze Palm Tree dress in Nude is a must-have this season, bringing the LA lifestyle straight to your wardrobe.

Elle Sasson’s collection, and in fact the more affordable pieces on the high street, are perfect for the downtown darling lusting for breezy evenings on the beach whilst sipping a cosmopolitan on a rooftop terrace. Okay, that image just made us sigh again too, but at least we can now look the part doing it.

By Marni Banks