Flowers gathered from old botanical illustrations. Landscapes translated into colour. A dress, a shirt or a little bag that makes an ordinary day feel brighter. Our latest Nancybird arrivals bring art into the things we wear and carry.
There is something lovely about getting dressed when the weather begins to soften. A favourite pair of sandals comes back out, sleeves get shorter, and suddenly a little more colour feels right. You might be heading into town, meeting a friend for lunch or simply opening the doors to a warm afternoon at home.
That is where this Nancybird edit feels at home. There are dresses you can put on and get on with your day, shirts to refresh familiar denim, and bags with as much personality as the clothes. Behind the prints are botanical archives and artists with their own ways of seeing the world. Here are the pieces we’re enjoying at The Lemon House, and a few ideas for making them yours.
A little botanical history
Nancybird’s Botanica story begins with collected vintage illustrations of orchids, irises and daisies. Reworked into prints on light and dark backgrounds, those flowers have a wonderfully familiar, almost collected quality.
The Luma Dress - Archive Floral is a lovely place to start. A collar and button front give it a little structure, while the relaxed shape, gathered skirt and side pockets keep it easy. There is a fine gold lurex stripe through the cotton, too. We’d wear it with flat sandals and let the flowers do the talking.
If you prefer your print with a pair of jeans, try the Summer Shirt - Archive Floral. Its relaxed shape, mid-length sleeves and shell buttons make it a useful piece for days when you want to feel dressed without making a project of it. Leave it loose over straight-leg denim, or tuck just the front into a plain skirt.
Botanical colour, a relaxed shape and useful side pockets.
An easy floral shirt to wear with the denim you already love.
Flowers or stripes? There’s room for both
The Macey Dress - Garden Archive takes the floral story in a moodier direction. Flowers stand out against a dark background, with soft organic jersey, a side tie and a midi length that work beautifully together. Keep it simple with sandals for daytime, then add a small bag and earrings for dinner.
For those who always find themselves drawn to a stripe, the Sadie Dress - Atlas Stripe offers a different kind of colour. Artisan-handwoven organic cotton, a shirred waist and adjustable shoulder ties give it a relaxed summer feel. The stripes supply plenty of interest on their own; a plain sandal and your everyday jewellery are all we’d add.
Flowers on a dark ground, with a soft side tie at the waist.
Handwoven stripes and a gathered silhouette for warmer days.
Landscapes you can wear
The Mountain Range collection introduces collaborating artist Margaret Jeane. Working from Chattanooga, Tennessee, and inspired in part by time spent in Utah, she paints landscapes with a loose touch and a beautiful sense of colour. Nancybird describes the collection as:
“soft mountain light, sweeping horizons and the unapologetic beauty of nature”
— Nancybird, Mountain Range
You can see that feeling in the Simpson Dress - Palisade. The sleeveless shape, wrap detail at the bodice and long gathered skirt give the artwork plenty of space. It is a beautiful choice for an afternoon celebration, with pockets that make it just as welcome on a less planned day.
The Macey Dress - Palisade brings the same artwork into organic cotton jersey. Its side tie lets you play with the shape a little, and the soft fabric makes it easy to imagine wearing all afternoon. Choose the silhouette that feels most like you; both have enough colour to make the rest of the outfit wonderfully simple.
A sweeping skirt gives Margaret Jeane’s artwork room to shine.
Painterly colour in soft organic cotton jersey.
A fresh shirt changes everything
Sometimes a new top is all it takes to make the pieces already in your wardrobe feel fresh. The Summer Shirt - Palisade is made from lightweight organic cotton seersucker, with a relaxed fit and a front chest pocket. Try it with blue denim or a plain cream trouser, letting one of the colours in the print guide your accessories.
The Sierra Blouse Long Sleeve - Sunny Clearing has a softer, floating feel, with gathers through the yoke, a curved hem and a fine lurex stripe. Wear the long sleeves down on a cooler morning, then turn them back as the day warms. We like the balance of its airy shape with a simple straight-leg pant.
Light seersucker and a relaxed shape for everyday wear.
Sunny Clearing colour with a soft, gathered drape.
Warm colour, with a coastal story
Nancybird’s Waihi Beach collaboration draws on the work of Lisa Billing of Hey Maker Studio. Based in Waihi Beach, Aotearoa, Lisa takes inspiration from island life and ordinary things seen with care: flowers, fruit bowls and the objects around a home. In her conversation with Nancybird, she says, “I love celebrating the simple, everyday moments through my still life pieces.”
That sense of warmth comes through in the Nala Dress - Orakawa Bloom. An open neckline with a tie, elbow-length sleeves and a knee-length cut make it an easy option for a warm day. Wear it with a flat sandal and a simple tote for a morning out.
The Paloma Short Sleeve Dress - Ochre Flower offers a longer, collared silhouette in cotton seersucker. Pintucks, shell buttons and a little elastic at the back waist add detail to the shape. The warm brown and pale floral combination is lovely with tan leather, or with a small black bag when you want a stronger contrast.
An open neckline and an easy knee-length shape.
Warm colour, floral detail and a collared neckline.
Just a touch of print
You don’t need a whole printed outfit to enjoy this collection. The Apollo Tee - Mountain Peak brings Margaret Jeane’s artwork to a relaxed, slightly boxy organic cotton tee. Put it with your favourite jeans or a plain skirt for an everyday combination that still feels considered.
For an even smaller addition, the Silk Scarf - Sunny Clearing is a beautiful square of colour. Made from silk habotai and measuring 100 by 100 centimetres, it can be worn loosely at the neck, draped over the shoulders or tied to a bag handle. It is a lovely way to bring the artist’s work into an outfit you already own, and a thoughtful gift for someone who enjoys colour.
A painted landscape on an everyday organic cotton tee.
The Sunny Clearing silk scarf, shown with the Simpson Dress.
A bag with a story of its own
The accessories carry the same playful spirit. The Stripe Tote - Archive combines hand-crocheted raffia with colourful stripes and leather handles. It brings texture to a plain dress and feels particularly at home with denim and a white shirt.
The Assemble Tote - Palisades Print is a smaller, slouchier option, with artwork by Margaret Jeane and a crossbody strap. Carry it by hand when you want a softer shape, or use the strap when you need your hands free. Against a simple outfit, the green panel and landscape print become the detail you notice.
Hand-crocheted raffia with colourful stripes and leather handles.
A compact tote with the option of a crossbody strap.
For a different shape, the Moor Bag - Mountain Peak frames its printed leather with bound edges and slender straps. The painted landscape is especially lovely against cream, olive or denim.
Then there is the Beaded Line Clutch - Palisades Print. Thousands of hand-applied glass beads turn the artwork into something you can feel as well as see, finished with a beaded wrist strap. We’d happily take it to dinner with a plain dress, or use it to bring a little sparkle to the simplest daytime outfit.
A landscape print framed by leather binding.
Tiny glass beads bring the artwork into a different texture.
Small things, chosen with care
The Card Purse - Archive Floral and Card Purse - Black Floral are the little finishing touches. Both have a zipped top, printed leather and an organic cotton lining, in a compact size for cards and small essentials. Choose a single, beautiful flower or a bold repeat; either makes a lovely gift, or a small pleasure each time you reach into your bag.
A little flower to brighten the inside of your bag.
A bold floral repeat in a neat, zipped leather purse.
Whether you begin with a dress, a favourite new shirt or a scarf tied to the bag you carry every day, there is room to make these prints your own. Keep the pieces you love, add a colour that makes you smile, and see where the warmer days take you.
Explore Nancybird at The Lemon House, or visit us in Tamworth to see the fabrics, colours and details in person.
Campaign and product photography: Nancybird. Collection background and quoted words credited to Nancybird’s Botanica, Mountain Range and Waihi Beach stories and In Conversation With: Lisa Billing. Styling suggestions by The Lemon House. Print placement can vary between garments.