Kaya Long-Sleeved Shirt Dress, Pale Lilac

Some prints just lift the room with you, and Kaya is one of them. A soft pale-lilac ground splashed with watercolour florals in lime, deep green, violet and lavender — the sort of print you'd look twice at in a gallery, never mind on a hanger. From Danish brand Y.A.S., who do this kind of clever, wearable print better than almost anyone.

The cut is a proper grown-up shirt dress: classic point collar, full button-through placket, defined waist seam to nip you in, and a soft full skirt that swings rather than clings. Long sleeves with neat gathered cuffs give it a touch of the bishop sleeve, and the viscose-blend cloth has that lovely fluid drape that moves with you all day. Mini length, but a sensible mini — modest enough for lunch with your mother-in-law, short enough to feel like summer.

The real cleverness is that this is a four-season dress. Bare legs and flat sandals through July and August; opaque tights, ankle boots and a long cardigan from October onwards. It will get more wear than almost anything else in your wardrobe.