Jacaranda African Ankara Print Shift Dress

 Take the guesswork out of outfit planning and say hello to this gorgeous and versatile African Ankara print shift dress – a wardrobe staple that can be worn for almost any occasion. Dubbed the ‘everywoman dress’, this little number converts well from day to night, is travel friendly and is just one of those dresses that will never go out of style! Dispel the myth that a shift dress has to be a plain colour and go ‘the works’ with full colour African inspired patterns. For that extra va-va-voom, pair this dress with a matching headwrap/scarf (available for you as an add-on to your purchase).

Design features

• 100% cotton – comfy and breathable
• Beautiful and unique fabric pattern
• Sleeveless – perfect for warm weather and layering
• Round neckline with yoke detail
• Back slit for free leg movement
• Near the knee length – depending on your height

Fabric inspiration

From early October to early November, a sea of purple petals from thousands of Jacaranda trees bloom above suburban streets in southern Africa. Interestingly, the Jacaranda is not a native African tree (it originated in South America) and is believed to have first arrived in Southern Africa around 1888 (during the Gold Rush). The tree became very popular and Jacaranda trees soon took root in parks, gardens and alongside expanding road networks in the rapidly growing cities of Johannesburg, Pretoria, Harare and other African countries:

Image courtesy of delicious.com

Fast forward to today, the Jacaranda tree and its sea of purple bloom has weaved its way into local mythology. Students joke that if by the time the Jacarandas start to bloom – you haven’t started revising for end of year exams, then you’ve probably left it too late.

The pattern on the Jacaranda African Ankara print shift dress is reminiscent of the annual colourful Jacaranda bloom splendour which blankets many a street:

What is a shift dress?

Not to be confused with a sheath dress, the shift dress is a simple, short, above-the-knee dress designed in the 1920s as an alternative to the stiff, heavily corseted Edwardian dresses. The advent of this dress style was indeed a breath of fresh air as it made it easier and more comfortable for women to ‘shift’ or move around freely without the constraints of a corset. hence the name.  The name also signified a shift in culture and the dress represented the youthful, free and revolutionary attitudes of that time.

In terms of construction, the bust is fitted with darts, and the skirt is either cut straight or with a narrow A-line. The dress typically hangs from the shoulders and the neckline is a high scoop neck or boatneck. While shift dresses were originally sleeveless, short-sleeve and long-sleeve versions have become popular.

Typically, the shift dress is minimalist in its detailing but for the GAVASTIE Collection, we’ve gone bold on colour and patterns to give the icon African print look. How will you ‘shift’ in this dress?? You decide!