Style Is About More Than The Small Print

Vintage duvet covers, 1970s wallpapers, and old kitchen tiles are all among the unlikely inspirations for this season’s boldest, brashest prints.This spring, vibrant patterns, from garden florals to tribal designs, are almost unavoidable – but they are also far more wearable than you might at first imagine.Miuccia Prada produced the best prints of all at Miu Miu, where graphic geometrics were reproduced in fabulous color combinations; short sleeved jackets and single-breasted coats in burgundy or navy blue were bordered with bold prints in red and brown.Shirt dresses came in mustard, brown, and cream prints that looked as though their patterns had been taken from vinyl floor tiles from three or four decades ago. In addition, the prints were worked into more dressy shapes – a rust and orange design was used on a light, empire-line chiffon top, while a swirling yellow and cream pattern was reproduced on a cream silk shift dress. Others had 1960s-inspired beading around the neckline.To stop all these pieces from being too overwhelming, Ms. Prada kept her silhouettes clean, and shapes were as simple as possible. Occasionally, prints were contrasted or paired with stripes – for example, an aubergine and white print skirt was worn with a pink-and-green striped sweater and teal-green jacket – but it takes a brave colorist to try this look at home.Accessories are key to the Miu Miu look: primary-colored plastic Alice bands and patent-leather pumps in bright orange, yellow, and green all work brilliantly against the eye-popping prints.London label Eley Kishimoto is known for its dazzling prints, and this spring is no exception. With wild abandon, clashing prints were mixed together on the catwalk – swirling Catherine wheel prints, batik-style graphics, and tile-print silk jackets were all thrown together. There were also Bridget Riley-influenced opticals in red and white, and swirling prints in lime and red, or turquoise and yellow.Marni, meanwhile, veered away from its signature prettiness with strong graphic floral dresses in lime and yellow, as well as separates in paintbrush prints in brown and cream or turquoise and lime.Bold prints can seem intimidating for anyone not used to wearing such eye-catching clothes, but they are a great way to give your wardrobe a touch of individuality without trying too hard.A vibrant patterned skirt can be a life-saver over the summer and, if it’s in a silky fabric, it will also work well for evenings. Better still, it can be worn with the most basic white vest and look fantastic.

Style Is About More Than The Small Print

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