Fall Trend: Prints and Pattern

(Cross posted on LUXOS.COM)

Bright prints and colourful patterns will make you stand out this season

 

Bold splashes of colour - women's fashion for fall/winter 2011

Bright prints and colourful patterns will make you stand out this season

By Alessia Sara Domanico

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We spot the sporadic appearance of colour and pattern peeking through, like an old lover who once enticed us to try something different, but the inability to work them into our daily lives left them behind. You pluck a printed jacket and slip it on, it still looks great, but uncertainty strikes as you ask yourself, “where can I wear it?”

For centuries, fashion has been used as a means of expression. Solid and dignified cuts were reserved for a sophisticate, modest upper class, while vibrant hues and intricate decorations became associated with eclectic circles. Trend-setting crowned heads shrugged off stiff conforms to indulge in richer textiles and embellishments. Indian Rajas have their clothes custom-made in pricy interlaced fabrics and printed silks, the Florentine court favoured intense violet and Marie Antoinette refused to tone her wardrobe down and let her father-in-law’s mistress have all the fun with extravagant, ultra-chic garments.

A myriad of patterns are mixing things up in a big way this season from Versace’s bright geometric shapes to Emilio Pucci’s perceptually provocative figures. To ensure these trends don’t end up at the back of your closet, let’s take a look at the best ways to pull off the dominant prints for fall/winter.

Bohemian Chic

Swirling prints bouncing along flowing skirts, scarves, gypsy dresses and loose fitting shirts make up the ‘boho chic’ DNA – a trend that calls to mind a playful and free-spirited lifestyle. We’ve spotted the style everywhere from the streets of Los Angeles to the beach boardwalks of Saint-Tropez. The trick to making ‘boho chic’ everyday appropriate is to use it sparingly (a scarf, a skirt, an accessory). At Etro’s women’s show in Milan, we spotted ways to wear their collage and textile-inspired designs. Keep reading...