There's a Pattern Here: Add Print to Your Look This Spring
If you are a solid-shades, monochrome lover, life might be easy: your wardrobe is simple to match and you're always assured that you look chic. After all, the classics are such for a reason. But there's a downside: consistently choosing the simple, sleek shades can get...how shall we say it? Boring, that's it. If you find yourself feeling "meh" rather than mesmerised by your wardrobe, it might be time to freshen things up by adding a print or pattern.
By Sascha Camilli: writer, speaker, activist, and vegan fashion expert.
The key to print is to start off slow. Granted, some patterns are not for the faint-hearted. Going from a wardrobe of subtle solids to a full-on print explosion can feel daunting. But there is one pattern that provides the perfect gateway for newbies: the humble stripe.
A wardrobe classic, the stripe evokes that elusive French-girl cool and offers ease when matched with jeans or slouchy trousers. Check out Lavender Hill's design in soft cotton - a sneaky start into the world of patterns.
Florals for spring may not be ground-breaking, but there's no denying that some botanical freshness can be just what our winter-weary wardrobes need. Here, eco-conscious apparel brand Baukjen is your best friend. From their relaxed yet statement-making Mandy trousers to their selection of spring-appropriate floral dresses in fabrics like Tencel and ECOVERO, this brand's spring-ready collections are a flowering garden of patterns.
Baukjen is also big on another springtime print classic: the polka dot. Whimsical and prim at the same time, the polka-dot pattern can be used to dress up a casual weekend outfit. Wear a dotted blouse with distressed denim and sneakers, or team a denim jacket with a polka-dot skirt. Ready to graduate to a full-on polka-dot dress? Bibico has something you might like.
Moving on to more graphic patterns, let's stay with Bibico - their painterly prints and easy-to-wear silhouettes are a spring vibe. Team one of their playful designs with some clean white sneakers for an effortless warm-weather outfit. Craving more of an edge? Head back to Baukjen for maxi dresses in leopard and zebra print that will add some rawr to your looks.
Is there anything that says "summer" more than a tropical print? This is advanced-level print for seasoned pattern-aholics - but you can indeed dress down a loud print by teaming it with a clean white, a pared-back blush, or solid black. Great tropical patterns are found at KOMODO as well as menswear label Rewound Clothing, which offers short-sleeved designs in palm prints. Summer party perfection.
By Sascha Camilli
About Sascha
Sascha Camilli is a vegan fashion writer, speaker and activist. Her book Vegan Style is out now on Murdoch Books. For more about Sascha, you can read our interview with her or read her newsletter Faux Deluxe. You can also follow her on Instagram, X and LinkedIn.
Cover image by Baukjen
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