Fashion / Beauty, Issue 39

Elaborate or simple, summer will be a swirling collage of patterns and prints

Words: Tracey Strange Watts

Steady yourself for the riot: prints, polka dots, swirls, florals and paisleys rocked the European spring/summer catwalks. Fashion houses Jil Sander, D&G and Etro sent their models out in billowing silk clouds of meadow florals; Rochas kept up the sophistication with feminine dresses that served as lessons for all in the proper use of patterns.

New Zealand designers certainly aren’t bucking the trend. Expect to see grown-up polka dots (at Tanya Carlson) and strong geometric patterning such as that by Adrian Hailwood. Karen Walker kept it sweet with tea dresses in bluebell-coloured florals, while Kate Sylvester’s spring/summer lookbook revealed a careful patchwork of swirls and spots.

The best thing about all this? Mixing prints and patterns gives us the chance to totally individualize our looks. Bring on the sun.
 

 
Karen Walker Resort dress $660.                  D&G, fashion week, Milan.