Fashion Pattern

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.

Tanya Carlson Summertime blouse Charlotte Devereux Multi top, $199.90
$249, and Dita shorts, $229. and maxi-skirt, $239

Rochas ready to wear Aquilano Rimondi, Milan. Stella McCartney ready collection in Paris. to-wear collection, Paris.

Karen Walker Betty dress, $650 Adrian Hailwood Puma dress, $195

Tanya Carlson Kaleidoscope Kingan Jones Paris dress
maxi-dress, $399 Madame Butterfly, $349

Leonard ready-to-wear collection, Aquilano Rimondi, Milan.
Paris.

BROAD STROKES

Super stripes streak into spring/summer 2011

Huge for last season – and here to stay – stripes, in all their many fashion formulations, are growing bigger, brighter and bolder. From colour-blocking (the widest type) to skinny, they are making their mark on everything from dresses and Ts to colourful play-suits and Breton boat necks. Cast in a stripe, everything looks more cheerful. Tanya Carlson has used them strikingly in a fuchsia and navy strapless maxi.
At Karen Walker they are more preppy, paired with shortened slacks, flats and ankle socks.

Internationally, Prada sported an elegant ’40s’ silhouette with pencil skirts and tailored jackets. A big bonus was the match of florals with chunky bands of colour. At Celine, designer Phoebe Philo’s models – some in silky Ts and luxe trackies – sported big bands of bold colour. And at Versace, stripes were loud and proud, with cut-out tops and midriff-baring ensembles as daring as Donatella herself.