Forget boring basics, embrace the bold prints trend this season

It can be quite a task to find something that sparks your interest and gets your artistic gears moving, but a playful summer (or monsoon) print should always be bold, hypnotic, and suggestive. For Anna Sui’s SS24 presentation, the designer had textiles rippled in oceanic prints and colours, whereas Etro and Ahluwalia were a visual jumble of graphics. But if you’re someone who gets a dopamine rush just looking at the swirling strokes of the ’70s, you will realise that the real trick of summer dressing is through the doors of nostalgia and a child’s playbook.

From updated strokes of fauna and monochrome prints to the ’70s-era-inspired florals, the trend cycle for the season is bolder and brighter than your grandmother’s old treasure chest. But before you quickly sway through these tempest months in style, let us help you break down the raging prints of the season and predict their term of glory.

Retro tropicals

If the beach memo says 'Hawaiian summer retreat', then you better dress to match the tropics. At Kim Shui, the designer’s mood for good old-fashioned fun manifested in the form of La Dolce Vita dresses stamped with whimsical florals, whereas at Ulla Johnson and Erdem, the assemblage took a more robust take, relying on swathes of pure colour and pattern. Perhaps the best way to nail this trend is to keep things fun, original, and easy. 

Wondering how to fine-tune these tropical favourites for your wardrobe this monsoon? Consider investing in a playful Wales Bonner shirt or, better yet, a vibrant summer outfit from designers such as Gauri and Nainika or Kim Shui.

Psychedelic swirls

This season, the runway felt more hallucinogenic than ever. Thanks to Camille Mecelli, the creative director at the House of Pucci, who proved that hypnotic strokes of paint and colour can still be playful, accessible, and season-friendly. Blame it on dopamine dressing or the larger cultural conversation on psychedelics, but these swirling splotches of pigment, graphics, and playfully twisted patterns are here for a second season. Take, for example, Almost Gods by Dhruv Khanna, if you're willing to start small. We believe the pieces are fun, accessible, and Haight-Ashbury-approved.

Florals for summer? Groundbreaking!

The biggest trend for the summer is perhaps the least surprising one, but it certainly brought some range. While Loewe’s anthurium may feel like last season, the newer renditions aren’t freshly uprooted either. We’ve seen garden-core planting its seeds for quite some time now, bringing dense, dramatic blooms for a classic revival. From Richard Quinn’s signature florals to the floaty, romantic renditions seen at Rodarte, the mood-boosting summer trend is screaming for a spot in your closet. Take your pick from Carolina Herrera’s flirty floral dresses to homegrown alternatives at LoveBirds Studio, Summer Somewhere, and Calling June.

Leopard is back *sighs*

Kate Moss’s drainpipe jeans may fail to get our vote of approval, but her obsession with leopards is one for the books. From the likes of Naomi Campbell at Alaïa in 1991 to Yasmeen Ghauri for Gianni Versace’s “Bondage” in 1992, leopard-print is here for its second reign, and these icons from the past show us how to do it right. While many still cringe at the remnants of its early 2000s glory, we suggest a few styling tips that can help you seamlessly reintroduce it into your wardrobe yet again. Start small with a leopard bag or a pair of heels, and gradually incorporate more as you become comfortable.

Monochromatic mod

If you look closely, you’ll notice a black-and-white takeover on the runway this season, with designers blotting out all the excess colour and fluff. But will that mean less drama and no fun? Let’s find out. While summer's most predictable prints come in euphoric shots of colour, it only takes the right balance of pattern and placement to create a striking combination of black and white. The good news? As Balmain, Abraham and Thakore, and Stella McCartney will attest, they're everyone's favourites.

Lead image credits: gauriandnainika.com

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