Seeking Spring Flowers (and stripes)

Hi, there!

Three runway models wearing floral dresses
Collezioni Donna S/S 2019

Many who do fashion research here at the library have been looking back to the 1990s. The issues of i-D and The Face and Vogue Italia from 1994-2000 have been used hundreds of times in the last five years, mostly by industry professionals working on upcoming lines. Looking back, the most popular fashion trend was prints. Pattern was everywhere in every form: bright florals, pastels, stripes, geometric designs, and jewelry patterns, and often used mixed across a garment, a la fashion darling Christian Lacroix.

Current designers have done their research, and the last three fashion cycles (Spring/Summer 2018, Fall/Winter 2018/2019 and Spring/Summer 2019) have been full of pattern. Since the weather has been so gray lately, I thought it would be fun to take a look through some of our runway magazines and anticipate the colors of spring.

Mixed floral prints on 4 runway models
Fashion Focus Woman: Print. Embroidery SS.2018

 

 

The prints and florals trend hit big in Spring/Summer 2018, and so did the print mixing. The cabbage rose print on the motorcycle jacket top left is straight out of the popular prints from 1992-4. Popular designers Laura Ashley and Ralph Lauren both sold tons of these dramatic English garden prints. The scattered prints on the bottom have the wilder feeling of fresh fields.

 

 

 

 

3 fashion runway looks in pale green and pink
Fashion Gallery: Milan A/W 2018/19

 

 

 

Romantic florals appeared again on the runways during the Autumn/Winter 2018/2019 season, seen here by Dolce & Gabbana.

 

 

 

 

 

2 runway models wearing graphic floral patterns
Collezioni Donna S/S 2019

 

 

 

 

The floral trend continued into the Spring/Summer 2019 shows. Colors were mixed dramatically, and so are the prints. The flowers on the right look hand drawn look as well, tying florals into the dramatic graphics trend seen below.

 

 

 

Model wearing dramatic pleated dress combinging multiple skin prints
Dazed magazine Fall/Winter 2018

 

 

 

 

The trend carried over into fashion magazines. Here a page from Dazed magazine shows multiple similar prints constructed into the same gown.

 

 

 

 

four examples of dramatic polka dot prints
Fashion Focus Woman: Print. Embroidery SS.2018

 

 

 

 

Another big trend from last spring was bold geometric prints. Here are a few comparisons of those. Dramatic polka dots showed up a lot of places for Spring/Summer 2018.

 

 

 

 

3 uses of bold red and black stripes on the runways
Collezioni Donna Spring/Summer 2019

 

 

 

 

This season the new look was bold stripes incorporating bright color and high contrast to keep them dramatic.

 

 

 

 

Model in tan leather jacket, big art print pants in front of a bold graphic backdrop
Dazed magazine Fall/Winter 2018

 

 

 

I thought it was interesting to see how quickly Dazed caught these trends in their art direction. This is from the Fall 2018 issue. The graphic zigzag background sets off the softer romantic print of the pants.

 

 

Look for bold floral and geometric prints to help you feel springy and on trend!

 


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