For summer 2008, the trend of eclectic ethnic
continues and now embraces simplified primitive motifs and elements, creating
novel tribal fashion trends. This tribal fashion trend includes
not just earthy traditional tribal prints, inspired by African,
or South American designs, but also the safari look of raw
earthy elements such as bold buckles, buttons, jewellery
alongside tie dye and Ombre effects.
This fashion trends page highlights some of the tribal
influences seen in looks currently available in the shops on the
UK high street.
The tribal shift Aztec dress near right, is from Marks and
Spencer Summer 2008 Per Una Collection. The dress sums up
a typical Tribal style pattern and the colouration is everything
one might expect in this very fashionable look. It has the raw earthy tones
found in the
palette of a Renaissance artist. The colours really could
be obtained from materials in nature.
The Tribal decorated top and coordinating skirt above right, is from
the
Matalan Spring Summer 2008 Collection.
Matalan top with crochet
detail £12, print skirt £10, belt £4 - all Matalan .
Bold
jungle exotic blooms, large leaves, nuts or simple geometric
shapes form the basis of repeating designs in the majority of
tribal look patterned fabrics.
The dress left is from Debenhams Womenswear Spring/Summer
2008 range.
Debut pebble print prom dress £70/109,
EB by Erickson
Beamon spiral bead drop earrings £10/15.50,
tribal stretch bead
bracelet £20/31,
spiral stretch bead bracelet £20/31 - all
at Debenhams.
Near Left - The Aegean turquoise and brown
jungle print skirt makes a feature of tribal colours with
tropical jungle flowers.
Bay Trading Company Spring/Summer 2008 - Jungle
print skirt £19.99, Bling tab vest £5.99, Stud belt £9.99.
One aspect of the tribal trend is use of dye and colour.
Hit and miss methods of
dye application, such as tie and dye, or
more controlled bleed dye
Ombre techniques emphasise the primitive tribal feel
to the garments. Tie dyeing and bleed dyeing is a fashion
trend that simply won't die. But this year it does look a
bit more sophisticated and there is obvious technical control in
the Ombre dyed garments.
Tribal
patterns are statement making prints that feature primitive art
motifs, or the imagery of objects found in nature. This might be
the enlarged skeleton silhouette form of a leaf, a simple bone
outline
or tooth, or the pattern of an animal skin.
Fashionable tribal fabric prints generally show
strong bright colour contrasted against a neutral tone such a
brown, ecru, charcoal or white base.
The colour is most often typical of simple
natural dyes found in plant greenery, lichen and berries, bark
and nuts, or sea products such as shells or fluid sacs.
Golden brown onion skins for example produce a wonderful mustard
yellow tone and natural tones such as these are often the most
used colours along with black for dramatic positive/negative
contrast.
The advertising campaign picture above is courtesy of French
Connections Spring Summer 2008 Campaign.
Dress details - French Connection Purple and Mustard
Leaf Print Dress £65.
All
these uncomplicated high street garments show tribal trend influence, yet each item is
quite different. The rust red dress has black contrast
decoration; the white print dress uses typical African colours
in a simple block print. The purple voile dress features small traditional Asian patterns with a stamped wood block quality echoing
the gold embossed hippy prints of Phool dresses of the 70s.
Left - Monsoon Storm Red Halle dress £70
Monsoon Spring/Summer 2008 from the Storm Collection.
Centre - Maxi halter dress - Oasis Spring/08
Collection.
Right - 2008 Monsoon Womenswear Masai dress £50 -
Monsoon Spring/Summer 2008.
These
ikat prints are very representative of two tone fashion prints
of Summer 2008.
Left - Tribal print sundress 13.00 due in store
end of March from the Penneys Summer 2008 Collection.
Debenhams Womenswear
Spring/Summer 2008 Collections -
Red Herring tribal vest £18/28 and
tribal
pattern skirt £25/39,
Gold hoop earrings £5/7.75,
EB by Erickson
Beamon tribal stretch bead bracelet £20/31,
Mood gold chunky
bangles £6/9.50 each,
Cream embossed floral bangle £12/18.50,
Brown and beige beaded stretch bracelet £8/12.50,
Mono wood
stick stretch £7/10.75,
EB by Erickson Beamon silver coloured
and wood bead stretch bracelet £15/23.50 All items can be
bought at Debenhams.
But if you are not keen on these earthy colour
combinations near your face, then adopt the simple approach to going tribal and
use this tribal fashion look only in an accessorizing way. You
could soon be buying tribal fashion accessories, shoes, bags and
jewellery at an online store or high street shop.
Adding bead, wooden, raffia or woven effect
trinkets or bags helps create textural contrast which is so
important to the tribal fashion trend. You can go tribal in your
wardrobe this summer 2008 just by accessorizing. You may
already have an animal skin item or accessory so see how you can
work that item into your fashion look.
Right - Debenhams Spring/Summer 2008 Women's
Accessories - Bags
J by Jasper Conran straw box clutch
£20/31.
Left - Wallis Spring Summer 2008 -
Lizard trim
clutch bag £20/34,
Peep toe sandal £35/66,
Studded wood bangle
£10/17,
Snake bead wood necklace £15/24,
Shell disc bead rope
£10/17.
The matching clutch bag and shoes right are
both from Dune.
Dune - Killa, £85 or 120.
Dune Clutch Fashion Bag - Milla, £55 or 80.
Footwear and clutch bag all from the latest Dune summer 2008
Collection.
These high fashion costume jewellery necklaces, bangles and cuffs below,
could
all add a tribal finish to your summer 2008 look. Most
importantly if you are unsure about this fashion trend then this
would be at a very low
cost.
Left - Concave bangle - £10, Paint splatter
bangles - £8, Double Lizard clamp - £12, Huge ethnic cuff - £12,
all
Boho Tech Range and from Freedom at Topshop.
Centre - Wallis Jewellery SS08 - Orange resin wrapped collar £12
E20 - Spring Summer 2008 Jewellery at Wallis.
Right - Wooden plate necklace on beaded rope - £10 - Boho Tech
Freedom at Topshop.
So without further ado get into the tribal
fashion trend and give the look your personal twist.
Copyright use of images are courtesy
Debenhams, Oasis, French Connection, Bay Trading, Marks and Spencer, Penneys,
Topshop,
Wallis, Monsoon, John Lewis.
Header Image is from Marks and Spencer. My thanks to these
companies.
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Bold
jungle exotic blooms, large leaves, nuts or simple geometric
shapes form the basis of repeating designs in the majority of
tribal look patterned fabrics.
Tribal
patterns are statement making prints that feature primitive art
motifs, or the imagery of objects found in nature. This might be
the enlarged skeleton silhouette form of a leaf, a simple bone
outline
or tooth, or the pattern of an animal skin. 
These
ikat prints are very representative of two tone fashion prints
of Summer 2008.
Adding bead, wooden, raffia or woven effect
trinkets or bags helps create textural contrast which is so
important to the tribal fashion trend. You can go tribal in your
wardrobe this summer 2008 just by accessorizing. You may
already have an animal skin item or accessory so see how you can
work that item into your fashion look.
