This is a review of the key tropical fashion looks for the
spring summer season of 2012.
Tropical prints in exotic flamboyant colourways
are also used for pyjama pants and treggings. This article
describes in detail the main style fusion of
tropical/jungle/paradise/botanical print in dresses, pants, maxi dresses
and other women's fashion clothing.
Left - Miss Selfridge Bird Print Dress.
Centre - SS12 Speziale Siren Shift Dress £79 - Marks & Spencer.
Right - Topshop Tropical Print Neon Fashion SS12. Also shown in
header.
There are subtle and not so subtle differences which
illustrate these newest fabric prints. Safari, Ikat, Tribal
Mask, Body Markings, Feathers, Tropical Fruits, Leaves, Ferns,
Zebra and Leopard Print Looks merge tribal, jungle and floral
paradise. Watch for exotic orchids, palm
leaves and trailing plants all amid the odd hummingbird or
butterfly!
Pyjama Pants, Catsuits, All-in ones
These tropical prints work well in floral trousers -
pyjama pants, and also in maxi dresses. More fabric gives more
scope for trailing greenery and botanical plant forms in stepped sizes
giving a more naturalistic effect despite garish clashing colour
combos.
Left - Exotic Lily Tropicana Print Catsuit All-in-one - Arcadia.
Centre - Monsoon Martinque Jacket £55/€85, Martinque Trouser
£65/€99 -
Left - Tropical Flower Print Pants - New Look SS12.
Floral prints can vary from English cottage country garden style
to full blown tropical paradise and trailing blooms.
In keeping with the trend for pastels the tropical trend can
take on quite a different look when the background fabric is
light rather than dark as above. The lighter airiness within the
print of two dresses are more tropical paradise than forest
jungle.
Left - Oasis SS12 - Rose Flowers Border Print Dress.
Right -
Savida Tropical Border Print Dress. Dunnes SS12.
Ω
Mid Toned Colourful Tropical Fabric Prints
Equally tropical floral fashion prints can look very different
if there are tonal colour ranges rather than clashing colours.
The lilac/purple colours show this to good effect. The minimal
use of green foliage keeps the look softer and less harsh as the
pinks and purples blend and gel together so gently.
Pantone Summer 2012 Pink and Purples.
Left - PANTONE 18-2140 Cabaret - A rosy red.
Centre - PANTONE 18-3628 Bellflower - A distinct ornamental purple.
Right - PANTONE 14-2808 Sweet Lilac - A delicate pinkish lilac.
Hot Pink Tropical Print Dress - Wallis Summer 2012.
Mary Katrantzou is renowned for her wonderful print fabrics,
and many follow her print and colouration lead. I have always
loved plants of the violet family as the colours are so pretty.
These violaceous colours suit many skin colourings and hair
colours.
Left -
Mary Katrantzou Purple Tropicana Floral Tunic Dress £920 farfetch.com.
Right - Print Pleat One Shoulder Dress £50 Littlewoods.com.
Fashion SS12
www.littlewoods.com
Floral prints and border prints add a dimension that make
some garments appear to be a complete tropical jungle or garden
scene. Botanical forms flow over women's garments.
These tropical print dresses are all very different, but each
uses the hothouse print them to make a style very different from
the piece next to it.
Left - NEXT SS12 - Tropical Print Shift £ 35.
Centre -TBC.
Right -
Terracotta Colours Shift Dress - House Of
Fraser SS12.
Pantone Tangerine Tango & Solar Power Yellow.
PANTONE 17-1463 Tangerine Tango - An enticing
juicy citrus fruit.
PANTONE 16-1120 Starfish - A warm summer neutral.
PANTONE 19-3953 Sodalite Blue - A classic maritime hue.
PANTONE 13-0759 Solar Power - An energetic powerhouse.
Tribal inspired prints combine with
tropical jungle imagery and the fusion of these related
styles gives fabric for 2012 a burst of newness.
Left - Jamelia Patch Print Dress, Osse
Necklace, Osse Bracelet, Hurst Sandals. Monsoon SS12 Stockist
Number: 08448110068.
Centre - Fever SS12 - Butterfly Dress In Geometric Arrangement.
Right - Monsoon Sisanda Dress £55/€85 Due May, Bakewell Sandal
£40/€62.
Look especially for tropical birds or butterflies, leaves,
fern fronds plus exotic botanical jungle flowers.
PANTONE 14-0116 Margarita - A piquant yellow-green.
PANTONE 17-1463 Tangerine Tango - An enticing juicy citrus
fruit.
PANTONE 13-0759 Solar Power - An energetic powerhouse.
Maxi Dresses have continued to attract fans as they are well
suited to all day dressing for holidays. The loose flowing lines
and gorgeous prints means that a wide range of body figure types
feel happy and comfortable in a maxi dress.
Print is a strong statement for SS2012, with tropical prints
paving the way in a wide range of pieces, but especially suited
to maxi dresses often worn in exotic holiday locations.
Left - Tropical Flower Print Dress For Plus Sizes - Evans
SS12.
Centre - Debut Flower Print Maxi Dress, £100/€155 Debenhams
Stockist Number: 08445616161.
Right - Wallis SS12 - Tropical Red Flower Animal Print Maxi
Dress.
Left - BHS SS12 Multi Coloured Cotton Dress. TBC.
Right - Phase Eight SS12 - Marianne Tribal Colour Mix Paisley
Maxi Dress £110.
The maxi dress is especially suited to exotic prints that flow
up the length of the skirt dress. Border prints and tiers
of frill also utilise fabric cutting to show off the printed
fabric to maximum effect.
As it is intended for daywear a true maxi dress unlike an
evening dress should hover at the ankle and allow the wearer to
show off pretty sandals or shoes.
Centre - Tribal Print Haltered Maxi Dress £34.99/€44.99.
New
Look Clothing Stockist Number: 0844 499 6690 and Newlook.com.
Right - Abstract Tribal Maxi Dress Accessorize Monsoon SS12.
Maxis are often yoked, empire
line or halter necklines and as beachwear offer easy comfort for
those who wish to go braless. Yummy mummies also find a maxi
dress an attractive alternative to other maternity wear!
PANTONE 14-5420 Cockatoo - A tactile blue-green.
PANTONE 19-3953 Sodalite Blue - A classic maritime hue.
PANTONE 16-1120 Starfish - A warm summer neutral.
PANTONE 13-0759 Solar Power - An energetic powerhouse.
PANTONE 18-1210 Driftwood - A blend of beige and gray.
±
Animalistic Tribal Fabric Prints
Flowing maxi dresses are often made in less expensive materials
as they can be used as beach cover up wear. Crinkle cotton or
viscose fabric offer value for money, are cool to wear and flow
well. Dresses with halter necklines allow the wearer to tan and
stay cool. The women's maxi dresses above show how effective
striped arrangements can look especially up to date when the
fabric has a tribal fashion look.
Left - SS12 Speziale Zanzibar Maxi Dress £79 Marks & Spencer.
Right - Plus Size Abstract Tribal Animal Print Maxi Dress -
Evans SS12.
Some tribal/jungle prints use motifs and geometric marks as a print
foundation, others use tribal animal markings or digital
abstractions of them.
Left - Dorothy Perkins Duck Egg Bird Print
Dress.
Centre - Dress Detail & Right - Both Dorothy Perkins SS12 Turquoise Bird
Print Polyester Dress £32.
PANTONE 14-5420 Cockatoo - A tactile blue-green.
PANTONE 19-3953 Sodalite Blue - A classic maritime hue.
PANTONE 14-0116 Margarita - A piquant yellow-green.
PANTONE 18-1210 Driftwood - A blend of beige and gray.
PANTONE 13-0759 Solar Power - An energetic powerhouse.
Feather Print Patterns
Left - Green Feather Print Dress. Monsoon SS12 Neo Mexico
Ramirez Dress £65/€99 Due May - Monsoon Stockist Number:
08448110068
Right - Isme Blue Feather Print Tunic Dress.
Copyright of images courtesy of Prshots.com,
Marks & Spencer, Monsoon, New Look, very.co.uk, Topshop, John
Lewis, Lipsy Lovarni, House Of Fraser, Wallis, Evans, BHS, Phase
Eight, Fever, River Island, Boohoo, Oasis, Primark, Dorothy
Perkins, Isme, Miss Selfridge, Header Image Courtesy Topshop -
Topshop SS12 Tropical Print Fashion.
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