Statement piece: printed pants and how to waer them
Ladies (and gentlemen) of both hemispheres: now is the time to dare with prints!
Clothes currently available in the shops are overloaded with prints, and judging by the 2013 collections, the trend is due to continue for a little while. In particular, I think those colourful printed pants are just adorable: they are ideal for summer for those up there in the Northern Hemisphere, and great to revive a cold and rainy day ‘down under’. Available in all shapes, colours, and price tags, from Dolce & Gabbana to Paradisco (found in a Newtown [near Sydney] shop, for less than $60).
-
- Jil Sender paisley pants
-
- Zara
-
- Alice Olivia printed pants
-
- Hibiscus print pants Lisa Ho $499
-
- Dolce & Gabbana floral print trouser
-
- Mary Kantrantzou for Topshop printed pants
-
- Monique Lhuillier printed pants
-
- Topshop printed pants
-
- Gianni Versace for H&M printed pants
Here are my styling notes on how to wear them:
PRINTED PANTS + NEUTRALS
Lisa Ho printed pants, Cue shirt, Diavolina boots
This is a zero-risk option: just add neutral colours. You can’t go wrong and you won’t distract from the statement print.
PRINTED PANTS + BLOCK COLOURS FROM THE PANTS PALETTE
Dolce & Gabbana pants, Verali hot pink patent leather heels, Cue red top
This look expands and complements the story told by your pants. Choose your colours from the pants palette, but use more than one to add interest.
PRINTED PANTS + BLOCK CONTRAST COLOURS
Jil Sender paisley pants, Agent Ninety-nine top, Peep Toe patent leather white shoes
By adding colours not included in the pants print, you create an even bigger statement, where the pants are just one element of the tale.
PRINTED PANTS + MATCHING PRINT
Jil Sender paisley ensamble
The perfect total look: buy a complete outfit within the same collection and you will double the visual impact.
PRINTED PANTS + DIFFERENT PRINT
Alice Olivia pants, APC floral top, Gianvito Rossi boots
Mary Kantrantzou for Topshop pants, Monique Lhullier top, Melissa and Alexandre Herchcovitch rubber flats
Topshop pants, Toga Pulla blouse, Tony Bianco patent leather green heels
‘Print on print’ is a tricky one, but if you get it right it’s really groovy. If you don’t trust your instincts when putting different prints and colours together, try to have at least one element of consistency across your patterns:
- consistency of theme (flowers + flowers, cheks + checks)
- consistency of size (big flowers + big polka dots, big tropical + large stripes)
- consistency of colour (muddy colours with muddy colours, black-and-white with black-and-white)
- consistency of tone or saturation (bright bold colours with like, faded tones with like)
