Browsing through my local shopping mall the other day, I was pleasantly surprised to see plenty of fabulous striped prints and polka dots hitting our stores. For those who don’t usually approve of this look – now may be the time to change your mind.
I was pretty excited to see this plethora of dots and lines, especially after hearing from a trendsetter friend that “polka dots were EVERYWHERE in London stores” on a recent visit there. Seen heating up the stores at Jay Jay’s and Woolworths, oversized Tees with bold colourful stripes and cutesy mini polka dotted jumpsuits are reining the fashion rails.
Hot look this summer: Fun jumpsuits or summery high-waisted shorts teamed with a slouchy 80’s vibe stripy Tee.
Internationally, stripes have underlined fashion for a few seasons now, and were prominent in this years’ spring/summer collections. Moschino, Prada and Jil Sanders were among the top designers to champion the striking look, mixing up horizontal and vertical stripes and clashing colours and prints to offer a fresh take on a classic design detail.
Personally, though, I like to give the look some balance – so try teaming a stripy Tee with a pair of plain skinnies, instead of wearing lines from head to toe. When it comes to polka dots – don’t be shy, but again balance is key. Also think of incorporating the print into your outfit using accessories – handbags, scarves and alice-bands do the trick.
Give these bold prints a bash – you’ll feel instantly energized and summery!
–Gabriella Chelini
