Summer collections would be nothing without the interesting prints and patterns that represent the mood of the season and the general theme of each collection. Stripes, as a print, have been on-trend for a few seasons but now it has spread across to various looks – sporty and elegant. Checks were popular on the runways as were tartans as they were displayed on stylish dresses, skirts and outerwear. Florals are a must for Spring and this year, it was all about the tropical flora and fauna… Read on to discover how these trends were interpreted on the runway.
Tropical Florals
Move over the oversized florals, as it’s all about the tropical blooms this coming season. Designers displayed palm fronds, hibiscus and used bright colours that were used on all over prints. Full-throttle tropical exuberance has never looked fresher as it did on the Chanel runway where the dresses were sporty yet feminine, Gucci’s pattern was more haphazard though the style of the midi-length dresses was same as the former. Just Cavalli decorated their slip dresses with palm leaves that were accentuated with the ruffles. Rochas put parrots on the map and Valentino’s inspiration were tropical fruits like pineapples in addition to the flowers.
Tartan
Resort 2017 was not all about florals and beach-inspired hues; typically autumnal fabrics like plaid and natty tweeds found a whole new life for warmer weather. Alexander McQueen used it on his shot tweed coat in classic shades of red and white, whereas Balmain’s look was more for the modern corporate as he incorporated the pattern on blazers. Gucci pulled out all the stops with a larger-than-life tartan off-the-shoulder dress; Suno’s was understated and incorporated fresher shades like mint green and orange; and Rosie Assoulin displayed the print on a flared sleeved top and skirt that fit perfectly into the romantic theme of the season.
Polka Dots
Whether tiny Swiss dots or generous spots – the size of coins, Resort’s print of choice has quirky charm to spare. Michael Kors showed his love for polka dots by using it not just on his garments but the accessories too, including the scarf and bag. Monse used small spots like Kors but they came on a one-shoulder dress. Oscar de la Renta made the perfect case for eveningwear with his tiered gown in white that had black polka dots of varying sizes, placed strategically. Carolina Herrera’s version was again in monochrome shades, like the others and was on an A-line dress with cut-outs, whereas Gucci’s style was far more relaxed than the others and came in a diaphanous fabric.
Checks
Bold checkered prints were everywhere on the runway, in some cases they were obvious, while in others discreetly placed. Louis Vuitton’s take on it was simple and impactful as he displayed the pattern on a monochrome sweater, worn on a skirt and so was Philipp Plein’s version that involved being placed on pants in a biker chic look, with the addition of a few vintage cars being placed on the pants. Fendi played with colours as he demonstrated a more delicate look using red and white checks on a ballroom dress. Designers like Fausto Puglisi and Dsquared2 infused the print in more innovative ways by adding to the side pleats of a skirt and to the bottom half of a trench coat, respectively.
Stripes
Easy-to-wear knits get amped up, thanks to the addition of athletic-looking graphic stripes. They never really went out of style, but this season stripes were everywhere, in multi-colours that conjured moods like preppy, sporty, and even elegant. Versace used it on a sweatshirt, horizontally and on a knit skirt, vertically in primary shades of blue and red and Rochas did the same but with more subtle shades and sequin. Etro’s stripes came in all colours possible that lent a folkloric vibe to the looks, Pringle of Scotland put stripes on knit dresses that looked minimal yet complex and Tome’s version involved bold stripes on a shirt.
Bharat Tex Special Report 2026 
