Patterns and Prints: Easing into Spring 2012

We don’t know how about you, but we here at the Xaxii Creative Team have been ready for Spring months ago… and finally it’s catching up to us! Little by little the weather is warming up, and you know what that means? Time for a change of wardrobe! We here at Xaxii are very into prints for this Spring 2012 season. Whether it’s animal print, geometric patterns or florals, giving a bit of a edge to your outfit has never been so easy.

We’ve been hunting (pun intended) the urban jungle trend for a while now, and we think it’s finally ready to be embraced in the full extent. Even those of you who are strict vegans or vegetarians should not be afraid of this look! It’s all about embracing the animalistic instincts within each of us, after all.

A personal favorite of ours is the zebra print. It’s either the classic combination of black and white, or perhaps the elegant, smooth lines of the print, we’ve not sure. But we do know that this print looks fabulous on everything, from shoes to skirts, from trench coats to bags. The zebra is a very graceful animal, and there is no reason why it’s print would not have the same effect on you. Want to be unique? Go for a colorful zebra pattern, in which the white is substituted with another color such as hot pink or blue.

The snake print is very edgy since it’s original owner is a widely feared and often lethal predator. Having a snake print or a real snakeskin shoes or bag will metaphorically symbolize your dominance over the deadly creature, giving you a definite confidence boost. Plus, it’s simply a beautiful pattern. A snakeskin clutch is a definite must in our shopping list!

 

The cheetah print is a modern update of the overused and tacky leopard print. Fast and cunning, the cheetah is a symbol of strength and dominance, which is perfect for any modern woman. Whether or not you’re daring enough to done on a full cheetah print maxi dress this spring/summer season, you can always incorporate one or two cheetah-inspired accessories   such a scarf to protect you from that evening spring breeze, or a pair of cheetah print heels or even thigh high socks!

If you’re really not into embracing the animalistic prints, then you can always go for Art Deco style geometric print. Art deco was an eclectic, artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s, influencing all areas of design: architecture, interior design, fashion and jewelry, as well as the visual arts such as painting, graphic arts and film. The Art Deco style were often focused on bold colors and geometric shapes. This is a confident, chic look that you can pull off with one simple item, such as a jacket or dress. Keep everything else simple and monotoned, and let the bold pattern speak for itself.

Every fashionista knows that horizontal stripes are risky. They draw attention to your width, and to your problem areas, if there are any. But nowadays we are warming up to this look for the new season. If worn correctly, stripes can be quite flattering. It’s all about the HOW. And the how is very simple: Keep the outfit down to a few pieces, and make sure that if you are wearing a loose striped top, then your bottoms are ultra flattering. This will balance out the illusion of extra “width” that the horizontal stripes may imply. Or simply wear a tight top! If you have nothing to hide, then don’t. No illusions are possible in a curve-hugging dress or top. If in doubt, go for vertical stripes. They will elongate your figure and draw attention up to your face and down to your lovely legs.

Polka dots always remind us of the 1960s and of our mother’s vintage skirts and jackets. No matter how much time passes, this trend manages to always retain an air of innocent sophistication and freshness. Constantly evolving and changing, it always happens to end up on the top runways of the fashion industry, and this season is no exception. Whether it’s full-on vintage polka dots, or a modern large to small version, you can’t go wrong with this trend as long as you keep the polka dots monotoned. If you find an item of clothing that has multicolored polka dots, put it down and run out of the store. Never wear something that will remind people of measles, chicken pox or a clown costume.

This print should not be a surprise to anyone. Floral print and spring go hand in hand perfectly. It adds an irresistible sense of femininity, as well as an air of youthful happiness. You can never go outside wearing a frown in one of these floral  print dresses, even if it’s raining. Keep in mind: this is a very busy print, so keep accessories and jewelry down to an absolute minimum. Shoes should be monotoned: red or pink clogs or peep-toe heels will do nicely.

If you’re a true pattern lover, then you can take this trend to the next level: mix and match different prints together. This must be done with a great deal of caution, though! Overdo it and you’ll look like you got dressed in the dark. The idea is to have a dominant print and a complimentary print. In the examples below, the cheetah and the striped prints are dominant, and the others are simpler and less out-there, so they work well together. Also a good idea is to have an obvious color contrast such as in the picture on the right. The color takes more attention than the pattern, so the clash is not as obvious.

So there you have it. Seven beautiful prints and patterns that you can add to your look this upcoming spring 2012 season. There is a print here for anyone, no matter how daring or conservative your fashion tastes are. We wish you luck and inspiration in the new season. Be bold, be daring, and don’t be afraid to mix and match!