The "Artsy" Micro-Trend Fashion People Can't Get Enough Of
It's a well-documented fact that the fashion crowd loves an exciting print. While I've seen my fair share of kitschy patterns and overly saccharine florals, the latest print on the rise feels worthy of a full-fledged exhibition at the MoMA. I'm talking about bold photographic and painted graphics that look like they belong on canvas.
Lately, I haven't been able to make it through my feed without spotting one, and insider-y brands like With Jéan, Ottolinger, and Elliss have jumped headfirst into the pool, churning out tops and dresses adorned with striking large-scale prints.
When your mood is calling for an outfit that goes beyond the scope of sterile basics, a visually stunning print just may be the solution. If it seems intimidating to pull off IRL, take a deep breath—it's way easier to incorporate into your day-to-day looks than it seems. Just pair your printed pieces with simple accessories, and you have a ready-made outfit that's just the right amount of extra. If you're into the wearable-art trend, keep scrolling to see all the beautiful pieces I can't stop thinking about and a little styling inspiration from a few tastemakers.
Just like art, there are many styles of graphic prints. One of which is the romantic imagery of Renaissance-themed graphics. Fashion-forward brand Ottolinger enlisted the help of Los Angeles–based artist Julien Nguyen to create a classical print for its fall 2021 collection. The result is clothes that look like walking pieces of art.
If you're more in the camp of abstract patterns, this bodysuit is equal parts sultry and unique.
Named after designer Elliss Solomon, Elliss is the label to know if you're heavily invested in the growing trend. Solomon's signature aesthetic is large-scale prints that instantly catch your attention.
You really can't go wrong with anything from Dries Van Noten, and this dress is on sale!
Featuring obscure images from Google Maps, this top is truly a one-of-a-kind conversation starter.
Fall is coming, so you're gonna need a cool pair of boots.
The first time I saw this dress, I couldn't look away. It's simply mesmerizing.
With cooler temperatures just around the corner, it's time that a fun second-skin top reenters the chat.
This piece from fashion favorite Paloma Wool was created in collaboration with artist Nicolás Feriche, and I need it in my closet ASAP.
Louisa Ballou is arguably the queen of sultry summer prints right now, so this piece won't steer you wrong.
I have this dress, and it's easily one of my favorite pieces for more elevated events.
Just a warning: You'll want everything from this brand. Yeoman's prints are so striking and fun.
Pair this shirt with high-waisted mom jeans and loafers for an effortlessly cool look.
The kicker about this dress? It's shorter in the back for a dynamic high-low effect.
Next up: 8 Fall Trends the Coolest Fashion TikTokers Are Wearing
Indya Brown is a fashion editor, stylist, and writer living in Los Angeles. While going to school at Columbia University in New York City, she got her feet wet in the fashion industry interning at Elle magazine, Harper's Bazaar, and New York magazine's The Cut. After graduating in 2016, she joined The Cut as a fashion assistant, eventually working her way up to fashion editor. There, she worked on a multitude of projects, including styling inbook feature stories for New York magazine's print issue, writing and pitching market stories for The Cut, and serving as fashion lead for The Cut's branded content. While New York has been her home for over 10 years, she moved to Los Angeles in the midst of the pandemic in 2020 for a new chapter. Now she is a fashion market editor for Who What Wear, focusing on emerging designers, rising trends on and off the internet, interior design, and BIPOC creatives and brands. Aside from her duties as a fashion market editor, Brown is also a freelance stylist and writer, working on national print and video commercial campaigns for Sephora, The Independent, and Cadillac. Her bylines also include Harper's Bazaar, Vox, and The New York Times. But once the computer goes down and the emails turn off, she's likely eating her way through Koreatown, hunting down vintage furniture, scoping out new outrageous nail designs to try, or taking a hot cycling class.
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