Bright colours are all well and good, but in my humble opinion, nothing makes your outfits more fun or unique to you than prints. For the longest time, I've avoided anything too patterned, choosing instead to focus on building a wardrobe of classics. However, in doing so, I've lost much of the joy that should come hand in hand with fashion. As such, I've made it something of a style resolution for the year to invest in some playful printed items to balance out my current collection of basics. Handily, I just so happened to be given the task of finding the best print trends of 2023, meaning I was able to do my own sartorial research on the clock.
For this, I immersed myself in Who What Wear's extensive library of S/S 23 runway imagery, spending hours poring over every collection, from 16Arlington to Zimmermann. When I came up for air, it was clear there were six defining print trends that kept cropping up.
I know what you're thinking: How different can these print trends be from, say, last year? Designers reliably update mainstay patterns such as florals and stripes for each season and, the S/S 23 iterations feel significantly fresher this time around than they perhaps have in the past. On top of that, there were a handful of less-common motifs that caught my attention and are sure to make my outfits feel more current. That's not to say they'll be passé in a few months; I genuinely believe these print trends have staying power.
Continue ahead for my edit of the best print trends of 2023, as seen on the most recent runways. Then, shop my pick of the best market items for each.
1. Rad Plaid
Style Notes: Thanks to Bottega Veneta and Ottolinger, plaid prints—the sort that dominated my angsty teen wardrobe—are back for 2023. The easiest way to wear it is via a flannel shirt, akin to Kate Moss, but designers also showcased the motif in the form of floaty skirts and fitted dresses.
Shop the Print
If it's checks you're after, you can always rely on Isabel Marant.
Just add a cream jumper and your favourite boots.
This looks just like the skirts I spotted on the runway.
Try layering this over a roll-neck in the cooler months.
2. Love Locked
Style Notes: This season's prettiest print trend is no doubt the love hearts that decorated the collections of Victoria Beckham, Nensi Dojaka, Moschino and Paul & Joe, which is already filtering into plenty of new-in sections.
Shop the Print
Kitri always delivers on fun prints.
I know it's not technically a print, but these earrings are a simple way to make any outfit feel more on-trend this season.
Cute!
Paco Rabanne gives love hearts a high-end overhaul by way of its iconic paillette bag.
3. Seeing Spots
Style Notes: Having taken a bit of a back seat over the past few seasons, polka dots are back in a big way for 2023. This season's exploration of the pattern is a honed one, consisting of a largely neutral or classic colour palette. With a spotlight on variations in dot size and fabrications, these are arguably the chicest spotty clothes have ever looked.
Shop the Print
An ideal way to pep up your failsafe jeans.
Chic, chic, chic.
The beige background feels just as classic as black or white.
Jazzy trousers are always a good idea.
4. Blurred Lines
Style Notes: Tie-dye always makes a comeback as we begin to approach the standard "holiday" period, but, this year, blur prints present a sleek alternative. The trend was kickstarted by Loewe, whose blur-print tube dress was worn by Instagram's most-adept dressers and Kendall Jenner alike. However, designers such as Peter Do, Roksanda and Jonathan Simkhai have taken it to a whole new level with colour clashing in luxe materials.
Shop the Print
Just one of the many, many excellent blur pieces from Paloma Wool.
You know I'm also into the matching top.
A fun addition to any outfit.
This will look just as good with tan slider sandals as it will with chunky knee boots.
5. Painterly Florals
Style Notes: Florals are always in, but in lieu of precise, photo-style prints, designers including Dries Van Noten and Richard Quinn have taken a more paintbrush-and-easel approach with softer blooms in watercolour finishes.
Shop the Print
Train details were key on the S/S 23 runways.
One half of a gorgeous Oroton co-ord.
Reformation has some of the sleekest florals around.
Mango nails it again.
6. Strokes
Style Notes: The print that repeats itself most regularly in my wardrobe is stripes, and I'm wiling to bet that's the same for many of you. For 2023, blocky, two-tone stripes populated so many collections I just know they're going to be a thing.
Shop the Print
So, so good.
If you prefer a muted colour palette, this black-and-yellow knit is your saving grace.
A great skirt at a great sale price.
Love!
Next Up, Spring/Summer 2023 Fashion Trends: 21 Expert-Approved Looks You Need to See
