The prints of nostalgia and lore that made a comeback.
Fashion designers have their own rendition of these classic prints and we cannot stop going gaga over ‘em. The origin of some of these prints could be traced to ancient Greece and even the Cubist paintings of Picasso and Georges Braque. In fact, polka dots evolved in Europe during the Middle Ages, while abstract print owes its legacy to Russian painter Vassily Kandinsky who formally commenced the art style. Today, prints audaciously redefine clothing and are a status of grandiose elegance in men’s clothing.
Let’s take a look at the vintage prints and their recent popularity in mainstream fashion:
Popularised by the leading 1960s San Francisco poster artists, who were further influenced by art nouveau and pop art, psychedelic prints or whimsical prints are back with a bang. There is no dearth of style in these prints, and one has to be bold enough to rock it! A part of the dopamine dressing saga, these prints add playful twerk to everyday apparel. The prints are available in pastel hues, hippy patterns, graphics such as checkerboard prints, and vintage. In the latter, the psychedelic prints are embedded in florals and acid hues; perfect for a beach vacay!
The 50s claim polka dot print has been popularised by stalwarts including Frank Sinatra, haute couture, Andy Warhol, and, closer to home, Dimple Kapadia in Bobby. These chunky dots are scattered all over in almost any garment you talk about; be it pencil skirts, trousers, dresses, blouses, sarees, and even puffer coats. The craze and versatility could never really be snuffed out fully, and the flares of polka’s popularity could never be doused. Be it cotton, georgette, or sheer, polkas are strewn everywhere.
The humble plait prints are a pattern of vertical and horizontal stripes of varying tone, density, and width. Plaid has been associated with utilitarianism ever since it was mainstreamed by the American working class—quite a shift from the Scottish monarchy who first wore it. Today, plaids are higher on the sacred pedestal of aesthetics, worn beautifully on jackets, shirts, sweaters, skirts, and tied-up blouses. B-town celebs never shied from showing off their coveted plaid collections. We all have seen Deepika Padukone, Ananya Pandey, Shraddha Kapoor, and Priyanka Chopra looking like a goddess in plaids.
Besides upscale fashion houses, you would find geometry prints even at the roadside apparel stores, which bears testimony to the immortality of geometry in clothing. Geometry shrieks vintage, but its versatility, from stripes to checks, is evidence of timelessness. These dazzling prints would almost make one dizzy if stared at for too long. Contrary to the present hullaballoo regarding geometric prints, the 60s maintained a certain grace and minimalism.
The pattern has been borrowed from Scotland and Scandinavian countries. Interestingly, goosefoot was not found in clothing but in architecture. Today, goosefoot reigns supreme on accessories, bags, and clothing. The sheer diversity of its representation in pop culture is to drool over. In almost every runway, goosefoot prints can be spotted in tights, bags, trousers, and skirts.
The distinct teardrop-shaped motif curved at the upper end had its beginning in Persia and India. Paisley prints travelled to the West during the 18th and 19th centuries and were elegantly flaunted by Beatles, Mick Jagger, and David Bowie. It is believed that the motif symbolises life and fertility, and, therefore, its proliferation in carpets, wall paintings, and other mediums of art. Today, paisley is a common sight in dresses, skirts, boho, traditional, and formal.
