By Pauline Weston Thomas for Fashion-Era.com
Tropical Print Fashion Trends
This is a review of the key tropical fashion looks for the spring summer season of 2012.
Tropical prints in exotic flamboyant colourways are also used for pyjama pants and treggings. This article describes in detail the main style fusion of tropical/jungle/paradise/botanical print in dresses, pants, maxi dresses and other women's fashion clothing.
The Tropicana Look
- Jungle Dark Tropical Prints
- Top 2012 Tropical Women's Fashion Trends
- Designer Digital Tropical Dress Prints
- More Tribal Jungle Like Exotic Hothouse Floral Prints
- Tropical Hothouse Flower Print Maxi Dresses
- Cheap Dress
Jungle Dark Tropical Prints
Left - Miss Selfridge Bird Print Dress.
Centre - SS12 Speziale Siren Shift Dress £79 - Marks & Spencer.
Right - Topshop Tropical Print Neon Fashion SS12. Also shown in header.
There are subtle and not so subtle differences which illustrate these newest fabric prints. Safari, Ikat, Tribal Mask, Body Markings, Feathers, Tropical Fruits, Leaves, Ferns, Zebra and Leopard Print Looks merge tribal, jungle and floral paradise. Watch for exotic orchids, palm leaves and trailing plants all amid the odd hummingbird or butterfly!
Pyjama Pants, Catsuits, All-in ones
These tropical prints work well in floral trousers - pyjama pants, and also in maxi dresses. More fabric gives more scope for trailing greenery and botanical plant forms in stepped sizes giving a more naturalistic effect despite garish clashing colour combos.
Left - Exotic Lily Tropicana Print Catsuit All-in-one - Arcadia.
Centre - Monsoon Martinque Jacket £55/€85, Martinque Trouser £65/€99 -
Left - Tropical Flower Print Pants - New Look SS12.
Top 2012 Tropical Women's Fashion Trends
Lighter Pastel Tropical Fabric Prints
Floral prints can vary from English cottage country garden style to full blown tropical paradise and trailing blooms. In keeping with the trend for pastels the tropical trend can take on quite a different look when the background fabric is light rather than dark as above. The lighter airiness within the print of two dresses are more tropical paradise than forest jungle.
Left - Oasis SS12 - Rose Flowers Border Print Dress.
Right - Savida Tropical Border Print Dress. Dunnes SS12.
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Mid Toned Colourful Tropical Fabric Prints
Equally tropical floral fashion prints can look very different if there are tonal colour ranges rather than clashing colours. The lilac/purple colours show this to good effect. The minimal use of green foliage keeps the look softer and less harsh as the pinks and purples blend and gel together so gently.
Pantone Summer 2012 Pink and Purples.
Left - PANTONE 18-2140 Cabaret - A rosy red.
Centre - PANTONE 18-3628 Bellflower - A distinct ornamental purple.
Right - PANTONE 14-2808 Sweet Lilac - A delicate pinkish lilac.
Hot Pink Tropical Print Dress - Wallis Summer 2012.
Designer Digital Tropical Dress Prints
Mary Katrantzou is renowned for her wonderful print fabrics, and many follow her print and colouration lead. I have always loved plants of the violet family as the colours are so pretty. These violaceous colours suit many skin colourings and hair colours.
Left - Mary Katrantzou Purple Tropicana Floral Tunic Dress £920 farfetch.com.
Right - Print Pleat One Shoulder Dress £50 Littlewoods.com.
Fashion SS12 www.littlewoods.com
You are reading an original tropical print trends for summer 2012 fashion article by Pauline Weston Thomas only for publication on www.fashion-era.com ©
Pantone Greens
PANTONE 14-0116 Margarita - A piquant yellow-green.
PANTONE 14-5420 Cockatoo - A tactile blue-green.
This dress left below reminds me of the simplicity of the Mary Portas no-brainer dress.
Left - Easy Palm Print T-Shirt With Tropical Jungle Leaves Print.
Right - Tropical Floral Border Print Dress - John £45/€70 Monsoon Stockist Number: 08448110068.
More Tribal Jungle Like Exotic Hothouse Floral Prints
Floral prints and border prints add a dimension that make some garments appear to be a complete tropical jungle or garden scene. Botanical forms flow over women's garments.
These tropical print dresses are all very different, but each uses the hothouse print them to make a style very different from the piece next to it.
Left - NEXT SS12 - Tropical Print Shift £ 35.
Centre -TBC.
Right - Terracotta Colours Shift Dress - House Of Fraser SS12.
Pantone Tangerine Tango & Solar Power Yellow.
PANTONE 17-1463 Tangerine Tango - An enticing juicy citrus fruit.
PANTONE 16-1120 Starfish - A warm summer neutral.
PANTONE 19-3953 Sodalite Blue - A classic maritime hue.
PANTONE 13-0759 Solar Power - An energetic powerhouse.
Tribal inspired prints combine with tropical jungle imagery and the fusion of these related styles gives fabric for 2012 a burst of newness.
Left - Jamelia Patch Print Dress, Osse Necklace, Osse Bracelet, Hurst Sandals. Monsoon SS12 Stockist Number: 08448110068.
Centre - Fever SS12 - Butterfly Dress In Geometric Arrangement.
Right - Monsoon Sisanda Dress £55/€85 Due May, Bakewell Sandal £40/€62.
Look especially for tropical birds or butterflies, leaves, fern fronds plus exotic botanical jungle flowers.
Left - Lipsy - Mirror Print Tropical Bodycon Dress £45 - Lovarni.com.
Right - Holly Willoughby Crochet Collar Tea Dress £49 - Very.co.uk.
PANTONE 14-0116 Margarita - A piquant yellow-green.
PANTONE 17-1463 Tangerine Tango - An enticing juicy citrus fruit.
PANTONE 13-0759 Solar Power - An energetic powerhouse.
You are reading an original tropical trends fashion article by Pauline Weston Thomas only for publication on www.fashion-era.com ©
Maxi Dresses
Maxi Dresses have continued to attract fans as they are well suited to all day dressing for holidays. The loose flowing lines and gorgeous prints means that a wide range of body figure types feel happy and comfortable in a maxi dress.
Print is a strong statement for SS2012, with tropical prints paving the way in a wide range of pieces, but especially suited to maxi dresses often worn in exotic holiday locations.
Tropical Hothouse Flower Print Maxi Dresses
Left - Tropical Flower Print Dress For Plus Sizes - Evans SS12.
Centre - Debut Flower Print Maxi Dress, £100/€155 Debenhams Stockist Number: 08445616161.
Right - Wallis SS12 - Tropical Red Flower Animal Print Maxi Dress.
Left - BHS SS12 Multi Coloured Cotton Dress. TBC.
Right - Phase Eight SS12 - Marianne Tribal Colour Mix Paisley Maxi Dress £110.
The maxi dress is especially suited to exotic prints that flow up the length of the skirt dress. Border prints and tiers of frill also utilise fabric cutting to show off the printed fabric to maximum effect.
As it is intended for daywear a true maxi dress unlike an evening dress should hover at the ankle and allow the wearer to show off pretty sandals or shoes.
Yoked & Halter Necklined Maxi Dresses
Left - Monsoon Gazella Print Maxi Dress £225/€350 Stockist Number: 08448110068.
Centre - Tribal Print Haltered Maxi Dress £34.99/€44.99.
New Look Clothing Stockist Number: 0844 499 6690 and Newlook.com.
Right - Abstract Tribal Maxi Dress Accessorize Monsoon SS12.
Maxis are often yoked, empire line or halter necklines and as beachwear offer easy comfort for those who wish to go braless. Yummy mummies also find a maxi dress an attractive alternative to other maternity wear!
PANTONE 14-5420 Cockatoo - A tactile blue-green.
PANTONE 19-3953 Sodalite Blue - A classic maritime hue.
PANTONE 16-1120 Starfish - A warm summer neutral.
PANTONE 13-0759 Solar Power - An energetic powerhouse.
PANTONE 18-1210 Driftwood - A blend of beige and gray.
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Animalistic Tribal Fabric Prints
Flowing maxi dresses are often made in less expensive materials as they can be used as beach cover up wear. Crinkle cotton or viscose fabric offer value for money, are cool to wear and flow well. Dresses with halter necklines allow the wearer to tan and stay cool. The women's maxi dresses above show how effective striped arrangements can look especially up to date when the fabric has a tribal fashion look.
Left - SS12 Speziale Zanzibar Maxi Dress £79 Marks & Spencer.
Right - Plus Size Abstract Tribal Animal Print Maxi Dress - Evans SS12.
Some tribal/jungle prints use motifs and geometric marks as a print foundation, others use tribal animal markings or digital abstractions of them.
This dress above left and centre has such an exotic name - the Zanzibar maxi dress from Marks & Spencer. Plus sizes are also catered for with this maxi print dress from Evans shown above right.
You are reading an original tropical trends for summer 2012 fashion article by Pauline Weston Thomas only for publication on www.fashion-era.com ©
Exotic Garden Florals & Hothouse Prints
Floral prints and border prints add a dimension that make some garments appear to be a complete tropical jungle or garden scene.
These tropical print dresses are all very different but each uses the hothouse print them to make a style very different from the piece next to it.
Left - Fever SS12 Tropical Palm Trees & Ocean Tie Halter Neck Dress.
Centre - Sunset Pencil Dress, White, £59.99 Fever Designs Spring Summer 2012 - Fever Stockist Number: 020 7636 6326.
Right - River Island SS12 Tropical Flower Fifties Tie Halter Neck Dress.
Left - Wallis Multi Colour Tropical Print Strappy Sundress.
Centre - Boohoo Jungle Tribal Print Yellows Sundress.
Right - Wallis Multi-colour Halter Scarf Print Dress.
Left - Phase Eight SS12 Straight Hothouse Flowers Draped Dress.
Right - Phase Eight SS12 - 50's Full Skirt Floral Print Prom Dress.
Designer Print Trends
Below dresses featuring border prints that meander and soften in motif size and colour depth.
Left & Centre - Oasis SS12 Blue Print Dress.
Right - Primark Flower Print Dress £15.
Primark UK Ladieswear Stockist Number: 0118 9606 300.
Peter Pilotto's fashion show had the most beautiful prints with detailed sculptured shapes making each garment a piece of art.
Beautiful blues feature in many prints and plains.
Bird Fabric Prints
Left - Dorothy Perkins Duck Egg Bird Print Dress.
Centre - Dress Detail & Right - Both Dorothy Perkins SS12 Turquoise Bird Print Polyester Dress £32.
PANTONE 14-5420 Cockatoo - A tactile blue-green.
PANTONE 19-3953 Sodalite Blue - A classic maritime hue.
PANTONE 14-0116 Margarita - A piquant yellow-green.
PANTONE 18-1210 Driftwood - A blend of beige and gray.
PANTONE 13-0759 Solar Power - An energetic powerhouse.
Feather Print Patterns
Left - Green Feather Print Dress. Monsoon SS12 Neo Mexico
Ramirez Dress £65/€99 Due May - Monsoon Stockist Number: 08448110068
Right - Isme Blue Feather Print Tunic Dress.
You have been reading an original tropical fashion trends article by Pauline Weston Thomas only for publication on www.fashion-era.com ©.
Copyright of images courtesy of Prshots.com, Marks & Spencer, Monsoon, New Look, very.co.uk, Topshop, John Lewis, Lipsy Lovarni, House Of Fraser, Wallis, Evans, BHS, Phase Eight, Fever, River Island, Boohoo, Oasis, Primark, Dorothy Perkins, Isme, Miss Selfridge, Header Image Courtesy Topshop - Topshop SS12 Tropical Print Fashion.
Date Added 14 March 2012 - Ref: P.878.