We’ve put together a lovely report of all the top fall/ winter 2017-2018 print trends, and the positive fashion lovers of all kinds can find the perfect print and pattern to suit their needs.
We are starting to shop for our fall and winter wardrobes soon and are currently checking out the fall 2017 fashion trend reports, pinning posts to Pinterest and keeping tabs on the latest fashions on Instagram. We are checking out the best in shoes, handbags, makeup, and everything in between. That also includes being on the lookout for the best in top fall/ winter 2017-2018 print trends with all the intriguing options available there.
While monochrome is in style, prints and patterns are way more attractive and quite a bit more alluring. Plus, with the types of fall 2017 prints and patterns we are exposed to, who would stick to only monochromes anyhow? The best and brightest in the fall 2017 fashion pattern trends are what have caught our attention, whether they appear on pantsuits or long dresses, daywear or perfect for partying out at night.
The cooler winter weather calls for fashion that both matches and opposes the narrative it brings to our minds. Bright yellow and pink Chinoiserie prints, for example, would not be expected for the fall, but have been matched due to the warmer, less blaring yellow background, while the stories told through pictures are perfectly versatile for the spring and the fall.
Fall 2017 Print Trends: Contents
1. Plaid, Gingham and Tartan
2. Floral Prints
3. Chinoiserie Patterns
4. Autumn Prairie Prints
5. Prints of Pictorial Stories
6. Stripes
7. Swirls and Polka Dots
8. Pinstripes
9. Nature Prints
10. Vintage Patterns
11. Animal Skin Patterns
12. Rug Prints
13. Fantasy Prints
14. Psychedelic Patterns
15. Argyle
16. Patches of Mixed Prints
17. Space Patterns
The best fall 2017 print trends are:
#1: Turn Heads with Plaid, Gingham and Tartan
The very top fall/ winter 2017 print trend is the checkered, tartan and plaid look, which literally appears in every collection presented at all the Fashion Week runway shows, from New York to London, Milan and Paris. Coats, skirts, dresses, pantsuits, overalls, crop tops, and just about everything else appears in this print pattern.
Plaid is absolutely loveable and entirely shoppable. From Natasha Zinko’s perfect plaids to Akris’ perfect checks in black and white, this is a look that will be hard to turn away from.
You will be the star of the fashion world in this particular fall 2017 print trend; that is a guarantee. Now, to get ourselves a lovely Zuhair Murad plaid tweed skirt!
#2: Everything Floral
The second print trend for fall/ winter 2017 is the floral pattern that appears in all shapes and sizes, all colors and placements, on all different types of pieces and materials. Acne Studios revels in matching jacket over cropped trouser creations that have splatters of florals, while Adam Selman’s floral embroidery on the Canadian tuxedo is simply to die for. Red roses and dark blue denim certainly do go well together.
The fall 2017 floral prints appear almost wallpaper style at Altuzarra, beautifully flowing at Zuhair Murad, and fantastical at Mary Katrantzou; they are simply everywhere and it would be impossible to really describe what the perfect floral print trend is for fall 2017. Instead, know that if you are wearing flowers, you are in style.
#3: Bank on Chinoiserie
There is a certain Asian theme happening on the runways it seems, particularly in the floral department. While florals themselves get their own category, it is good to make a note of the Asian florals in particular, which see both overlapping and oversized placements on the different pieces presented.
Gucci’s sunrise floral skirt suit definitely catches our attention, while the velvet with floral and fur coat at Libertine inspires a modern look to your grandmother’s classy outfits. What about the black background with vibrant Asian florals at Nicole Miller? We can only fall in love over and over again.
Opulent embellishments are the most important part of this fall 2017 print trend, while a satin fringe only adds to the beauty of the pieces presented.
#4: Autumn Prairie
Duvet coats, flowing dresses, ruffled necklines and plain long hems get a lovely treat with the prairie print, with pretty little flowers added all over the fabric that covers the ladies from neck to toe. Mulberry, Giambattista Valli and Zimmermann among many others bring forth the loveliest of floral prints in generally flowing fabrics, creating a tender, innocent and somehow ethereal component to the spring design.
It is an embroidered meadow we see here, with delicate petals and tumbling florals, detailed, varying in scale and quite vintage in the way they look. Gorgeous and entirely worth investing in a piece or two! Still not sure about the Mulberry duvet coat though.
#5: Pictorial Stories All Over
Have you ever bought a book just for the pictures or a t-shirt because it told a story? Now you can grab yourself a dress that is just as visually stunning and a work of art to boot.
It is a whole town that we see at Alice + Olivia, an ancient story passed through time at Erdem, the song of flowers at Mary Katrantzou, and quite the difference in life during the day and night at Rahul Mishila. It is hard not to fall in love with the idea of a story being told by a picture on a dress, and the manner of the dress flow allows for the imagination to really bring it all to life.
#6: Striped Up
Stripes appear on the runways here and there and everywhere, whether they are clearly across the body as per Barbara Bui or creating a V-shape on the skirts as per Bottega Veneta. They look stunning when full of color and generally classic when playing with dual tones, the black and white horizontal striped tops, for example.
We even get some rainbow stripes in the deconstructed clothing category as per Fashion East and on sports looks found at Miu Miu. Celine’s stripes went in the vertical direction instead of the typical horizontal seen on most shows, competing with the pinstripe trend.
#7: Swirls and Dots
With an acidic bright green background come the swirls of Emilio Pucci and the dots of Natasha Zinko, the latter of which play with both symmetrical and not-so-symmetrical dot placements throughout her collection. Large dots, small dots, on dresses or tops as per Balenciaga, this fall/ winter 2017-2018 print trend may not be the best to point out but it certainly is fun to play with.
Swirling prints on purple shaded tiered dresses certainly take the cake. Dots can be worn in panels as well, in black and white especially, and looking fun on a one-shoulder Zimmermann dress.
#8: Pinstripes Galore
There is something to be said about a good pinstriped outfit, and Adam Selman certainly is not one to mince words. With darker colors in red and blue or black used to create belted shirtdresses or matching crop tops and loose pants, pinstripes appear on all types of wardrobe pieces.
Alexander McQueen combines red and black for some incredibly gorgeous dresses as well, but it is the white and red combination that really sets us off. Altuzarra even deigns to combine brown and black pinstripe with a black and white argyle sweater.
#9: Wonders of Nature
Quite a few of the other fall/ winter 2017-2018 print trends can fit into this category as well, but what we focus on here is the wonder aspect. That includes almost three dimensional butterflies, insect curiosities of all types, vintage drawings, moths and even beetles appearing on the dresses, tops and pants throughout.
We even have some lovely fairies, but it is the opulence of nature itself, particularly with repeated motifs, that catch our attention on several of the fashion shows staged in New York, Paris and Milan.
#10: Vintage Designs
Cultural motifs and vintage designs are a top fall/ winter 2017 trend, with dresses appearing with the prints along with asymmetrical tunic tops at Alexander McQueen. We get a whole lot of ‘70s looks happening and some pretty cool vintage prints that might as well have been wallpaper designs.
This fall/ winter 2017-2018 print trend also includes a bit of geometry here and there, but the vintage really focuses on certain prints that have been out of style for a while now, but that which appear from time to time, especially in Europe. This also applies to prairie florals and some lovely embossed patterning.
Leaves and vines also make their way in here somewhat. Celine had some pretty vintage prints to offer, particularly where it looked like olden style floor tiling meant for the luxury lover.
#11: Animal Skins and Images
There are two ways the animal in all of us is celebrated on the Fashion Week runway shows this coming season, and that is through both wearing animal skin prints and the prints of the animals themselves.
Alexander Wang’s black leopard skin designs certainly catch our attention in the mainly black monochrome looks. Leopard and jaguar are generally the favorite to work it, and we get to see some rather lovely prints as such on the Naeem Khan runway as well, though the Barbara Bui snakes are also quite enticing. We have the Bibhu Mohapatra white tiger fur coat on our to-buy list as it is.
#12: Creating the Caucasus Culture
Not many would realize that a lot of the fall 2017 prints that appear on the Fashion week shows include an ode to the Eastern European and West Asian cultures of old, and seem to have a certain likeness to the carpets that are woven around the Caucasus and beyond. Naeem Khan brings some extravagant looks that are exceptionally beautifully colored just right to emulate the culture of the Eastern nations.
#13: Fantasy Feels
There are pieces that tell a story and then there are those that invoke a certain inner peace and a delving into fantasy world. Stella Jean’s more East Asian styles certainly are captivating, but it is the dresses depicting nature and snowy backgrounds or lovely sunsets that grab our attention.
Mary Katrantzou’s fairies and floral enchantments are no less beguiling. It is a fantasy world that we are entering and there is nothing not to love about that prospect. On the contrary, the fantasy prints serve us well in transporting our minds away from our daily troubles and bringing calm to murky thoughts.
#14: Psychedelic Imagery
Manish Arora is probably at the forefront of this fall/ winter 2017 print trend, along with the ever-creative Mary Katrantzou. Bursts of color appear on tops, dresses are defined by great contrasts and almost magical sequences, while it is black and white Manish Arora skirts with their psychedelic waves that hold our gazes, refusing to let go.
While Katrantzou focuses on the floral aspects, other designers play up with the waves and colors and the idea that prints should be able to bend the mind. Optical illusions on the runway are a must it appears.
#15: Argyle Is Back
Had you missed the argyle look? You can have it once again in sweaters and even pantsuits as per Marc Jacobs and Thom Browne respectively, or in any other style you desire.
The old school diamond patterns bring back the Ivy League look that had originated from the Argyll tartans in Scotland. Certainly a print we can buy into, especially when you add a good dose of color instead of sitting on the typical shades of brown!
#16: Patch It Up
Patchwork is a top fall/ winter 2017-2018 print trend and it is definitely on our list of top looks to buy into, particularly when looking at an exceptionally gorgeous Erdem dress. It is an easy way to mix up the prints and can look positively stunning on a simple body-hugging sheath dresses as well.
Tommy Hilfiger, Public School and Desigual all seem to be having fun with the patchwork design, playing with jackets, dresses and matching pieces. It came in colorful looks as per Loewe or neutral creations that amped up the style as seen at Junya Watanabe.
#17: Depicting Outer Space
There is a futuristic theme happening on the runways for the fall, and that includes more than just the silver coloring and funky Jetsons styles. We get full blown picture stories, planet handbags, moon phase depictions and everything in between throughout the four fashion capitals.
The intergalactic vibe is quite real, and Chanel, among others really channeled that particular energy. High necks and sporty looks to keep warm after a game feature space at Lacoste, while we enjoy seeing the astronaut picture story dress at Dolce & Gabbana. It is by far one of the best print trends for fall/ winter 2017.
Photos via Vogue
