Prints, Charming
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| J.Crew Midnight Floral Tee (it’s linen!!) |
I fell in love with the print on the J.Crew tee above the moment I saw it. Yes, it’s floral and butterflies and birds, but somehow it’s not cloying and it works. It’s that color I think of as “French blue” and would look great with everything from jeans to a pencil skirt. Pair with a leather moto jacket for a fun mix. I was told by a Sales Associate that they’re selling out of this style quickly, so if you’re interested, don’t dither. (Be aware: it runs a bit large, so size down.)
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| Foxcroft “Wild Rose” shirt |
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| DKNY Claudine Print V-Neck Sweater |
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| Madewell “Sketchyard” shirt |
Madewell does some really wonderful subtle-but-witty prints. These silk “boyshirts” have an oversize fit and work nicely as tunics.
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| Madewell “Birdslife” silk shirt |
Also from Madewell, this geometric print linen tee is an interesting alternative to stripes or polka dots.
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| Madewell Geometry tee |
Are there particular types of prints that appeal to you? Or are you a print-avoider?
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I like prints. I have a small chest and when I look at myself in a solid top or a print top I feel more balanced in the eye-catching print top. When the weather warms up I like to drop off with the layers/scarves and use a print top to add interest.
I think having a smaller chest is key to looking good in a print blouse.
I’m pretty much a conscientious objector, I maybe have one printed garment in my wardrobe, prints just exhaust me.
I’m pretty much a conscientious objector, I maybe have one printed garment in my wardrobe, prints just exhaust me.
I’m a print avoider. I don’t think they flatter my body type. Like you, I do wear some strips, some small checks. I have a printed dress (which I seldom wear.) While these are fun to see, I don’t think I will be wearing them.
I wear stripes, leopard, and occasionally very small florals. Mostly, I keep prints to my scarves. I never, ever wear polka dots — they just don’t feel like me.
Great selections! I love print – didn’t always but have over the past few years really come to enjoy wearing it. I think youth and lack of confidence thereof caused me to shy away – it was the nineties then and the only acceptable print was a floral, worked with workmen boots to be grungy – I still love a floral but there are so many great prints out there that it would be dull to just restrict yourself to one.
Last year, in the spring, I was seduced by some printed, dressier T’s at Talbots. They will be going to our new consignment shop this spring. Although the colors were lovely, I just felt like I was wearing the wallpaper. Most of my prints are confined to scarves or dark colored abstract knits.
Speaking of Madewell, there is a wonderful little Madewell in Boston right next door to our favorite restaurant, Sonsie. I make it a point to visit whenever I’m in town. I have two scarves from there which I wear all the time and now will check out the tops. Thanks.
I’m wearing the JCrew “chicken shirt” as I write. . . .love that linen Tee although not too hopeful it would suit me. I’m very drawn to prints, but also wary of wearing them.
I have seen many lovely and enticing prints but have not and probably will not take the plunge. Scarves are much easier for me to buy than floral tops. The foxcroft in Wild Rose would be nice as a layer over a white or black tank or tee.
Spring is a floral season so it’s not surprising that the retailers have these in stock to tempt us.
Hmmmm…I’ve been a minimalist for awhile. I actually did a stint as a salesperson at Eileen Fisher for a bit so you can only imagine….but lately I’ve been feeling like brightening it up! These prints are pretty but subtle. I fear looking like a crazy old lady if I get too much into the florals!
I like the Liberty of London Prints. I have two shirts. and a blouse with differet beetles
I’m heading straight to J Crew when I visit NYC this Easter!
Print Avoider, big time. I agree that a larger chest makes them more difficult, but even aside from that, I just can’t pull them off. I love stripes in the summer, I like polka dots too, but prints – ne jamais! No animals, no trees, no flowers, no tribals, no abstracts. Maybe maybe a small Liberty-type print, but I much prefer keeping the prints to a scarf.
I really, really like the DKNY and the Madewell prints. I’m really not into florals right now, but the geometrics are cool. Have a great week!!
I have maybe 2 pieces with a print – but I only ever wear them under a blazer. I’m not really a fan for myself, but I like it on others. I think animal prints like the Sketchyard print look odd.
I do like refined prints, like the two madewell shirts – nice selections, all, and very versatile with your collection of fab neutrals!
Very pretty linen Tee… Have to admit I am a bit of a print avoider and apart from stripes I don’t much with prints on apart from the odd geometric pattern… maybe time to remedy that? Have a good week. S x
I do like some prints…I LOVE toiles, and also wear stripes and polka dots (smallish). I am also drawn to batik prints in blue, which I have to stop myself from buying because I already have a dress and skirt in that print. Oh, and a knit top. Hmmmm. Florals, it depends, but soft watercolory prints are more likely to get a spot in my wardrobe.
—Jill Ann
I like you am fairly averse to prints however I have seen a few in the shops that might tempt me. Cos do some nice abstract ones and I am currently yearning for a touch of colour.
As I think about it, I don’t wear a lot of prints. I have some in my closet, but I guess they don’t get many outings. Maybe something to explore or at least ponder!
I would not buy tops with prints for myself, but on the right woman at the right time, I guess it would work.
Definite print-avoider, although I do have a striped shirt and a polka dot blouse (small white dots on black silk) in my wardrobe. Occasionally I try on something in a print, but I’m never convinced … Actually, I have a pair of graphic print Max Mara cropped pants which I love. But again, they are cream and black.
Mostly print avoider, but I do like the first tee shirt, however virtually sold out. Print blouses are a bit matronly looking to me. I even like solid scarves the most, like your new blue one.
I love that toile print, although I’m not sure I could wear it. For me prints work as skirts, with solid tops.
I do enjoy prints. They make me feel bright and cheerful. The scale of the print is important to me because as a curvy petite, I wouldn’t choose an enormous print. My favourite of your selection is the Midnight Floral T-shirt.
Not much of a prints person for clothing, but I do have a tiny handful of them. I always feel as if i’m wearing a costume, so perhaps it’s a personality thing, rather than an aversion to “standing out, ” which certainly isn’t the case with my shoe and bracelet obsession.
Well, after seeing these (esp the first one), I just might pick up a few printed shirts!!
Very pretty shirts. I do like some prints, although I don’t have many. The ones you highlighted are very light and fresh, using limited colors – this would make them so easy to wear with other clothes. My favorite is the Claudine – very cool!
I love prints and they work well for me as long as I pay attention to scale. I’m very petite so I have to take care the print doesn’t end up “wearing me”. Like you, I’m not keen on much of the new floral trend prints but I have my own sparsely patterned floral butterfly print I’ll be wearing once the weather warms up.
Spashionista (Alicia)
I like a good animal print but I’ve been branching out as long as the print has limited colors like the ones you’ve shown above and I tend to prefer abstract to floral, though I do like the J Crew linen top.
I am a print avoider… except for a dash of the leopard… 🙂
I love animals in print so much. I also love the first blue print. It remains me of porcelain.
Have a lovely thursday, dear friend.
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I am willing to take a chance on prints but I stay away from tight florals and go for graphic or abstact prints. I find they arent as ageing as a lot of the florals.
I do like the ones you chose; I think because they are just 2 colors, most of them.