Prints are a love or hate thing. But whether you’re a fan or not, a fashion season would be empty without them.

Prints have a good reason to be feared and avoided. They’re difficult lot-bold, attention-grabbing and trend-bound, not to mention torturously hard to pull off, but what can be more satisfying than making them work?

Prints have long been a designer’s favourite, making collections memorable and individual, and this winter will be no different. Marni’s Consuelo Castiglioni, who put out clean lined colour blocked silhouettes enriched with thin graphic patterns, described her collection as full of ‘simplicity and discipline’, which is exactly what prints could be when done right. Salvatore Ferragamo’s black and white Prince of Wales checks prove this, showing print in all professionalism, seriousness and functuality. Austere nonetheless, Marc Jacobs played the conservative card with smart below the knee pencil skirts and high collars while mixing it up with a clever polka dot aspect. Business-serious his woman may be, but her sense of humour is prominent.

Donatella Versace is not one to cover up her women. But if there is better proof that prints and mini body-con dresses are a match made in heaven, let us see it. A textbook example of clean minimalism with an extra oomph in the shape of bold liana and flower motifs in electric yellow or green only goes to show that prints are not constricted to office-conservative clothing that can balance them out. Prints this season, although summer is long gone, can also be young and sexy and show skin at the same time. Who better than the ever so youthful D&G with its alphabet street style prints in neon to bring out the techno fun?

Wearing prints is about being modern, and as hard as it may be to get the right balance, there are always brands that provide us with a more down to earth and realistic version of the trend. Iceberg’s white pearly embroidered cigarette pant teamed with a simple black sweater does just that. Sometimes though, a print clash scores you that extra point. If you are not afraid of pairing an Ikat inspired motif with Art Deco, look no further than the print kings of fashion- Dries van Noten or Etro. Managing to mix up colours, textures, silhouettes and patterns is the holy grail of modernism.

Print can sometimes be overwhelming, but they are always fun, and done once, it’s hard to keep away from their magical spotlighting powers of confidence. So, whether you decide to add only a printed scarf to an otherwise simple outfit or go all out head to toe, be warned that there might not be a way back.

Etro

D&G