Print-eresting pants

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We are caught in a print wrap. Seriously! The season has been about prints, prints and more prints. And to satiate the print fervour, designers have been there and done all. Picking up the always in fashion floral to the current flavour stripes, exploring the animal kingdom for some printed matter, going under the sea for aqua marine inspirations, deriving trendy ideas from birds and bees.
There has been hardly a lull in the print storm. The regular checks, the seasonal tea cup and tribal prints, retro monochromes, eastern-inspired kaleidoscopes, marbles, geometrics, paisleys and optical-patterned prints — all eager to claim a place in the summer sun. And now we see them leaving fashion imprints as bottom wear. The buzz in fashion circles indicate, both men and women are going print happy with pants.
Designers like Christopher Bailey (Burberry) and Riccardo Tisci (Givenchy) have created patterned trousers. Paul Smith and Zara added azura shades of oriental print. And not to miss, the latest from Alexander McQueen comes in the form of stained glass printed trousers.
Designer duo Anjalee and Arjun Kapoor confidently declare, “Printed trousers are the in-thing now. Our suggestions go as: take aztec print, vertical stripes and geometric designs for a casual day out. And by evening, things turn formal with subtle floral and chequered trousers.”
Anjalee is keen on highlighting the prints, hence suggests, “If the prints are bold and flashy, keep the base subtle, like pale pink and beige are bankable base options to complement a riot of colour prints. This brings a beautiful balance and keeps garishness at bay.”
Arjun is clear about the cuts, “Slim-fitted trousers always look smart. Pyjama style trouser is relaxed and more casual. Printed palazzos should be avoided as they make anyone look big. A pair of trousers that is wider at the top and tapers down towards the end is a good cut for printed pants.”
Designer Vandy Mehra brings to notice the international elements of this style. “Monochrome stripes are doing really well after Marc Jacobs did them. Oriental prints in soft colours and floral patterns are a rage nowadays. The base colour has to be white for these as it offsets the bright prints and deep colours used in printed trousers,” is her take.
Vandy too rules out the broads and settles for a narrow silhouette. “Slim-fitted and regular narrow trousers look best when you are picking a printed trouser, this is for the simple reason that one element should take centre stage — too much happening in terms of silhouette, cut or drape along with prints can make it a disaster. One should opt for solid colour tops or crisp white shirts with printed trousers to make the entire look chic and not over the top.”
Designer Shantanu Goenka labels printed trousers as boho chic, adding, “provided no faux pas is committed.” He elaborates, “Skin-tight is the rule here, make it an everyday affair with a gamut of prints. Pyjama and palazzo can be a once in a while exception. For the after-hours, brocades and baroque prints translate to style with a capital S. Black and rich tones with an antique embellished blend stand out. Kristen Stewart and Beyonce Knowles do it quite right with their trousers.”