Author(s): Elizabeth Walker

Fashion & Jewellery

Following the success of Style Book: Fashionable Inspirations, this new volume offers a fresh take on the iconic patterns and prints that are renewed and recycled year after year, from the runways to street wear. Fashion editor Elizabeth Walker draws on eclectic influences from around the world: embroidered kimonos from Japan, batiks from Indonesia, paisley from India and France, animal prints, bold op-art geometrics in black and white, bright kangas from Kenya, Hawaiian print hibiscus, or bold splashes of color combining Schiaparelli pink with tangerine and turquoise. From Grace Jones in a zebra print jumpsuit to a flappers scalloped swimsuit, or from Marc Jacobs in a Mickey Mouse t-shirt to Nicolas Cage in a snakeskin jacket, you can take your cue to liven up the gray workday commute in a jewel-toned ikat print or a jaunty African tribal fabric. The striped mariners pullover that looked great on Picasso is still in style, and hounds-tooth checkered trousers will turn heads and add bounce to your stride. The images selected here featuring both celebrities and more proletariat fashionistas spotlight the striking prints and patterns that add panache to any look.