Trend Alert | Winged Beasts

Paul & Joe | Jil Sander | Mary Katrantzou | Thakoon | Background from Flickr

What's the latest trend? Put a bird on it!  Parrots, hummingbirds, butterflies and other winged creatures spread their wings on high fashion and street wear.

Pattern Inspiration: Spring Flowers

Clockwise from left: Vena Cava, TopShop, Mary Katrantzou, Oasis, Matthew Williamson

Spring flowers are a huge inspiration right now, and above are used to gorgeous effect in a variety of styles: graphic, photographic, painterly, and line-based. Time to get girly and colorful!

SS12 | Mary Katrantzou

SS12 Mary Katrantzou | photos by Emilie Lindsten via Another

Florals exploded in color blocked form while swirling metal and car parts were compacted into patterns on Mary Katrantzou's recent collection.

Spring 11: Mary Katrantzou

Mary Katrantzou was a print innovator from her first collection just a couple seasons back, but she's really outdone herself this time. In fact, we haven't seen anything this exciting and innovative in a long time. Here, interiors have jumped from background to foreground, landing with precision onto beautifully-tailored dresses, and set off by tromp l'oille details like curtains drawing back, lamphshades as skirts, and wall sconces as necklaces. The effect is opulent and magical, and yet totally elegant and wearable.

Fall 10: Marble-licious

Matthew Williamson, Basso & Brooke, Mary Katrantzou, Matthew Williamson. Background: Pattern People
Matthew Williamson's marbleized prints are painterly and brushy, Basso & Brooke's look earthy like geodes and rock formations, and Mary Katrantzou's take on a more Rococco feel. In all instances, there is a psychedelic over-the-top element that makes us want to dive right in.

AW10 | Mary Katrantzou

Mary Katrantzou AW10, Antoine Watteau Pilgrimage on the Isle of Cythera 1717

Once again designer, Mary Katrantzou, delivers a stunning collection of innovative prints. Pushing her boundary, Katrantzou escapes from her kaleidoscopic patterns of past to bring us a Rococo inspired series capturing the spirit of Napoleon. Medals, ribbons and brocade elements mutate with a melting effect into soft forms while bold black and white stripes create a juxtaposition to the prints. Breathtaking!

Spring 10: Tripping Out

Alexander McQueen

Basso and Brooke, Mary Katrantzou, Basso and Brooke, Nicole Miller. Background: Pattern People
Woah! Did somebody spike the water supply in London? Some of our favorite print designers are on a serious acid trip. Of course, McQueen's show was an insane event of epic proportions. Basso and Brooke and Mary Katrantzou had similar print stories to one another, with swirls and space ship lights whizzing around. At some points, as above, the prints could have come from the same designer. Nicole Miller must have caught the transmission in New York as she adorned her dresses with cosmological placement prints.