The Fashion Memo

How To Wear Prints If You’re Not A Prints Girl

From unfussy florals à la Alexa Chung (left) to laid-back checks and elegant stripes – there’s a print out there for every style

Spring/summer ’26 is a big season for prints, with brands presenting fresh new takes on checks, florals, stripes and polka dots so chic, even the print sceptics among us won’t be able to resist

Words Colleen RossFashion editor Viktorija Tomasevic
Fashion

Pared-back florals

Ever since Meryl Streep uttered those four immortal words in The Devil Wears Prada 20 years ago, florals for spring have felt somewhat overlooked. Pretty, yes. But groundbreaking? Rarely. However, that all changed this season with brands including Emilia Wickstead, Maison Margiela and Chloé all offering a fresh perspective on fashion’s most ubiquitous print. The best way to incorporate florals into an outfit without them feeling too pretty is to go back to basics with the rest of your outfit. Try styling Dôen’s vintage-inspired ‘Elowette’ skirt with a simple top like Flore Flore’s ‘Anna’ tee from our NET SUSTAIN edit, adding a barn jacket and oversized shades to keep the look fresh and effortless.

  • FLORE FLORE
    Anna organic cotton-jersey T-shirt
    $100.00
    Select a Size
    x small - low stock
    small
    medium - low stock
    large - low stock
    x large - out of stock
  • OLIVER PEOPLES
    Sonia D-frame acetate sunglasses
    $445.00
  • NOUR HAMMOUR
    Grange gathered leather-trimmed suede jacket
    $1,735.00
    Select a Size
    x small
    small
    medium
    large
    x large
  • DÔEN
    Elowette lace-trimmed floral-print silk-satin midi skirt
    $465.00
    Select a Size
    x small - out of stock
    small - out of stock
    medium - out of stock
    large - low stock
    x large - low stock

City stripes

Riviera-style stripes were seen on the spring/summer ’26 runways at Jacquemus, Dries Van Noten and Loewe, all channeling the glamour and elegance of bygone summer escapes – picture the South of France in the 1950s and you’re on the right track. The good news is you don’t have to be heading to the coast to wear them; they’ll look right at home in the city, too. Nili Lotan’s knitted ‘Lanise’ T-shirt in soft fine-gauge cotton is ultra versatile and will work as well at the office with Calvin Klein Collection’s ‘Lunas’ skirt and Khaite’s thong sandals, as it will with white linen pants and flip flops on vacation.

  • NILI LOTAN
    Lansie striped cotton-jersey T-shirt
    $560.00
    Select a Size
    x small
    small
    medium
    large
    x large - out of stock
  • CALVIN KLEIN COLLECTION
    Lunas wool midi skirt
    $1,170.00
    Select a Size
    36
    38 - low stock
    40
    42 - low stock
    44
    46
  • KHAITE
    Archer leather mules
    $910.00
    Select a Size
    36 - out of stock
    36.5 - out of stock
    37 - low stock
    37.5 - out of stock
    38
    38.5 - low stock
    39
    39.5 - out of stock
    40
    40.5 - out of stock
    41 - low stock
    42 - out of stock
  • RÓHE
    Striped cotton-blend terry polo shirt
    $475.00
    Select a Size
    34
    36
    38
    40
    42
    44 - low stock

Balanced checks

From plaid to windowpane, gingham to houndstooth, there’s no limit to how and where you can wear checks – their chameleonic quality has seen them slot into various subcultures over the years, becoming the go-to print for punks, ’90s grunge kids and aristocracy alike. In terms of styling, let your check of choice be the focal point of your outfit by teaming with classic separates and a more muted palette. Matteau’s checked shirt, for example, works perfectly tucked into The Row’s impeccably tailored wool pants. Alternatively, wear it open over a white tank and indigo jeans.

  • MATTEAU
    Checked cotton-voile shirt
    $415.00
    Select a Size
    1
    2
    3
    4 - low stock
    5
  • ALAÏA
    Le Teckel small leather shoulder bag
    $2,205.00
  • THE ROW
    Gregori wool wide-leg pants
    $2,595.00
    Select a Size
    0 - low stock
    2 - low stock
    4
    6
    8 - out of stock
    10
  • CHRISTOPHER ESBER
    Jo PVC flip flops
    $360.00
    Select a Size
    35 - low stock
    36 - out of stock
    37 - out of stock
    38 - out of stock
    39 - out of stock
    40
    41 - out of stock

Low-key leopard print

Leopard print doesn’t have to be loud to make a statement and is often chicest when treated like every other staple in your closet (it can be considered a neutral, after all). It looks great with bright colors, especially red, and is easy to style with other patterns and textures, too. NET-A-PORTER buying manager Lydia Zacharis nailed the formula in Milan recently and it couldn’t be easier to replicate with Khaite’s ‘Loxley’ column skirt and Rùadh’s ‘Dea’ polo sweater from our exclusive edit.

  • RÙADH
    Dea embroidered merino wool polo sweater
    $1,040.00
    Select a Size
    x small
    small
    medium
    large - low stock
    x large
  • LIÉ STUDIO
    The Bianca leather-trimmed raffia tote
    $450.00
  • KHAITE
    Loxley leopard-print calf hair maxi skirt
    $6,960.00
    Select a Size
    0 - out of stock
    2 - out of stock
    4
  • BALLY
    Pathy leather boat shoes
    $738.00
    Select a Size
    35 - out of stock
    36
    36.5 - low stock
    37 - low stock
    37.5
    38
    38.5 - low stock
    39
    39.5 - low stock
    40
    40.5 - low stock
    41
    41.5 - low stock
    42

Refined polka dots

If polka dots have always felt a little too retro for your taste, then you’re in luck, because they’ve had a thoroughly modern makeover this season. While the likes of Dries Van Noten and Khaite embraced bold, optical spots, others including Altuzarra and Tory Burch chose daintier, small-scale patterns that felt a little easier to incorporate into an everyday wardrobe. Take cues from the latter with Nili Lotan’s ‘Alla’ blouse. Dappled with micro dots across weightless silk-chiffon, it’s an effortless way to dress up Agolde’s classic black jeans for dinner in the city – just add Lié Studio’s ‘The Vera’ earrings and a red lip.

  • NILI LOTAN
    Alla halterneck polka-dot silk-chiffon blouse
    $565.00
    Select a Size
    0
    2
    4
    6
    8
    10 - low stock
    12 - low stock
  • AGOLDE
    80’s high-rise straight-leg jeans
    $345.00
    Select a Size
    23
    24 - low stock
    25
    26
    27
    28
    29
    30 - low stock
    31
    32
  • SAINT LAURENT
    Babylone cutout leather slingback pumps
    $1,206.00
    Select a Size
    EU 34 - low stock
    EU 34.5
    EU 35
    EU 35.5
    EU 36 - low stock
    EU 36.5
    EU 37
    EU 37.5 - low stock
    EU 38
    EU 38.5
    EU 39 - low stock
    EU 39.5
    EU 40
    EU 40.5 - low stock
    EU 41 - low stock
    EU 41.5
    EU 42
  • MATTEAU
    Bias polka-dot silk-crepe de chine midi dress
    $605.00
    Select a Size
    1 - out of stock
    2 - out of stock
    3 - out of stock
    4 - low stock
    5 - out of stock

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