A Moment of Paisley

By Raffaella Tomassi

If you’ve had the luxury of stepping into H&M during the vacation (and oh what a luxury it is; Dear H&M, please visit soon, we miss you, love Oxford) you can’t help but notice that paisley is back in a big way. Furthermore, this trend has gone unisex: ladies and gentlemen alike are able to enjoy the dubious pleasure of sporting the head to toe paisley look. Although I expounded the joys of co-ordinates last week, here I wish to add a word of caution: when wearing paisley, do so with care. The wrong print or a poor quality fabric can turn one of the hottest trends this Spring into a seventies inspired nightmare, and when worn all over, the risk of looking like you’ve borrowed an elderly gentleman’s pyjamas is high. However, with this in mind, I give you paisley:

Ladies: For a rare moment, I think we get a bad deal here. As mentioned earlier, the most enthusiastic purveyor of all things paisley for women is H&M. However, in somewhat typical H&M fashion, items are rather hit and miss. I like this dress and these shorts, but the range of matching shirts and jackets are dubious to say the least, and the patterns aren’t subtle or luxurious enough to wear head to toe. I love this silk shirt from Whistles, as the white background and subtle pattern make the trend eminently wearable, as do these navy shorts. Failing that, how about an umbrella for all those April showers (Topshop’s version is a good option, but Liberty’s will ensure that you face the rain in style).

Gentlemen: There’s nothing more appealing than a paisley shirt on a handsome man. The draw back is expense: a good paisley shirt will cost you, like this one from Topman or this one from Liberty (on this note, this shirt isn’t quite paisley, but I love it none the less). Alternatively, a paisley print T-Shirt is a good option for a more casual but equally stylish look. Zara Man has some amazing blue paisley trousers, and for the more daring among you, I like these alarmingly named ‘micro shorts’. However, if paisley clothing isn’t your cup of tea, put your best foot forward this season with these bold printed shoes, also available in a slightly less bright version.

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