Maybe it’s because we’re near the start of summer, or we’re feeling a growing sense of boredom with the social media favourite ‘beige girl’ aesthetic, but we’re starting to seriously overhaul our wardrobes. In fact, we could just about cry at the thought of having to throw on that same cotton jumper and jeans for another day of ‘is it really nearly spring?’ weather, and we’re certain we’re far from being the only ones.

How to do this without whipping out the flip flops and mini skirt, however, seems to be the key question. And our best answer: prints.

Often overlooked in favour of a sturdy basic or easy-to-style block shades, playful prints are actually an effortless way to liven up any look. Think a leopard print shirt, striped trousers or chic checked co-ord to instantly draw attention and inject some personality back into our wardrobes. Plus, each piece can simply slot into your existing wardrobe, elevating your favourite two-piece suit, skirt or go-to shoes if following our tips below. Simple, hey? Now to track down the most stylist striped shirt. 

If you’re new to wearing patterns and prints, some are certainly less challenging than others to start off with. The perfect pick for beginners: stripes. Available in a whole host of colours, sizes and shapes, stripes are one of the easiest patterns to play with because there are so many options available. A simple Breton jumper, for example, will effortlessly slot over a white T-shirt and jeans. A stripe pyjama trouser, vest top and Birkenstock Boston’s will lean into that ‘I woke up like this’ cool girl aesthetic. And, if you’re eager to adopt the playful print look, you can even mix and match your striped pieces to make quite the statement fit – just remember to pay attention to stripe width and colour to make the clashing more purposeful.

Plus, the humble stripe is proving plenty popular this season. Searches for ‘striped trousers outfit’ have tripled over the past three months on social media site Pinterest, and Moschino made them the key moment of their autumn/winter 24 show. So, they’ve certainly had the fashion world’s seal of approval. 

One of the best parts of playful prints is the fact they command attention, so your silhouettes can be rather simple – think straight-leg trousers, shirts and overcoats. Although, to up the ante, it’s time to have more confidence in colour.

Patterns often pick up on a wide range of shades, easily encouraging you to pick out a few to take through into your whole outfit. A green stripe shirt, for example, can effortlessly be paired with a similar shade of green trainers. A floral pattern could pull in a whole spectrum of creams, pinks and purples to play with. Or, if looking to go one step further, find a colour that clashes completely to make even more of a striking statement. Suddenly, once a print is involved, it can make other clothing look much more cohesive. 

Is leopard print a neutral? Well, that seems to be the key question amongst many fashion fans right now. Although, in this context, we’re definitely going to count it as one to help make print styling just a little bit easier.

Thanks to the popular animal print patterns often sitting within cream, brown and beige shades, it’s incredibly simple to swap basics out for something a little more striking. A white shirt subbed for a leopard print pick, a cream coat for a snake skin style, or even a black T-shirt for a tight-fit animal print top will instantly elevate any look without too much worry about how best to style it. Treat it as a basic and you’re sure to have a more fashion-forward look in an instant. 

Images: Getty