Engineered Prints continues to reign

Givenchy SS’12 Mens collection

I have been a great fan of engineered prints for a while now, I love the way in which they can make a simple shape or silhouette look rich, multi-dimensional and extravagant. I remember my first discovery of them back in SS’09 when I saw Alexander McQueen’s collection “Natural Dis-tinction Un-natural Selection”, featuring those beautiful mirrored woodgrain and multi-coloured crystal jewel prints – it was a breakthrough collection for McQueen as he had perfected the balance of creativity and commerciality (the buyers were delighted with that season). The use of engineered prints by McQueen was again explored and pushed further a year later in his last collection “Platos Atlantis” for SS’10, with the 4 distinct prints named Black Snake, Gray Jellyfish, Praying Mantis and Snake.

Alexander McQueen SS’09 ”Natural Dis-tinction Un-natural Selection”

Alexander McQueen SS’10 “Plato’s Atlantis”

Of course, engineered prints have long existed before – both Jonathan Saunders and Mary Katrantzou have used it since their very first collection. And its looking like it will continue for many seasons ahead for both menswear and womenswear.

Last week at the Milan and Paris menswear shows, Givenchy and McQueen both championed engineered prints for SS’12, while womenswear labels such as Ungaro has also featured it in their women’s Resort ’12 collections in a very striking way. One of the most sought after pieces of this current season is Stella McCartney’s finale dresses featuring the fruit and leaf, these pieces also had the most editorial coverage.

Alexander McQueen SS’12 Menswear

Givenchy Women’s Resort ’12

Ungaro Women’s Resort ’12

Stella McCartney’s SS’12 collection

Each season these engineered prints look more and more refined and elaborate. I recently styled Lee Lapthorns SS’12 Mens accessories lookbook, and I simply LOVE what he has done with his prints – for me its definitely his best season yet. (I can’t post the images yet but I will as soon as they are available!)

Watch out for engineered prints for mens and women on the high street very soon!! (For the much anticipated H&M/Versace collaboration coming this autumn, I wonder if there will be any engineered Versace prints? I recalled those Baroque swirls/pillar prints were very iconic of the Versace brand and Donatella recently spoke of using iconic Versace pieces/moments in this collaboration with H&M…..)

• McQueen’s SS’09 “Natural Dis-tinction Un-natural Selection” video here
• McQueen’s SS’10 “Plato’s Atlantis” video here
• McQueen’s SS’12 Mens video here
• Stella McCartney SS’11 video here
• The Versace/H&M collaboration video here