Look of the Week: Back to the future

In the midst of New York Fashion Week last week there were two things high up on every fashionista’s radar: Prabal Gurung, the hottest designer of the moment, and Mary Katrantzou’s collection for Topshop. Why you may ask? Prabal Gurung is rapidly becoming a household name thanks to his incredible collections featuring digital prints. Likewise with Mary Katrantzou. Both these designers have successfully updated classic florals with digital printing techniques to give a more futuristic look.

Floral prints are timeless; every year designers feature them in Spring collections and they undisputedly capture that pretty, innocent look so suited to springtime. However, this season designers have taken a fresh spin on classic florals, one might even say they’ve ‘bloomed’ into something much more modern. Prabal Gurung has given florals an edge thanks to his use of digital printing on fabric. His Spring 2012 campaign, featuring Victoria’s Secret model Candice Swanepoel, is testament to this; set against a solid white backdrop, the campaign looks more space-age than springtime. Whilst Mary Katrantzou’s campaign for Topshop was against a floral backdrop, the digital effect is still present in the garments, and the mix of different florals together is a bold move.

Brighten up your week with a floral print, but be sure to stay on trend with a digital-style floral. With FS coming up this weekend, there is no better occasion to try out a new take on an old classic. What better way to demonstrate you’re in tune to the theme of FS2012– Fashion Unearthed? With collections that are said to showcase unearthing the past as well as the future, when you sport a digital-print floral dress you can successfully unearth past, present, and future all at once.

If you were lucky enough to get your hands on a piece from Mary Katrantzou for Topshop before it sold out, then you will be the epitome of envy amongst your fellow fashionistas! Alas for all those not so lucky, check out Zara, Karen Millen and Ted Baker for futuristic florals, and if you’re especially quick check out House of Fraser online which is still stocking Warehouse’s Scarf Ornamental Print Shift Dress – the best Mary Katrantzou look-a-like on the High Street.

So this week why not go back to the future and unearth a beautiful modern floral number that’s bound to brighten up your week? It will ensure you look front-row chic.