The printed Skirt!

The printed skirt is very popular right now and is a great way to freshen up a tired wardrobe, making basic pieces look current.

The right printed Skirt can really brighten up your ensemble when paired with a great jacket or blouse, it’s perfect for the office or an afternoon garden party.
T for Tahari
Picking the right printed skirt to add to your spring wardrobe begins with knowing the type of prints that match your style. The same skirt in different prints can create completely different statements.
• Floral is a very big motif this spring. Typically Florals are considered Feminine or Elegant. This season however, we see the floral motif used in rather unconventional ways and can be quite vivid and even a bit edgy, appealing to the Sporty or Dramatic personalities.

Kate Spade

• Animal prints are still big and are always appealing to an Alluring personality.
• Painterly motifs and Ethnic prints, which are also popular now, are mostly creative in flavor but can also work for a dramatic look if it has bold lines and high contrast.
• Both nautical and traditional graphics like stripes, plaid and polka dots tend to appeal to the more traditional or sporty styles.

When thinking about prints, it is also important to keep in mind the scale of the graphic, because it can strongly influence the way the proportions of the entire outfit appear.
Basically a petite person will want to work with smaller prints and a person of grander scale will want larger prints. A print can actually be a great tool for creating illusion and tweaking disproportions. The way the print lies across the skirt will also have an effect on how the eye follows the print and so it affects proportions; horizontal lines will widen, vertical lines lengthen, and diagonal lines add movement. Nick & Zoe
An easy way to change the appearance of the scale of your bottom half is to find a skirt with a print that is closer to the scale you want, and moves the eye in the desired direction. The nice thing about having a print on the bottom half of an outfit is that you don’t have to be so concerned about how the print works with your facial features, but more the proportion of your entire body which is much more flexible. So go ahead, find a great printed skirt you love and don’t be afraid to wear it!

Marc by Marc Jacobs

Now let’s talk about the silhouette of the skirt.
The two popular silhouettes right now are the Pencil skirt which can very chic for a business look pared with a great sweater or blouse, and the pleated skirt which can soften and punch up a stuffy suit jacket.
The other skirt style which is popular with prints is the tiered skirt, although generally used for dressier looks it can be stunning placed in the right business look, and can work well in a day to night ensemble.

A length to about the knee is a very appropriate length for Business. While a shorter skirt is considered dressier and too revealing for business, appropriate only for personal events, a skirt that falls past the mid calf can look heavy and matronly.
A great Printed Skirt can really add to your existing wardrobe for this spring and summer!

If you are having trouble finding the right Skirt to match you style, you may think about getting some professional advice.
What types of printed Skirts have you seen this season that really caught your eye?