Festival season begs for florals of all kinds, and as perhaps an extravagant floral lover, my choice of print would be paisley. Subtly floral yet ever so sumptuous.

The Oxford Dictionary defines paisley as "a distinctive intricate pattern of curved feather-shaped figures based on an Indian pin-cone design". In central Scotland there is a town called Paisley and so, it has been named after the town where it was manufactured. However, it was apparently "generally agreed" that the symbol did originate in Person 200-650 AD. Not surprising considering the beautiful patterns that come out of the eastern world. This particular pattern began to appear on Persian fabrics in the early 16th century.

The street style way
The street style set have been adopting the runway's paisley print and making it more wearable. It's the choice for summer over florals. I just love how Marie Claire refers to this season's paisley being like no other: "Cast aside thoughts of paisley-emblazoned cashmere shawls (the kind you lovingly bought your aunts for Christmas, circa 1995)". We're twenty years on people and paisley is back and in need of an update.





The designer way
These are some paisley looks on a catwalk from 2012 that Vogue covered in their article "Crazy for Paisley" that I just love. The first piece is Matthew Williamson and I look the new take on Paisley with cut outs. Then, Jil Sander goes for the original take on the power print in an interesting silhouette but in monochrome. Fianlly, Stella McCartney look embodies the all over




The high street way

Urban Outfitters


Topshop


New Look


H&M


Zara





What I love about the print is it's so 70s; you know, that kind of bohemian, hippie style that we continuously lust after summer and summer again. Never mind its disputed origins, paisley is your print for this summer.