It started with Burberry's owls. Not actual owls, but bold, graphic prints of wolves and owls on knitwear and bags last fall. Then Victoria Beckham used a graphic cat print reminiscent of Andy Warhol's cat sketches in her first Victoria by Victoria Beckham collection in spring. (She also partnered upwith Quentin Jones and made a cute video of the collection. Watch it on YouTube, it's well worth the two minutes.) We've also seen lions, tigers, monkeys and swans on the runways overseas.
And now the animals have crossed the oceans and are starting to land here. They're animal prints of a different kind. Not stripes and spots, but graphic, occasionally painterly prints, the kind you used to pluck out at the fabric store as a child. Those animals are popping up all over the show this summer. From fish and birds to cats, octopuses and horses, there are animals running amok all over local fashion this summer.
Although it's not a trend that will be for everyone, some of the more subtle animal references, such as the birds among the florals on Andrea Moore's Event trench, are easier to wear. Repeating prints are also wearable, but may not be as fun. For the really brave, there's World's silk budgie trousers (or budgie smugglers as they were affectionately nicknamed on Instagram) or Julian Danger's stunning silk pony maxi dress.
And if it's a trend you think you may take some time to get used to, don't worry. The horses will still be waiting for you to tame them in Andrea Moore and Adrian Hailwood's collections next winter.
