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Thursday 22 August 2013

Camouflage prints - love them or loathe them? Let's take a look and see what's around.....

So, camouflage - what do you think? Love it or loathe it? Either way, we're going to see a lot of it in the stores over the next few months so I thought that I would take a whizz around the High Street and see what's out there at the moment. Rest assured, there will be much more to come but this will give you a flavour....

For those with skinny pins, or who would prefer a print on their bottom half, the GAP skinny mini trousers in blue camo are a pleasant alternative to the traditional green print camouflage and somehow seem a little less scary. They also come in a pale grey and cost £34.95. I like the colour combination of the trousers and shoes below, which would translate well into a pair of ankle boots for the colder weather. Wear with a chunky jumper, maybe blue or bright yellow or pink, and that's an outfit sorted. Or dress them up with the usual heels/blazer combo.


Predictably Whistles are way ahead of the game, with several camouflage pieces in their new collection. This camo sweat dress (£95) is one of them. It's not any easy style of dress to wear in terms of shape but I can see it working for some, perhaps layered over skinny jeans in the winter, or with thick tights and heeled ankle boots/shoe boots.


This camo dress, also from Whistles (£155) has a great colour combination, with the yellow taking centre stage. The style of this dress is clever too, with it's shading down the sides of the torso and the arms, it's one of those that just whittles everything down. I would love to see it worn with...


...these fantastically bright yellow shoes from LK Bennett £85 down from £170, It's a great outfit for a late summer, early autumn event. I think that these shoes would look equally great with the blue GAP trousers above.



For something which is camouflage pretty much in name only, there's this printed scarf from Reiss (£14 down from £49), which is a great price and a good way to dip your toe into the camouflage water.


Lastly, this GAP  tote (£39.95), whilst a very traditional camouflage print, is a good way of updating your exiting winter wardrobe, without spending a huge amount of money in doing so. True, you could probably get a pair of trousers from another brand for the same amount of money but GAP is bound to have some sort of discount soon.


If I'm honest, I've always had reservations about wearing camouflage - it just doesn't seem quite right to turn clothing worn in conditions fraught with fear and danger, into a fashion item. I feel the same about wearing religious symbols and prints associated with particular cultures - that seems disrespectful.

So, does the fact that I would wear a camouflage print in blue (the GAP jeans) or in pretty pastel colours (the Reiss scarf) rather than the GAP bag make me a hypocrite? Probably. But I can somehow get my head around those pieces more easily.

As to how to wear camouflage, think less All Saints (as in the band, not the shop) utility trousers, desert boots and white vests and more fitted, glamourous and stylish.

Having taken a look at what is out there has certainly opened my eyes to the possibilities of things to come. Hopefully it may have done the same for some of you too - or alternatively crystallised your view that never in a million years would you go there. If that's the case, I hope to be able to bring you some alternative trends over the next few weeks that may be more your cup of tea!