Be a Print Charming

Sabyasachi sent out his phalanx of men in all print ensembles evoking '70s flower power at the recently concluded fashion week. Alessandro Michele at Gucci showcased bold floral pantsuits for men while Dolce and Gabbana played with family prints and whispering florals in monochrome. Josh Goraya's new line presents all print looks mixing lined dots and pin stripes. These may look terrific on a ramp but pulling them off isn't everyone's cup of iced latte.
We ask menswear experts to share their thoughts on how to nail the print trend.

Stick to same family of colours
Summer is a great time to wear prints as the humidity around can be pepped up by wearing clothes which are more colourful, and lively, however one should be a little vary when combining prints together as to not go over the top.
Designer Sanjay Hingu says, "Try to mix patterns in the same colour family. It's easy on the eyes and pieces in similar hues look more natural when paired together. Match the colours first, if they fall in place than the prints will follow too. The basic black and white can be worn together and you can never go wrong with that combination. Spread your prints out across your outfit. It's not that you can't wear a printed jacket over a printed top. You absolutely can. But if you feel like your outfit is getting a little crowded, try distributing your prints more evenly by doing one on the top and one on the bottom. Break up the look by adding some solid colours in between."

Colour selection important
Designer Josh Goraya says, "It's okay to wear print from head to toe but one needs to very careful with the selection and colour. I'd recommend a mix of subtle minute monochromatic prints which are not too busy and from a distance doesn't even look like a print. Stick to similar colour story and prints with the same feel. Don't try to mix extremely different kinds and also keep the motifs as subtle as possible to maintain the sophistication of the look. Also, don't accessorise the look a lot because the prints in itself will do the trick. Opt for plain solid colour shoes, sporty or casual depending on the look."

The art of accessorising
"Tone them down with a solid bold colour accessory. Mix two or three prints together while stepping out or it gets a little over the top. Look for subtle prints, patterns with backgrounds that don't contrast too much with the featured design. The simpler and more graphic the prints, the easier they are to mix. This is why stripes, especially black and white stripes, go with everything. They're so simple they're pretty much the neutrals of prints. Graphic prints go great with each other and with more complex or organic prints like florals or animal prints. These more complicated prints can also look nice together, but it's not as easy to pull off — colour and scale become more important," Hingu adds.

Don't mix too many colours
Designer Manish Bansal says, "I wouldn't say it's okay to wear a complete print ensemble. It may look good in campaigns and shows but as a real life mantra, prints need to paired with solid colours and layered. Mixing solid colours with plain accessories is always a good idea. Try not to mix too many colours when wearing prints. Also, dress to the occasion. Ensure your prints do not make you stand out too much."

Designer Nitin Chawla of Theorem says, "A great trick to achieving a classy print-mixed style is to keep the prints at different sizes and volumes. A large polka-dot pattern goes well with a close lined pinstripe. Likewise, broad nautical stripes work nicely with tight-knit gingham or small spots."