Natural beauty on the catwalk

Nature has always been a big inspiration for spring trends but this season, designers have gone utterly wild for it.

Natural greenery may be hard to find here in the UAE but you can grow your own in the wardrobe and inject some
of the outdoors into your outfits.

Catwalks came alive for spring, with a fully fertilised reference to all things natural - bold fruits, super-sized blooms, birds in flight and oh-so fashionable bug infestations.

Rihanna and Lily Allen have both been sporting garden-esque print gowns on the red carpets.

Essentially, this is a trend that’s all about having fun with prints.

Steer well clear if you’re more of a wallflower, an injection of larger-than-life patterns is the easiest way to wake up your wardrobe this season.

Whether you’re a fruity girl or a floral fanatic, there’s a mini trend to suit.

If you usually stick to block colour, go wild this season and follow fashion’s nature trail. No hiking boots necessary.

Fruit cocktail
Tangerine, lime and lemon aren’t only hot colours this season, the fruit brigade have made their mark on prints too.
While Prada had fun with bold bananas, Stella McCartney wowed with citrus fruits and things got a little juicy at Betsey Johnson with strawberry, pineapple and grape references. These mouth-watering fruity prints add a retro edge to spring pieces. Think Katy Perry kitsch and you’re on the right track. Go as bold as you dare with this look, from dainty berries and cherries to super-sized lemons and apples. If you like the concept but think you’ll look more ‘fruitcake’ than fruity fashionista, use accessories. And if Charlotte Olympia’s Dhs5,500 fruit platforms push your budget, try the affordable range of fruity trinkets and charms on the high street to add a quirky edge.

Winged wonder
Creatures of the sky will have you flying to the top of the style charts this summer. Butterflies and birds are the carefree way to do this season’s natural selection. Alexander McQueen’s catwalk gowns and heels flaunted life-sized butterfly appliques and Miu Miu showcased a graceful swan print dress. Fear not if you feel like a shy fashion chrysalis, these prints are much more subtle than other nature-inspired trends with repetitive mini swallow patterns or sheer, delicate butterfly looks. Forget structured workwear style pieces, this trend works best with casual looks like floaty summer dresses or blouses for a nod to Seventies hippy chic.

Bug life
No matter if you have an aversion to creepy crawlies. Keep the bug spray and fly swat at bay because insects are this season’s surprise fashion hit. With flowers and fruits big on the nature trail of prints, it’s no surprise that insects have crawled their way into this season’s fashion agenda. Fun and unusual, even arachnophobes can indulge in this quirky print trend. From teeny ladybirds and dainty dragonflies to eye-catching bugs and beetles, just make sure your insects are colourful. Go too dark and you’re at risk of stepping into spooky Halloween territory. This season’s insects are ideal for curvy girls who should avoid extremely busy prints and opt for scattered styles to flatter your figure.

Floral bouquet
There’s only one way to come up smelling of roses this season - super-sized blooms. Erdem, D&G and Cacharel’s catwalks were blooming with vibrant colour using uber-bold florals, and the high street have followed suit with overgrown-style prints. Just like a wild bouquet, this is one trend where mixing up your blooms by clashing two different prints can look like a professional arrangement if put together well - just make sure the colours and tones still complement each other without being too matchy-matchy. Take inspiration from Alexander McQueen’s applique and try pop-up flower details on occasionwear dresses or shoes for a real summer talking point. Who needs a man to buy you flowers when you’ve got a whole fashion garden to pick from?