The streets buzzing outside Fashion Week’s headline shows have traded their dreary gray monotony for a vibrant, playful clash of prints and colors.
Although the word “clash” dates back to the 1600s, originally describing the harsh sound of metal on metal—cymbals or swords—today’s fashion lexicon repurposes it to mean prints that collide in striking ways, such as geometrics paired with animal prints or reds juxtaposed with greens. The 1990s were ruled by minimalism, a era defined by the ubiquitous white tee, straight-leg jeans, and rotating knit sweaters (thanks, CBK!). What began as a reaction to fickle trend‑shifting evolved into a polished uniform of sophistication. Now that era has found a worthy challenger.
Prescriptive dress codes have fallen away, giving way to an abundant mix of patterns, textures, and hues combined in bold, eccentric, and deeply personal ways. This freedom from rules also dissolves old seasonal tropes—plaid and florals now appear year‑round, a shift most evident in the street style captured at the twice‑yearly collection shows. Guidance does exist for navigating this adventurous terrain: vary the scale of patterns so they complement rather than compete, keep a cohesive color palette, or use neutral accessories to ground the look. Still, there is no single formula; tasteful clashing hinges on an indefinable je ne sais quoi, as the accompanying street‑style images illustrate. So go ahead and experiment.
Paris, fall 2025 menswear
Photographed by Phil OhLondon, spring 2026 ready-to-wear
Photographed by Phil Oh
