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CU Style Blog: Tribal Instincts (And Prints)

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Illinois chapter.

 
If there is one trend that grows more in popularity as spring blooms than gladiator sandals and floral-inspired clothing, it is the underdog of the bunch: tribal prints.  Tribal prints usually consist of triangles and other brightly colored shapes in a specific pattern.  These patterns range in size, shape, and color.  They are versatile in that they can be printed on pretty much any kind of clothing.  With the wide range of choices, how could you not dive in to this trend?  In fact, stores such as Urban Outfitters, American Eagle, and Forever 21 make quick use of this growing trend.
 


 
Urban Outfitters, while a very expensive choice, often utilizes the tribal print in loose-fitting shirts, dresses and even jewelry.  Often times, a majority of their clearance section is made up of disregarded tribal prints ready for the taking.  Unless you are willing to pay top dollar for these flashy prints, it is recommended that you shop elsewhere.  While they are high quality, at times it is best to wait it out for a better deal.
 


 
Let Forever 21 be better known as the “poor college student’s Urban Outfitters and H&M”.  Although their storefront can be difficult to navigate amongst the piles of clothes, there are many good deals to be had, especially in tribal prints.  These particular prints could probably be seen as the store’s strongest product area.  Not only do they sell tribal print shirts and dresses, but they also specialize in printed pants and even socks!  Despite the number of tribal print products that they sell, Forever 21 manages to keep each and every product unique and at an affordable price.
 


 
Even American Eagle is jumping on the “tribal prints” bandwagon and it is just in time for spring and summer!  This popular teenage brand manages to bring a good selection of tribal bikinis and other swimwear that are just adorable.  Their tribal prints are primarily light-colored and soft-toned to give a whimsical appearance to the wearer.  Several of these pieces can be easily matched with a solid color shirt for the skirts, a nice swimsuit cover for the bikinis, and perhaps a pair of gladiator sandals for the dresses!  Overall, these pieces make an excellent addition to any spring/summer wardrobe.
 
No matter what your style, ladies, this new trend is sure to suit you with its versatility and energy.  Tribal prints can make anyone stand out, or if it is what you want to do, tone it down.  From t-shirts to dresses to socks to jewelry, any part of your wardrobe can be impacted by a splash of color and pattern here and there.  These prints come in all shapes, sizes, and styles.  While one girl may have a graphic tee with fringe, another could be sporting a tunic with leggings.  They can be tight or even oversized.  Either way, this increasingly popular trend is definitely a positive influence on your upcoming wardrobe.  With the decreasing influence of winter styles, fashionistas should see this as a signal to “spring forward” into more wild and crazy fashions. 
 

Director of Social Media at Her Campus Illinois and Aspiring Theatre Critic
Emily Cleary is a 22-year-old news-editorial journalism major hoping to work in the fashion industry, whether that be in editorial, marketing, PR or event planning is TBD. With internships at Teen Vogue and StyleChicago.com, it's clear that she is a fashion fanatic. When she's not studying (she's the former VP of her sorority, Delta Delta Delta), writing for various publications or attending meetings for clubs like Business Careers in Entertainment Club, Society of Professional Journalists, The Business of Fashion Club, or for her role as the Assistant Editor of the Arts & Entertainment section of her school's magazine, she's doing something else; you will never find her sitting still. She loves: running (you know those crazy cross-country runners...), attending concerts and music festivals, shopping (of course), hanging out with friends, visiting her family at home, traveling (she studied abroad in London when she was able to travel all over Europe), taking pictures, tweeting, reading stacks and stacks of magazines and newspapers while drinking a Starbuck's caramel light frappacino, blogs and the occasional blogging, eating anything chocolate and conjuring up her next big project. Living just 20 minutes outside of Chicago, she's excited to live there after graduation, but would love to spend some time in New York, LA, London or Paris (she speaks French)!