How to wear the tie dye trend in 2018

Colourfully stained garb is returning in full force this summer

Saturday 14 July 2018 14:15 BST

(Getty Images for Michael Kors)

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A print that we’ve come to associate with American hippies, the Summer of Love and acid-house ravers, tie dye has gained a pretty bad reputation over the years.

However, in 2018 the fashion crowd are in the midst of a nostalgia fest and thus signalling the return of colourfully stained garb as a fully-fledged trend.

With its roots in ancient forms of resist-dyeing, the DIY tinting technique might have reached peak popularity in the Seventies – followed by a short stint in the Nineties thanks to a surge in teenage rebellion – but just as the cyclical world of fashion would have it, tie dye is returning in full force.

For spring/summer 2018, the do-it-yourself style ditched its association with wannabe-hippie-types, instead joining the ranks of everything from super-sleek tailoring to grown-up fancy frocks.

Sticking to tie dye’s easy-going roots, albeit with a high-fashion twist, Michael Kors opted for beachy vibes designed especially with an island getaway in mind.

Here, the designer showed surf-ready splotches in a palette of breezy pastels on everything from sleek shirt dresses to a longline tie dye sweatshirt made form multi-ply cashmere.

Elsewhere, Lemaire underpinned the tie dye revival with oversized co-ords, drawstring dresses and tunics inspired by the opening credits of one of Seijun Suzuki’s films, while Msgm translated its obsession with colour into imperfectly cut sweaters and silky two-pieces.

A trend that might remind you of summertime, childhood and freedom, tie dye has an allure unlike most other prints but it’s important to approach this one with caution.

While it serves as a great alternative to habitual summer motifs like florals and nautical stripes, the key here is to wear it sparingly and give it a grown up edge.

Opt for just one piece at a time, ideally in a contemporary cut, and make sure that the rest of your outfit is neutral. Most important of all, remember that pairing with bleached denim, bucket hats and tinted shades are a no-no.