STYLE : FASHION : Prints Valiant

Floral patterns abound for spring, but also making their way onto jackets, skirts, pants and leggings this year are pictorial prints. Traditionally reserved for silk scarves, these large-scale, non-repetitive prints are stand-up-and-notice-me bold.

Exceptional--not to mention exceptionally expensive--examples include Gianni Versace’s collages of opera posters, kimono-clad women with parasols, and heraldic and medallion motifs. Franco Moschino adds a little romance with a panoramic, gondola’s-eye view of Venice. Vivienne Westwood borrows from the canvases of Boucher and Fragonard for her mural-like visions. And while English Eccentrics features elaborate baroque designs, Gemma Kahng interprets naif sketches of smiling faces.

Pictorial prints can be worn any number of ways--solo, as the main event; unexpectedly with denim; or paired with other prints, stripes or plaids to create what designer Todd Oldham calls “garage sale” chic. Whatever style you choose, these quirky prints are guaranteed to lift your spirits and help you get a jump on the season.