Pop quiz: can you figure out which woodgrain print is FW13 and which is SS14?

While you try to figure it out, I’ll give you a little insight into the top shot- which I took last month while visiting Port Washington, NY. Just beside the train station, there’s a pizza shop with a decaying wall and a fabulous slice.  I added it to my instagram reel, then gave a good think about what a beautiful translation it would be to silk slacks or winter outerwear.

Fast forward, and as we all know with trends, nature, inspiration and instagram, the designers are constantly digesting. Raquel Allegra’s recent Fall release includes a collection of woodgrain prints. They’re beautiful, and present a relaxed, luxurious execution. To the right is 3.1 Phillip Lim’s recent runway collection for Fashion Week- representing SS14 themes.

What’s the point of this compare/contrast? That everything’s cyclical. Woodgrain has as much staying power as florals- it all depends on the creative filter, the market, the color palette and the fabric. Would love to hear your thoughts- how often to you reinterpret and reapply staple themes?