Don’t panic, your eyes aren’t deceiving you, it’s just that graphic prints have gotten a lot more… well, graphic. Brave souls wearing clothes printed with realistic nude forms have been spotted marching up and down the streets with pride, and if you’re feeling plucky enough, it’s time to get on board. Trompe l’oeil is the artistic technique responsible for dresses that’ll have onlookers running to Specsavers. Read on for everything you need to know.
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© GettyWhat is trompe l’oeil?
Trompe l’oeil is a French phrase that means to deceive the eye. It’s essentially an optical illusion, tricking the viewer. It gives the appearance of a super realistic three-dimensional space on a two-dimensional surface. One of the most famous examples in Art is Escaping Criticism by Pere Borrell Del Caso, an 1874 painting featuring a young boy literally bursting out of the painted frame. You can also see the technique successfully used in theatre sets and interior design.
Elsa Schiaparelli ushered trompe l’oeil onto the fashion stage with her surrealist designs, while famously naughty Jean Paul Gaultier adorned his creations with the prints of naked bodies. After all, there’s nothing more scandalous than parading around in your birthday suit, but if it’s just a print (however realistic), what exactly are the rules? Saucy trompe l’oeil drags the morality row around nudity into an unsettling grey area, while toying with the consumption of female nudity in popular society, and the commodity of our bodies. Also it’s a little shocking, and that’s always fun isn’t it?
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© GettyHow to style (very) graphic prints
Firstly, it’s worth noting that this is a divisive trend, and it’s not for everyone. If you prefer to keep things under wraps, go forth with our blessing. But if you want to raise some eyebrows, leave your jacket at home and strut with confidence to Sainsburys. Our only tip: don’t wear it to the family reunion.
The 5 best saucy trompe l’oeil prints to buy
Top, £120, Sinead Gorey @ Ssense
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