How To Pull Off The Paisley Trend

After a festive Fourth of July, celebrities like Bella Hadid, Beyoncé and Sydney Sweeney have been channeling Americana energy in their recent outfits. With plenty of bandana-inspired looks popping up on our feeds, it's safe to say that the resurgence of paisley is here.  

Paisley gained popularity in fashion during the sixties and seventies, when everyone was wearing bold colors and patterns with the rise of psychedelic style and hippie culture. Artists like The Beatles and Elvis Presley were often spotted wearing paisley shirts. The paisley design is heavily steeped in the culture of rock and pop music, beyond just fashion. Music legend Prince's house and home recording studio is even named Paisley Park, after his 1985 single "Paisley Park." 

However, the origins of the design go back much further. According to an articlel by Adamly, the paisley design originated in India in the 11th century. Popularity for the pattern began to grown in the 16th century after paisley was featured on elegant and expensive Indian Kashmir shawls. After the shawls made their way to Europe, the pattern became more heavily manufactured and reproduced. By the 19th century, the design was known as "paisley" after the Scottish town Paisley started to become a lead producer of the popular shawls.

These days, paisley can often be found on bandanas and even swimwear. With its appearance on bandanas, the paisley design shows up often in western-inspired looks, leaning into an Americana aesthetic by pairing the pattern with blue jeans or sundresses. This seems to be the most popular take on paisley in recent days, especially after celebrating the Fourth of July holiday.

Even Vera Bradley, a long-time champion of paisley printed items, has been having a resurgence online as people become nostalgic over their old collections of Vera Bradley quilted bags and reminisce on their favorite patterns. This month, Vera Bradley is planning its own revamp of some of its beloved classic styles. In a recent Instagram post, the brand wrote, "In this new chapter, we're updating the elements and art that charmed your unforgettable firsts—first sleepovers, after-school practices, and special milestones—to fit your modern style and trends." The early posts of moodboards for their newest collection already prominently feature paisley among other patterns that were first popular a couple decades ago.

The promise of brands like Vera Bradley bringing paisley back with a modern flair and celebrities continuing to style it in recent outfits makes it clear that paisley is having another moment, even though it was never truly gone. Designer labels like Gucci and Saint Laurent have been referencing paisley in their designs for years. Paisley has been used in different ways over time from bold psychadelics to subtle vacation styles, but it remains an unforgettable pattern.

While you wait to see who the next celebrity to tackle this trend will be, take a look at L'OFFICIEL's style guide to figure out how to incorporate paisly into your wardrobe.

Beyoncé rocked a white paisley bandana while celebrating the Fourth of July on a boat trip. She styled the print with a retro flair, using the bandana as a scarf around her hair and pairing it with a red lip and white cat eye sunglasses. Wearing a paisley bandana as a head scarf is a great way to add a touch of Audrey Hepburn flair to your hairstyle, without spending too much time on styling.

Returning to her love of horseback riding, Bella Hadid was spotted rocking a red paisley button-down while competing in a horseback riding competition recently. Hadid was taking this summer's Americana energy to a whole new level, with blue jeans and a large silver buckled belt to complete the look. Embrace the ever-popular cowgirl aesthetic like Hadid with a bold button-down.