Rousseau tropical
Henri Rousseau – a former customs officer – was what you might call an armchair traveller. He liked to say his paintings of tigers in lush green jungles were inspired by his time in Mexico but it was more likely to have been the botanical gardens in Paris. Make-believe or not, the photo-realistic look works really well on a pair of trousers.
Club Tropicana
Paying homage to George Michael through clothes is a challenge we have set ourselves for 2017. This is the route-one way to do that – a Hawaiian shirt is everything to an 80s summer, like open-back jeeps, inflatables and, of course, drinks that are free. Update by wearing loose and louche, in a pyjama shape.
Fruit-basket tropical
OK, so Holland’s weather in the 18th century was, we can safely assume, hardly the kind to melt your iPhone. But the aesthetic of Dutch and Flemish vanitas painting – full of very symbolic exotic fruit, flowers and butterflies – is an old-school take on tropical and a bit of a sleeper trend. Combine pomegranates with skulls and a general malaise regarding the futility of life for the full look.
Instagram tropical
Images such as Kim Kardashian’s holiday snaps make you understand the need for Finstagram – how can a norm compete with a sunset in stereo, glamsquad, pool and palm trees? Wearing a backdrop that looks like this picture without the people is a compromise – one that comes with an irony worthy of a selfie, of course.
Matisse hothouse tropical
In his studio in Nice, Matisse had a giant monstera deliciosa, a swiss cheese plant to you and me. The silhouette of the leaves will be familiar to any viewer of his cut-outs, the source of inspo for all designers after a graphic take on tropical. Wear these trousers now before everyone jumps on Matisse studio style for the Royal Academy’s August show.
