Who Put the Fruits onto the Garments?

Nowadays, fruit print clothing are a Do. On average, every person has at least one item in their closet with this pattern. Read about the history when this delicious food conquered the fabrics. Learn the answers to the following questions: When did fruit prints become fashionable; Can you wear a citrus pattern over 50; how to wear fruit prints over 50; Are fruit prints a new trend; Are lemon prints in style; and know the designers who had collections with fruits, and get inspired by fruit print outfit ideas.

Disclosure: This post has affiliate links.

When Did Fruit Prints Become Fashionable?

Are fruit prints a new trend? The answer is Yes and No. Yes, they are trending now. No because embellishing clothes goes back to ancient times. Back then dye was very expensive. Consequently, easy ways to create pattern without tie-dyeing were to draw or print on the fabrics.

Printing with fruits and vegetables required just cutting them and repeated pressing the color-carrying fruits and vegetables onto the fabric. The famous paisley print aka Persian Pickles has its origin from printing with a cut fruit. You also may remember printing with potatoes in elementary school.

On kimonos with landscapes or other motifs occasionally, fruits and vegetable were within the picture.

18^th to 20^th Century

In the 18^th Century, waistcoats were embroidered with berries. A century later,  the paisley print came via Great Britain from India to the Old World and was a favorite among the Rich and Aristocrats. Obviously, the food-inspired motives like the strawberries on the dress below were in fashion for girls in the late 19^th century.

At that time, textiles and etiquette asked for garments decorations for the wealthy classes, even though they were not so ornamental like those worn by entertaining circles, elitist or Aristocrats. In the Victorian Era fashion, decorative afternoon reception dresses like the one below were a Must-have.

After the Great War, art turned to a more abstract style and fashion followed along. The onset or Art Deco led to abstract prints of cherries and berries on women day-dresses and became part of the simplicity of the 1920s fashion.

Lemon prints have popped up perennially ever since child star Shirly Temple wore a cherry-, strawberry- and lemon-embroidered dress. So to speak lemon prints are an evergreen style classic, and can be worn at any age.

In 1953, Christian Dior designed attire with berries, blueberries and strawberries. Still today many retro 1950s dresses don cherries, lemons and strawberry prints.

Don’t let your outfit be a random thing. Wear the right look in every situation by looking up what to wear when in How to Dress for Success in Midlife. Buy the book now.

Fruit Prints Time Line of the 21^st Century

The following (incompletely) lists designers who had collections with fruits, and when which designer featured which fruits in their collection.
2003: Junya Wanabe – strawberries, grapes, apples, pears
2004: Phoebe Philo – graphic bananas
2010: Stefano Pilati – strawberries
2011: Stella McCartney – citrus
2011: Miuccia Prada – bananas
2012: Dolce & Gabbana – tomatoes in their Alta Moda collections
2012: Rossella Jardini – apples, grapes, peppers, watermelons (also other food like carrots, onions)
2014: Stella Jean – Tropical fruits
2016: Bertrand Guyon – cherries and strawberries
2017: David Lynch – cherries and lemons
2017: Alessandro Michele – pineapples
2019: Thom Browne – cherry and pineapple appliques
2020: Daniel Lee – pineapples
2025: Alessandro Michele – continued his signature cherry motifs at Valentino

Who Did Actually Wear Real Fruits?

Obviously, in ancient times fruits were used to create head decoration as the below photo of a man stature suggests.

Afro-American and French-naturalized Josephine Baker wore her banana skirt in her daily revues in Paris in the early 20^th century.

How to Style the Fruit Print Trend over 50

Typically, designer choose food motifs only for summer clothing. Therefore, the easiest way to pull these motifs off are summer dresses with sandals in a neutral color, the fabrics background color or a color occurring in the pattern.

Now what to wear with fruit print tops, skirts, etc.?

How Do I Wear My Fruit Print Summer Clothes

When I was in high school, we sewed a nightgown in our sewing class. I had picked a flannel fabric in pink with strawberries being left out in white. Later, in my 20s, I owned a PJ in navy and white featuring rows of blue cherries on the top, while the bottom was navy shorts. Otherwise, all my fruit-related prints have been paisley.

My tip: Go for neutral classic two color combinations like blue and white.

My tip: Go for paisley and style it in a Euro Chic style or do it the American classic way.

What Do Fashion Bloggers Wear with Fruit Prints

The following video shows what fashion bloggers wear with their fruit print garments. Watch it to get inspired by their fruit-print outfit ideas.

This post was featured on Links à la Mode fashion roundup by Independent Fashion Bloggers.

Photos of me: G. Kramm

© 2013-2025 Nicole Mölders | All rights reserved