Shoppers who love one of the season’s biggest trends can save with the retailer’s new offering
Fashion fans can expect to see tropical prints everywhere this season, with New Look and Oliver Bonas jumping on the trend. Now, Primark is stocking a new tropical clothing range that resembles a pricier alternative.
The retailer’s take on the trendy colourful clothing looks arguably similar to Forever New’s take on the trend. For example, Primark offers a £16 Tropical Postcard Print Shirt with a colourful print that resembles Forever New’s Lydia Oversized Linen Shirt, priced at £60 at Very.
Both retailers offer matching items and similar styles, which could also lead to comparisons. Primark’s range includes a £18 Tropical Postcard Print Midi Dress and £12 Postcard Print Poplin Shorts.
Meanwhile, Forever New’s range includes a £110 Jacqueline Puff-Sleeve Tiered Midi Dress and £50 Francine Printed Crop Top. Primark’s range is the more affordable of the two options.
The Primark shirt and the Forever New alternative both offer an oversized silhouette, with a collar and long sleeves. They’re also alike in that they have colourful prints with a square pattern that resembles postcard pictures, and the colour scheme is similar too.
Primark’s top is white with blue, red, green, and yellow accents. Meanwhile, the Forever New shirt is white with blue, red, green, and yellow colours featured in its print.
However, the prints are different. The Forever New style has an Italian theme, with Italian place names, beach scenes, lemons, strawberries, and orange flowers. The Primark shirt is also adorned with fruit and flora. However, the blue palm trees, red and yellow flowers, and the parrots included in the design give a different overall effect.
There are also differences in fabric. Primark’s shirt is 100% cotton, while the Forever New offering is 55% linen and 45% rayon, according to the product description.
The product description for the Primark shirt says: “Bring a splash of colour to your wardrobe with this tropical postcard print shirt. Set on a crisp white base, the all-over design includes bold hibiscus flowers, palm trees, and tile-inspired patterns in vibrant shades. It’s styled with a classic collared neckline, button-down front and long sleeves with buttoned cuffs for a relaxed, regular fit. Easy to wear tucked in or loose, it’s a fun pick for brightening up your every day looks.”
While Very does not offer a detailed product description for the shirt, it does note that it is hand-wash only. It also says the style has been seen on TV. Whether or not shoppers prefer Primark’s version or Forever New’s alternative will be a matter of personal preference. Primark’s designs have divided opinion among viewers online.
One shopper who was unimpressed by the retailer’s tropical range shared their opinion on TikTok as @leilaeela, writing: “I am honestly completely gobsmacked that this made it through design meetings and not one person spoke up.”
A viewer with a similar response wrote: “I can’t belive how many people actually love them I find them hideous but so many people have been raving over them in the fitting room staff and customers alike.”
However, someone else thought: “Love them it’s giving Italian summer.” Another fan commented: “It’s such a cute pattern tho.” Someone added: “I really like them, very cute for holiday.”