Accidentally spilling chilli sauce all over your favourite shirt isn’t the only way to spice up an outfit. In fact, it’s probably best avoided.

As we menfolk become more confident in our style choices, and as the warmer weather prompts a break away from the plain greys and blacks of winter, a window (heck, even a windowpane) opens up in the wardrobe for more lively prints and patterns.

And while you don’t need a stylist’s eye to know which ones do (and which ones categorically do not) suit you, a sixth sense for spotting the subtle changes in each from season-to-season is a little harder to come by.

For this reason, we thought now would be a good time to walk you through SS17’s essential prints and patterns, and how to wear them.

Florals

To avoid coming off predictable, it was tempting to exclude florals from this list. But then again, nothing screams “everyone back to mine for a BBQ and several crates of strong lager,” quite like a Hawaiian shirt.

Florals will continue to bloom in SS17, used across everything from Cuban collared shirts and tailored shorts to denim jackets and tailoring accessories. Better yet, having fully shaken off their feminine connotations, the breadth of designs on show – ranging from dark, repeat-pattern hibiscus palms to more vivid botanical motifs – makes them a solid choice for both smart and casual occasions.

For an everyday look, Tom Courcey, deputy editor of online menswear retailer The Idle Man, suggests pairing a floral shirt with other summer staples. “Take a short-sleeved floral shirt and wear it open over a neutral T-shirt with a light-coloured chino – think beige or even white,” he says. “If you really want to keep the outfit on trend, opt for a raw hem pair of jeans.”

Alternatively, match a colour from a micro-printed floral shirt to that of a suit for the perfect wedding attire.