The best printed shirts this summer from Kapital, Etro and Blue Blue Japan .

Sometimes it is essential that your attire is decidedly sober. Formal events, for example. No one wants to be the guy at the funeral flouting the dress code with a cheerful floral-print shirt. Or perhaps your line of work requires a certain level of formality. Like a suit. Or you may just work in an office where clothing that is not on the sensible end of the spectrum is frowned upon. At MR PORTER HQ, however, we have the luxury of being able to wear what we want. And we’ve noticed a few more prints and patterns creeping into everyone’s outfits of late. Maybe it’s the pleasant weather putting people in playful moods. Or maybe it’s because there is an increasing amount of print and pattern shirts and T-shirts making their way onto MR PORTER. Whatever the reason, here are three of our favourite prints and patterns that have just landed on site.

Of the three prints, this is perhaps the most traditional. Can a blue paisley shirt by playful Italian brand Etro be considered traditional? We’re not sure, but the paisley pattern has been around rather a long time. Certainly longer than clock prints. The teardrop shape was introduced into Europe from Persia in the first half of the 17th century, and took its English name from the Scottish town where it was later woven. But Asian scholars speculate that the design can be linked to Zoroastrianism, one of the oldest religions in the world. Which makes it positively ancient and, in this line-up at least, rather traditional.

Wear it with

We decided we needed this T-shirt the second we saw it – simply because of how much it stood out on our computer screens. There’s something about it. Those oversized sleeves. The boxy fit. The eagle prints (Kapital have a habit of reimagining mid-century Americana with their designs). What could be more American than the national emblem, the bald eagle? And what could be more fly (sorry) than this T-shirt?

Wear it with

There’s a good reason why bowling shirts are one of our key trends this spring. It’s because those one-piece collars – the defining feature of a camp collar shirt – make you look all loose and easy, and really encapsulate the 1950s trend that’s resonating at the moment. Our current favourite camp collar shirt is this one by Tokyo brand Blue Blue Japan – known for its patchwork designs and indigo dye. They’ve gone one step further here with this surreal clock print, and we’re not complaining. A timely spring investment, indeed.

Wear it with