Notes from a Stylist advises mixing prints this season - but not like this...

Mixing prints is heading our way this season - in fact I just wrote about doing the whole damn thing right in www.runningwithheels.com which means its fresh in my mind.

The thing I hadn't anticipated however was the whole Stepford brigade's take of the trend that is scaring the pants off me.

Lily Pulitzer  has a lot to answer for in this country, it's all loud prints in overly preppy styles that scream 'happy happy' Stepford families going about their extremely self satisfied lives in the suburbs. Head to Cape Cod or Nantucket in the summer and the whole place is awash with this and other preppy brands like Vineyard Vines or Ralph Lauren - granted Mr Lauren does punt out pieces that are less likely to send me into apoplectic panic.

One place where it might at a pinch be considered acceptable is in the Tots & Toddlers department - indeed Suri Cruise looked mighty twee in the stuff back in the day before she took to silver mary jane heels and Burberry kilts. But grown ups - please, just say NO.

Sadly I have to put my hands up and admit that when I first moved here I stepped over the threshold of one of these stores and even purchased a bikini that was so garish it was lucky it was a summer time garment as it should have come with the 'wear with polaroids' warning emblazoned on it. Luckily it took only one wear to figure out that it should be relegated to the 'mistakes' pile and was sidelined fairly speedily.

I have learnt however that there is something for everyone in the USA, and am happy to report that this brand is NOT for me...