'Fashion month', as September is known, got off to a joyful start last week in New York, where the Spring/Summer 2017 looks were a riot of color and pattern. We take a look at three key trends. 

Flower power
If you're something of a wallflower when it comes to loud patterns then you might need to sit this season out. There were bold, bright florals all over the catwalks, forming the basis of many a light-hearted collection, from the flirty and demure collection at Michael Kors to Tory Burch's California-themed hippie-loving boho show, where blossom patterns decorated maxi dresses and kaftans. Phillip Lim took a delicate approach to the concept, covering jackets, skirts, dresses and bra tops in an elegant motif, while Victoria Beckham and Prabal Gurung also embraced the trend.

Flying colors
Designers showing in New York almost universally worked their collections around strong, bold, colors. Some, like Jason Wu for Hugo Boss, and Narciso Rodriguez, worked crisp and striking color blocking patterns into their pieces, while others, such as Ralph Lauren, offered head-to-toe monochrome looks in gorgeously rich tones. Some, like Alexander Wang and Jeremy Scott, used neons for extra impact, while elsewhere the clothes were more like canvases for a splashy mix of pattern and vibrant tones. No one did this better than Marc Jacobs.

Top of the crops
The exposed bra trend is going nowhere fast. Bralettes and bikini tops were worn either partially covered up or not at all, teamed with high waistlines to avoid flashing too much flesh. Kanye West showcased knitted bralettes as part of his Yeezy Season 4 show, while Phillip Lim's triangle bras, worn with shorts and under silky bombers, were the showpiece of many of his looks and Victoria Beckham styled her balconette pieces with toga-like swathes of fabric crossing the torso. They were frilly and delicate at Altazurra, and cut from raunchy black zippered leather at Jeremy Scott. If wearing a bra as one of the main components of your outfit seems a bit too much for real life then take comfort in the fact that the trend also extended to the more wearable concept of crop tops, which were seen at Alexander Wang, Tommy Hilfiger, Vera Wang and Nicholas K, to name just a few.