Abstract prints on retro dresses feel vintage without being literal about it. Splashes and swirls and undefined shapes in period color palettes read as authentically retro. These prints work on all silhouettes from fit and flare to straight cuts because the abstraction is the point. Rayon or cotton blend fabrics let abstract prints read clearly without distortion. The print is typically the color story so the dress silhouette stays simple and lets the print be the focus. Abstract prints are less theme-y than florals but still unmistakably retro when the colors are right. These dresses work across seasons depending on the color palette and print density. This is the retro dress for someone who wants period character from the print rather than from the silhouette.