Knowing how to wear animal print comes down to this one simple, unwritten rule: Treat it like any black item in your wardrobe. Yes, this might seem counterintuitive, but adding a little leopard to any outfit upgrades and harmonizes a look. True, leopard print has often walked the line between flashy and luxurious, but it's been proven time and again that fashion girls can't resist it.
And despite its ubiquity, leopard print's popularity began with one designer and his muse—more specifically, Christian Dior and Mitzah Bricard. Bricard was fascinated by leopard print, and as a result, during the '50s, Dior created a range of his accessories featuring the design, elevating leopard to be the must-have print of the moment.
From the '60s through to '80s, leopard print was often associated with rock stars—but that wasn't a bad thing. Debbie Harry of Blondie wore it better than anyone else. There were plenty of other leopard-print champions, but perhaps none loved it as much as Jackie Collins, who reportedly said her biggest weakness, was "wearing too much leopard print." (Is there ever such a thing?)
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| credit - Neil Peters |
Nowadays, it's a classic for any closet. Across the whole of the fashion world, you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone who doesn't own at least one standout animal-print piece. In 2018, there are plenty of fashionable ways to enjoy it, thanks to brands such as harpersbazaar that keep it looking super chic. Animal print is always “in style,” but you may have noticed the trend has surged in Hollywood recently — especially leopard.
“I think leopard is one of the patterns that goes in and out of fashion so it always feel fresh when you see it again,” says celebrity stylist Law Roach, who recently styled client Demi Lovato in the vintage Dior gown .
“I think leopard is one of the patterns that goes in and out of fashion so it always feel fresh when you see it again,” says celebrity stylist Law Roach, who recently styled client Demi Lovato in the vintage Dior gown .
Leopard was once thought to be a bold or a statement-making print, but is now more accepted as an everyday style.
If you’re nervous about wearing it head-to-toe, you can try the pattern in an accent piece, whether it be styling leopard accessories into an otherwise simple outfit or simply mixing the print with other printed or solid-colored pieces. “You can always incorporate what might be a ‘bold’ pattern by using it in your accessories, like a great leopard pump or a leopard bag. You can start small and then work your way into a full leopard look.” Says Roach.
If you’re nervous about wearing it head-to-toe, you can try the pattern in an accent piece, whether it be styling leopard accessories into an otherwise simple outfit or simply mixing the print with other printed or solid-colored pieces. “You can always incorporate what might be a ‘bold’ pattern by using it in your accessories, like a great leopard pump or a leopard bag. You can start small and then work your way into a full leopard look.” Says Roach.
Not only has this print seen new life with how it’s worn, it’s also broken new boundaries with the times it’s worn. What was once thought of as a fabric for mainly cooler months, this print has really become seasonless, as proven by these stars rocking it in the summertime? So go ahead and shop some of our versatile leopard print designs.
