Animal Style

          

 How to Wear Red and Leopard Print Accessories

What I'm wearing:

Hat: Babyphat, Blouse: Temptation Boutique, Skinny: Temptation Boutique, Earrings: Temptation Boutique, Scarf: H&M, Leather jacket: H&M, Rainboots: Hunter


Once again the spring/summer issues of fashion magazines and all the stores are showing leopard as a key part of any well-shopped wardrobe. Leopard can be tricky, but don’t fear it. It’s really just another version of a neutral – and neutrals go with anything, remember?

Leopard’s natural best friends are red and black. They are not hard to put together, but there are rules, and these rules keep you from looking like you belong either in the front row of The Price is Right or leaning against a street lamp after midnight.

Rule: Pick one accessory to stand out.
The key is light-handedness with leopard and with red. You are not in costume and are not performing in Cats off-Broadway. You want attractive, polished and casually, elegantly thrown together. Nine red items is overkill. One is interesting. Example:

Rule: Do not match belt, shoes and purse.
My mother and my grandmother are chasing me with a bat right now for printing that, but it’s true. The days of flat-looking “matchy matchy” are over. Give yourself some visual interest by keeping your accessories cohesive, but not exact. Leopard scarf + red shoes + black belt and bag works just fine and are some terrific basics on which to build multiple outfits. Here’s an example:

Each of these outfits is easily translatable to dressier occasions as well. Change to a black pencil skirt and white blouse, the shoes become leopard pumps and grab a red clutch – voila! You’re ready for just about anything. Bonus points if you rock the red pumps and a leopard clutch.

Are you a leopard girl?

Animal print: It strikes fear in the hearts of some – and is a passion to the point of overkill for others. It is power and boldness and elegance and sex and, often, a neutral. It is absolutely something you should embrace – for any season.

There are some rules about mixing leopard with its friends red and black, but here are a few others to help you wear this favored print with style and class:

1. One piece of animal print at a time. Aim for points of interest, not Vegas strip.


2. If you’re new to leopard, start small, with accessories. Leopard pants are the Advanced Class – ease into it. They have their own rules.


3. Invest in a pair of leopard flats. Wear them endlessly. Pair them with jeans, brightly colored pants, skirts and shorts.


4. Pay close attention to the print itself. Luxury designers are excellent examples and typically produce a print that is tighter and darker. The black spots will define the medium range tone. Avoid large, yellow-based backgrounds.


5. There are other animal prints: zebra, snow leopard, etc. You are not a zoo – don’t mix them. One print at a time, please.

Yves Saint Laurent Leopard Print Tote | Ivanka Trump ‘Indicon’ Pump | MICHAEL Michael Kors Belt | Calvin Klein ‘Pritah’ Flats | Vince Camuto Cuff | Topshop ‘Geo’ Scarf | Lodis ‘Taj Veronica’ Clutch | Steve Madden ‘Madee’ Flat | MICHAEL Michael Kors Saddle Messsenger Bag