How to wear leopard print shoes

What I'm wearing:

Shoes: Limited Edition

One of the quickest ways to add a dash of personality to any outfit is to mix in a pair of leopard print shoes. But, as popular and fun as they are, leopard prints don't really work with everything. In fact, I can probably name more colors and outfits that leopard print shoes don't work with than I can items they will.

The good news is, when you get the right combination, it's a tough one to beat for drama, glamour and sex appeal. Below are a few tips on what to wear with leopard print shoes.

The Obvious Choice for Leopard Print Shoes : Black

It almost goes without saying, but black dresses, skirts, and pants are a perfect match for leopard print shoes. Not only because leopard prints have black in them -- although that certainly doesn't hurt -- but also because black really emphasized the lighter tones in traditional leopard print patterns.

So, that's an easy one, and you could just reserve your leopard print footwear for wearing with black only, but that can get a little boring. So let's explore a few other options.

White and Light Neutrals - More Natural Choice for Leopard Print Shoes

After black, the easiest shades to pair with leopard print shoes are white and light neutral colors like sand, blush, and cream. If you're a real stickler for detail, look for tones that are closely-matched to the lighter shades in your specific shoes, but for most choosing neutrals in the same general range will be close enough.

Just like black, white and other light neutral colors are strong enough to hold their own with print shoes, but they definitely won't overpower them.

                  

Red and Other Bright Colors

All you need is a quick glance at a pair of Louboutin leopard print pumps to see how well red works with leopard print shoes. In fact, if your goal is to stop traffic, the solution is simple: pair a bright red dress with leopard print shoes, and maybe a wide black belt. If you're not looking to get that much attention, simply use red as the accent color with one of other hues on this list. 

Other bright colors that work well with leopard prints include orange, chartreuse, and when used sparingly as accent colors, pinks and yellows.

Leopard Prints with Earth Tones and Mid-Toned Neutrals

While khakis, olive greens, browns, and rust shades might be overlooked by some for being too drab, they're a great option for when you want more color than a neutral offers, and they're a far more subtle choice than brights. Mid-toned neutrals and earth tones are also ideal for pairing with neutral-hued prints like leopard and cheetah.

For a cohesive look, match the tone of your outfit to your shoes. For example, if the leopard print shoes you're working with are black and white, try cooler mid-tones like olive and gray. If, on the other hand, your shoes feature a more realistic cream base, then it's warmer tones you'll want -- think rusts and browns.

Denim - Leopard Print's Casual Best Friend

And finally, whether it's flats, pumps, or booties you're talking about, one of the easiest ways to wear leopard print shoes is to pair them with good old denim.

For a look that's classic, casual, and carefree, try pairing your favorite jeans with a white button-down shirt or a long and lean tank, and add in a pair of leopard print ballerina flats.

Additional Tips for Wearing Leopard Print Shoes

1) While you could easily pair leopard print shoes with a neutral, monochromatic outfit like all black, or all tan, what's really great is to pull together two or more solid, neutral colors. For example, a cream skirt, black blouse, red belt and leopard print shoes.

2) Unless you're a real fashion daredevil, you want to avoid wearing other prints with leopard print shoes -- and even if you are a wild child, I'd think twice about it. Leopard prints are bold, racy, and powerful, so they need strong solids to balance them. That doesn't mean the rest of your outfit should be boring or bland, it just means that the balance will come from another strong color, like red or chartreuse, and not from a competing print