How to Wear Animal Prints

Whilst painterly splashes, digitally-distorted graphics, polka dots and bold geometrics come and go, some prints are timeless and have a classic appeal. None more so than the animal print.

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Wearing a dash of leopard, cheetah or zebra is the sign of a woman who is willing to be bold, but it can also be dangerous. Get it right and the look is a little daring and sophisticated, get it wrong and it can be garish and ageing — a major fashion faux-pas. Elle fashion director and Project Runway judge Nina Garcia , in her book The One Hundred: a Guide to Stylish Pieces Every Woman Must Own, makes the point, “there is a fine line between looking chic and looking tawdry.” I used this phrase couple times for my paper help about fashion.


Start with Fashion Accessories

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For the beginner, start with some playful touches by adding animal print as an accessory. This could be a bag, scarf, a belt, a bracelet or even a pair of pumps. For fashionistas who want to take a walk on the wild side but still want to be seriously stylish then bear in mind the following tips:


How to Wear Animal Prints


Wear only one piece of animal print at a time. Avoid the top-to-toe look. A zebra print sweater will work its magic with a pair of black pants or a slinky leopard print top will team stylishly with a pair of jeans. Alternatively add a cheeky animal print cardigan over a plain shift dress.Keep prints simple and subtle. For those the wrong side of 30 go for a print that is lifelike rather than distorted into a fashion color like pink blue or yellow. Proenzer Schouler’s Spring clashing blue animal prints may be right on trend but only ladies of certain age can get away with them. As for leopard print leggings, women over 25 should not even go there!Temper an animal print piece with other garments of a neutral shade – black, white, camel or brown. Ideally pick out a color from the print.Keep other pieces in an outfit simple and don’t allow them to compete with the animal print. An animal print dress needs to be toned down with simple, plain accessories.Avoid cheap printed fabrics which can look tarty. This is one time when it pays to invest in the best.


An animal print will add some excitement to an outfit. The trick is to keep it simple and stylish. A classic cheetah, leopard or zebra print piece is a good investment as it will transcend seasons and remain a perennial fashion trend.

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