Style Essentials: Animal Print
I’m a sucker for animal print. All kinds. Leopard. Cheetah. Zebra. Giraffe. There’s something oh so fabulous and effortlessly stylish about them all. They can jazz up the simplest ensemble, taking it to a whole new level of chic. What I love about it is you don’t have to go overboard with a head-to-toe print. Just a dab will do. A simple scarf, belt, hat, bag, etc. is really all you need. Every fashionista needs this staple in her wardrobe in one form or another.
Today’s ensemble features just a simple jeans/t-shirt (gotta love a cool graphic tee) with a crisp white duster/trench from Fashion Nova (www.fashionnova.com). Nothing too spectacular about the look…that is until you add a pop of pattern with a pair of leopard-print booties. I snagged this amazing pair on clearance at Off Broadway Shoes last summer.
A self-professed shoe addict and a regular in the clearance aisle of any store I frequent, I struck shoe gold with these beauties. The bold and fabulous Lust For Life stilettos just spoke to me. As I wandered up and down the aisle, the furry texture, bold print, zipper detail and 5 in gold stiletto heel stopped me in my tracks. They were the last pair in the store, just happened to be my size AND were 70% off an already reduced price! #winning!! I nearly fainted. It’s serendipitous moments like these that remind you that some things are just meant to be.
Just the other week a Nine West cheetah print cap I found on eBay added an extra level of “funky” to a cool and casual Saturday ensemble. It featured a great off-the-shoulder button-up from The C.A.T.Walk Boutique, a local establishment here in the DMV (www.the-c-a-t-walk-boutique.myshopify.com) known for unique pieces. The sweater/shirt combination is by itself an amazing standout piece, but the bold pattern of the cap added an extra bit of pizazz.
I styled this bold poncho for a photo shoot some years ago, a fabulous piece made by a friend, Pamela Paul of Snowflake Creations. Even though the shoot was about 4-5 years ago, this look could still very easily be worn today for the simple fact that animal print will ALWAYS be stylish. For that reason alone it is an essential component to a functional (and fabulous) wardrobe.
Style Watch
My love of animal print, specifically leopard and cheetah, is not unique. Celebrities, fashionistas and bloggers alike all also recognize its amazing appeal and classic, timeless style factor. Here are a few looks I love.
Brooklyn Blonde
SheFinds.Com- Sienna Miller, Kourtney Kardashian and J. Lo
Sincerely Jules
Static.Socialitelife.com- Kourtney Kardashian
Moxy Style on Polyvore
Still need some inspiration for ways to incorporate animal print into your wardrobe? Here are a few Moxy Style ensembles created using the Polyvore app. Search for the Moxy Style page for outfit details.
