Two words: worldly sophistication. Picture the carnal rawness of the streets mixed with the fierce side of glamour. The print that’s wild enough to deliberately catch the attention of a crowd, stop them on their tracks or cause them to do a once over either to admire or to critique the wearer. It garners the sort of reaction that’s not typical to how most would normally react to a bold color or an unusual sparkle in an outfit. People will respond to the very idea that it’s a print that requires a considerable amount of confidence and boldness in the individual who wears it to pull off the look with extraordinary ease and style. And, I just have to say this, there’s nothing about the animal print that’s ordinary.
The utter sophistication of the look achieved with an animal print piece screams fashionista. If worn the right way, it makes a statement that the wearer knows what she’s doing; that style comes second nature to her.
I’ve spotted a few hits and misses these past couple of months. From fashion editorials with models donning too much of it to street fashionistas — of all ages and sizes, mind you — sporting the print with decent finesse, I’ve noticed that this is one style that’s trending on the fashion must-have charts. It’s a classic that’s under the current style spotlight, adapted into a contemporary mix of minimalist glam and street chic looks. It’s fascinating to watch this print gain some traction locally. The young fashionistas are now finally discovering its appeal and the veterans are renewing their relationship with the animal print again.
Knowing is half the battle
Popular animal prints are the leopard (this one especially) and zebra but you can look into giraffe and tiger prints as well. I’m not too keen about the cow print since it’s too comical and young to pull off the kind of glamour we’re trying to achieve. I reckon the Dalmatian spots, albeit the immediate reference to Cruella de Vil, might be relatively ok. This will entirely depend on how the print’s rendered on the fashion piece and how it’ll be worn, of course.
Begin your journey into the world of animal prints with the following items that can be incorporated into your personal style with some degree of comfort: scarves, shoes, clutches, belts, costume jewelry (think bangles or cuffs, ribbon statement necklaces and various accessories) and even blouses. For the more experienced and bold, options can extend to include bags, hosiery, tailored trousers (usually the tapered, skinny kind), fur jackets, capes and coats, dresses and skirts. Though I’m all for adding personal touches in your style, I’d still suggest that you stick with the traditional hues when it comes to this print. I know that most would have favor a more colorful outfit, but wearing a zebra print in hot pink (instead of the usual black and white) isn’t exactly what I’d call a fashionably sound choice. Let’s take the path that will lead us to a more timeless style, shall we?
The fine line that separates classy and tacky
To avoid ending up looking tacky, it’s strongly advised to wear one piece at a time. We all know that having too much of anything (chocolates included) will leave a bitter taste in the mouth. Moderation is key. I won’t stop you from buying every fashion piece in animal print you’d take a fancy in, just don’t wear them all at the same time. It’s important to remember that though matching items can be acceptable in some cases, it’s not the wisest thing to do when it comes to this print. We are trying to come up with a look that’s tasteful and sophisticated. We wouldn’t want you to end up looking like a fashion victim now, would we?
In tasteful fashion, wear the print with neutral colors: black, white, brown or grey. It’s meant to be singled-out hence the solid, somewhat muted canvas. Let the print be your main accessory so tone down on the jewelry front as well. Imagine yourself in your little black dress with an animal print scarf, clutch or stilettos styled in. Doesn’t that make for a more fabulous image?
It may take a few tries (and a huge chunk of guts) before you get the hang of wearing the animal print. Starting out on a conservative route by adding small pieces into your outfit will lessen the fashion blunders. Go do a dress rehearsal and take photos if you’re not satisfied with just checking yourself out in the mirror. You will eventually find the right outfit combination and feel good wearing it.
Yes, ladies. It is possible to wear the animal print and still end up looking classy. It’s time to make room for some of this feral-inspired style in your life. Bring out and stylishly parade that wild woman in you.