Styling Leopard for Fall

I can’t remember a time in recent history when animal prints weren’t smack on trend.  When I first started seeing it, leopard reminded me of my fashionista grandmother Mimi who was right up to the nano second when it came to being on trend back in the day.  She wore leopard, sequins, and all sorts of shimmering silks and satins.  Hence, I equated leopard to a bygone era which I thought was very dated…until recently.  I am all over leopard and that 1950’s vibe.  

This season, I had my eye on leopard booties, but couldn’t pull the trigger, some of the patterns were too bold.  I was afraid they would stand out too much, making them a little more difficult to style and would possibly be less desirable in future seasons.  If I love something, and it just lights me up, I will wear it whether it’s on trend or not.  I know the piece will be a show stopper in years to come.  Otherwise, I buy it at a lower price point or pass entirely.

Even though most of the booties I was looking at were under $200, I look at them as a longer term investment.  I finally settled on a pair of Jessica Simpson booties.  With all they have going on, to me, they still read a bit more understated and I figured they’d blend into my wardrobe and style better than some of than some of the other options.

A few seasons ago, I purchased a leopard sweater and a pair of flats from Target as a trial.  I am really loving the sweater and have since I purchased it. I’ve styled it many times–it’s that perfect third piece that takes an outfit up a notch. I haven’t worn the shoes as much because I’m not a huge fan of flats.  (I tried them on again recently, and will probably donate them as flats are just not my thing.  I’m glad I only paid $20 for them at the time.  Not a big loss if I have to give them away.)

Styling Ideas:

1. While black is my go-to with leopard, it also looks amazing with reds, browns, beiges, and off white.
2. While the head-to-toe- leopard is amazing, (on other people) and it really hot this year-several of my fashionista friends are wearing leopard print dresses, I like to showcase my leopard by keeping everything else neutral—that’s just a personal preference though, experimentation is important when it comes to establishing your own signature style.
3. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again if you aren’t sure any trend is for you, try it at a low price point first. If you find yourself loving it and it blends easily into your wardrobe, then you can purchase other pieces with confidence.