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Animal Prints | How to wear


Adding a whisker of animal print to your outfit puts you bang on trend, and it's a look almost anyone can pull off - if you're careful.
As with any print, the key is to mix and match with plains, maintaining a balance where you're never more than 50 per cent animal.

Most prints work with black, but to mix it up, pick a shade from the pattern as your plain.

And, if you're scared to really bare your teeth with a blouse or skirt, you can show your animal instincts with a scarf or a pair of snakeskin heels.

Go get 'em, tiger.

How NOT to wear: Animal prints
Wild prints may no longer be a daring sartorial option but that doesn’t mean you should wear them with no reservations. Learn the dos and don’ts of dressing with these tips for looking chic in print.


You may have noticed that every year during the fall/winter season, fashion goes a little wild. In fact, animal prints have become less flash-in-the-pan and more of a fashion staple as more of us embrace leopard, zebra and tiger as eagerly as we do cashmere, merino and cable-knits when temperatures dip. Not to mention designers at Dolce & Gabbana, Salvatore Ferragamo and Michael Kors (to name a few) flexed their animal instincts on fall runways to wildly a covetable effect. Animal prints may be the new neutral but that doesn’t mean that walking on the wild side doesn’t still come with its own set of caveats and risks. It’s a jungle out there—here’s how to prowl it in style.

Do start with accessories.
We have said it before and we’ll say it again: the best way to get started with an out-there trend in fashion is with accessories. Let out your inner cat woman with a leopard print scarf, purse or (our personal favorite) a pair of smoking hot animal print pumps. You will feel instantly sexy, confident and chic and it won’t be long before you’re craving bigger and bolder.

Don’t mix and match.
If you’re rocking a leopard print dress, do yourself a favor and leave your leopard print accessories at home. Layering up on animal prints is a tough endeavor even for style veterans and should only be attempted on the runway or red carpet. In the real world, stick to one animal print per outfit. A little goes a long way with this trend and there’s a fine line between being fierce and a fashion victim.

Do experiment with color.
Today’s animal prints go beyond the typical neutral shades we have come to know and love as designers play with modern colors from fun pinks and turquoises to more sleek silvers and muted blues. The bonus? These shades can sometimes be easier to wear than the traditional browns and golds. Just remember: no mixing and matching, especially if you’re wearing a bold hue.

Don’t go too sexy.
Animal prints ooze plenty of sex appeal so stay away from boudoir staples like satin, lace and showing too much cleavage lest you wander into sleazy territory. Likewise, be aware of your hair and makeup when wearing animal prints—balance your look by going simple and classic.
by Nancy Won via: http://www.ellecanada.com/fashion/trends/how-not-to-wear-animal-prints/a/54733