Leopard prints are on the prowl these days on the fashion scene. But, they’ve come quite a long way from the tacky polyester looks that are offered for sale by Frederick’s of Hollywood and other purveyors of questionable and sometimes tasteless clothing. Today’s leopard prints are all about standing out in a fashion forward kind of way rather than a flashy retro/costume look. Learning to embrace your inner animal kingdom is not a bad thing. Just because you’ve never worn or owned a leopard piece before doesn’t mean that you can’t partake in this trend that has shown real staying power. I like these prints in fall and winter, because they can play a supporting role in so many ways to otherwise ho hum attire! Let’s go on a style safari and get the low down on leopard.

The first thing you need to know about almost any trend is how you can incorporate it into what you’re already comfortable wearing in your day-to-day wardrobe. Buying things you won’t wear is never a smart fashion choice! If you’re a jeans and t-shirt type, you probably aren’t going to be looking for a sheer chiffon-leopard evening gown right? So, by narrowing your leopard list to items that you might actually wear will help you feel confident about something as bold as this print can be. That’s why I love shopping at Goodwill! You can explore unfamiliar fashion territory without going broke, and the bonus is that your purchase actually helps local people in need. Now that’s what I call a win, win situation.

If you want to try leopard in a small way first, you should look for accessories that feature this feline print.  A great scarf, hat, or gloves might just do the style trick for you. As you step further into the animal kingdom, may I suggest you hunt for a handbag, shoes, or belt? The neutral quality of the print itself with all of the tawny hues of black, brown, gold and white, work quite well in small doses with lots of colors and even patterns!

A blouse or sweater would be your next item that could add a spark of interest to skirts, slacks and jeans. It would also be great peeking out from under a blazer or jacket. If you want to take the trend a little further how about jeans, or a skirt done in leopard?

If you want to go big or go home, you should definitely look for a leopard print dress, jacket, blazer, or an outerwear coat. While they take center stage, the rest of your ensemble should be relatively neutral, because these big cats don’t like to play well with others, so they kind of need to stand-alone.  Such as, wearing a leopard dress with a black cardigan, black tights and boots or flats will make it into more of a daytime look, while pairing it with high heels and blinged-out jewelry will take you out on the town. 

Loving leopard is not for everyone, but by carefully planning what you wear with it you can achieve success! Goodwill is always the perfect place to find almost anything that can bring new life to your wardrobe and home. So get some spot on fashion pieces that can bring out your own animal instincts, and you’ll soon be the leader of the style pack!