From snakeskin prints to giraffe and leopard prints, animal prints have always been considered a dose of luxury thanks to the style they exude. They were proudly introduced into haute couture thanks to Christian Dior in 1947, who created a range of fascinating animal print accessories for his muse Mitzah Bricard, breaking the norms and serving as an inspiration to many other designers in the years that followed.
Later, in the 60s and 80s, leopard prints were the basis of many rock stars' style. Today, they have become wardrobe staples for every fashion-conscious girl. Whether you like it or not, at some point in your life, you have dared or will dare to wear animal prints. 🥰
One of the great things about leopard prints is that they can be worn on almost any occasion! In this guide, we'll take a look at how to wear leopard print on any occasion and with different clothing styles. If you're a beginner, we'll show you how to incorporate animal prints into your wardrobe, especially with simple accessories. If you're a leopard print fanatic, we'll take it a step further to break all the rules and make you stand out.
Wearing Leopard: Beginner
If you're not ready to take the leopard print adventure, you can definitely consider going the low-key route with accessories . You can intersperse the trend into your wardrobe with timeless pieces that will keep your look fun and interesting. 👜
The great thing about leopard print accessories is that they suit any occasion and you can wear them both day and night.
✔️ Our first little tip if you're not used to wearing leopard is to make sure the animal print is the focal point of your outfit. This makes it easier to incorporate it into your look!
1) The Leopard Print Bag
A leopard print bag is one of the best ways to add style to your look. The safest option is to add the bag to a monochrome outfit, such as an all-black outfit. Snake, cow, giraffe, and leopard prints can also look very fashionable with earth tones, nudes, and reds. Zebra print bags can work wonders with brighter tones and bold color schemes.
2) Flat Shoes
Animal print flats are a great way to add a little fun to an office or casual daytime look. For a chic everyday look, wear leopard print flats with cutoff shorts or boyfriend jeans and a colorful top that doesn't have a busy print. 🎨
If you're dressing for the office, animal print shoes should be the focal point, paired with neutral-colored pants or skirts to "keep it simple."
3) Leopard Print Heels
High heels are great for going out! If you're a little hesitant, opt for black or earth-toned dresses with your leopard heels . Don't be afraid to play with the length of your dress, because while a short dress might seem more obvious for a sexy outfit, pairing a long, flowy dress with leopard heels can create a very fun and unique look. 💁♀️
4) Accessories
For a more subtle look, try a leopard print scarf or sunglasses frame to complete your outfit. Scarves, belts, and even face masks also work wonderfully. And they're definitely not to be underestimated! 🕶
Wear Leopard Print Casually
Animal prints aren't just for going out! You can use them for your daytime outfits, even if you're just grabbing coffee with a friend or running some quick errands. Zebra, giraffe, and leopard prints are perfect for daytime outfits that are chic and fun, without being too fancy or sexy.
1) The Printed Shirt
We occasionally see animal print shirts popping up on Instagram or in magazines. Leopard print blouses and tops offer a casual look when tucked into cutoff shorts or ripped jeans. Always remember that leopard print pairs perfectly with denim and solid colors, so don't be afraid to play around with it. 👖
You can also wear animal print tops with a long, loose skirt for a boho chic look, along with pearl jewelry.
2) The Leopard Dress
Leopard dresses are comfortable to wear during the day, as long as they're not too revealing or dressy. Look for dresses with a looser fit, perhaps even with some ruffles. If you want more shape, look for a dress that cinches in at the waist. Pair them with strappy sandals or a pair of flats.
3) The Partially Printed Jacket
For cooler days, layer a printed jacket over your shoulders. Military jackets with a touch of leopard can be a great option, a denim jacket can also add a fun touch to your look, and a leather jacket can give you that sexy edge (the print is often on the inside). 🐆
Wearing Leopard Print to Work
The days when animal prints couldn't be worn to work are long gone. Prints can be used to create perfectly office-appropriate outfits, as long as you keep your style elegant and don't overdo it.
1) Dark Motifs
Try to stick to darker styles when it comes to animal prints. Smaller patterns and earthier tones are also welcome. Brown leopard prints will work better than gold leopard prints, for example.
2) The Leopard Blouse
Animal print blouses can look great paired with skinny pants or a straight skirt. If your work is a bit conservative, you can layer a smart jacket over the outfit. Make sure the pants are a solid color, such as navy, black, or beige, and opt for matching office shoes.
3) The Low Leopard
If your job is a little more relaxed, pants or a pencil skirt covered in a darker zebra, tiger, or leopard print can be both sophisticated and playful. Look for pants with a slim but appropriate cut and pair them with a solid-colored top and smart shoes.
4) The Printed Blazer
An animal print blazer can seriously elevate a monochrome outfit, while still maintaining a conservative office look. 🤓
5) The Long Dress
It's hard to find office-appropriate dresses, but they do exist. Look for dresses with high necklines, animal prints with a more subtle contrast, sleeves, and a medium length. Wearing a blazer over the dress or a designer belt at the waist is also recommended.
Shop your long white leopard dress too!
Wear Leopard Print for Evenings
Nightclubs are the perfect place to wear leopard dresses , as their ultimate sex appeal can make you shine. We've got some outfit options that can help you rock prints even if you're feeling a little shy! 🙌 Here are our tips:
✔️ Keep it subtle by featuring animal prints as an accessory, carrying a leopard print bag with you, or choosing a pair of leopard print stilettos.
✔️ Wear a fitted skirt and pair it with a slightly loose solid-colored top and a pair of nude or black pumps for a flirty look.
✔️ Leopard print short dresses are ideal for going out! This is your chance to shine in one of the dresses we listed earlier in this article, worn with a pair of pumps and a chic bag.
✔️ Don't be afraid of colorful prints! Reds, turquoises, and other colors will help your patterned clothes stand out.
✔️ Don't forget the jewelry! Giraffe and leopard print clothes look fantastic with gold jewelry, while silver is a perfect touch for zebra prints!
Wear Leopard Print in a Classy Way
Normally, you wouldn't think of wearing animal prints to events like a wedding, but with enough designers creating printed evening dresses, we think it's totally possible. We're making it easy by giving you all the tips and tricks to make leopard print work for your evenings and more formal events.
✔️ Look for animal print dresses that offer more sophisticated silhouettes and avoid ones that are too simple and tight, as they can look too sexy.
✔️ If you prefer to choose a tighter dress or one with a simpler silhouette, make sure it has a higher neckline, which will look more elegant .
✔️ A maxi dress is always more elegant than a short one. Look for an animal print dress that falls somewhere below the knee, or perhaps one with an asymmetrical hemline that can start above the knee, but should fall at the lowest point.
✔️ For evening events, opt for more subtle prints. A light brown pattern on a beige background or a black pattern on a dark brown background will be more subtle, sophisticated, and elegant.
✔️ If you're going out on a colder evening, leopard print can be more easily adopted on your jacket rather than your dress. A faux fur or animal print trench coat can look amazing over a long, plain dress.
✔️ Don't forget to wear elegant and delicate jewelry with your dress, to maintain your glamorous look. ✨
✔️ Choosing the best party shoes to pair with printed dresses can be tricky. Look for black or nude pumps if you want to look elegant, or wear a pair of red pumps for a sexy but still appropriate look.
Our Daring Tips
Now that we've covered all the different styles and occasions leopard print is welcome to pair with, it's now time for us to introduce you to some less traditional styles! All the tips we've given you before are pretty subtle and "classic," but if you're a true fashion lover , sometimes you have to be less cautious and experiment! 🖤
1) Mix and Match Patterns
These days, animal prints can and should be treated as neutrals, without fear of clashing! All over the runways, we saw animal print garments mixed with other prints and patterns, including florals, geometrics, and psychedelic designs . So don't be afraid to mix it up.
2) Mix the Materials
Also experiment with printed clothing by mixing different types of fabrics and really playing with texture. A tulle skirt can be worn with a leopard print top, for example, without fear or hesitation.
3) Mix the Animal Prints
The fear of wearing multiple animal prints at once is a thing of the past. Wearing leopard-print dresses with zebra-print shoes, for example, is as adventurous a decision as wearing a giraffe-print jacket over a snakeskin dress. Try it for yourself and the compliments will come thick and fast!