Celebrity Style

WARDROBE 101: Leopard Print

And as I sat there, downing my cosmo, I couldn’t help but wonder… is there a natural selection to leopard print? Can only the chicest among us pull it off? Or is it the elevated neutral that works in any wardrobe?

FADE OUT.

Okay but really, I used to think leopard print was only for the incredibly fashion-forward or The Cheetah Girls and that anything in between was destined for disaster. But this was also the height of middle school where I thought fashion meant a knit skirt that was perilously close to terrycloth material, converse, and a graphic tee emblazoned “I’m with the band.” So what the hell did I know, really?

Now, I think of leopard as everything I’ve ever wanted in print. Neutral but statement-worthy, classic but trendy, elevated but also somehow not out of place at a gathering of Real Housewives wielding chard and sass. It’s perfection without being boring (honestly, same), which is an incredible feat to pull off. Here’s how to make it work — from the tiniest pops to full-on swaths of fabric.

 

 

The Print of the Moment

Lucky for me (and you and everyone in the world, basically), leopard is having a serious moment right now, which which means that you get anything you want in a leopard print these days. Coats, blouses, headbands, pants, shoes, underwear, cars, boats, hair, you get the gist.

 

Tips for buying leopard print

 

  • I stan all forms of leopard, with a notable exception. Just as it is ~challenging~ to try camo in a florescent pink, it’s a risk to go neon for your leopard print. However, this is my personal preference, so if you are ready to rock a purple cheetah blouse, I am honestly in awe.
  • The benefit of staying more neutral — orange, light yellow, black, brown, beige, white — is that your pieces will last for years to come, making them more of an investment than a trend.
  • Prints can often expose a lot of garment flaws — like shoddy seam work and a less-than-perfect fit. If you’re choosing something with a lot of real estate — like a blouse, pants, coat, etc. — make sure you look carefully at the print (either in person or zoom, zoom, zoom online) to make sure it’s up to your standards.
  • This is also a the time to invest in tailoring! It’s a great way to ensure that your clothes fit to utter perfection — and another way to invest in your wardrobe and the pieces you know you’ll wear and love for years to come.
  • As always, we are pro faux fur here at The Everygirl. Be good to animals.

 

If you want to stay in a more neutral, found-in-nature leopard print zone, there are still so many ways you can play with and incorporate the print. A few of our favorite pieces are linked below. Plus, scroll down for all our favorite ways to style it!

 

The Midi Skirt

Likely
Odelia Skirt
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Leith
Satin Midi Skirt
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Never Fully Dressed
Jaspre Skirt
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ASOS
Bias Cut Satin Midi
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The Blouse

Vince Camuto
Camisole
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ASOS
Leopard Wrap Blosue
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Vince Camuto
Animal Print Tunic
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Topshop
Jessica Print Blouse
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H&M
Wrap Front Blouse
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J.Crew
Silk Button-Down Blouse
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The Coat

Abercrombie
Cropped Denim Jacket
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H&M
Short Coat
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Boden
Faux Fur Coat
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Free People
Faux Fur Coat
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The Accessories

Sam Edelman
Lior Loafer
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J.Crew
Silk Bandana
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Madewell
Ballet Flat
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ASOS
Leopard Beanie
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ASOS
Flat Sandals
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ASOS
Chelsea Boots
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How to style leopard print

When you start thinking of a classic leopard print as a neutral, it gets that much easier to style. Pair it with everything from jeans to night-on-the-town dresses to knockabout Sunday loungewear.

 

For Work

Sweater / Tie-Waist Pants / Leopard Heels / Tote / Gold Hoops

Leopard Skirt / One-Shoulder Sweater / Loafer Mules / Crossbody / Drop Earrings

Leopard Pant / Leather Jacket / Loafers / White Button-DownGold Hoops

Leopard Sweater / Jeans / Booties / Leather Bag / Disc Earrings

 

For Weekend

Leopard Topcoat / Tie-Front Top / Jeans / Sneakers / Ear Crawlers

Leather Jacket / Leopard Dress / Slingbacks / Studs

Off-the-Shoulder Sweater / LeggingsSneakers / Clutch / Leopard Bandana

Oversize Sweater / Leopard Jammies / Slippers