I can’t believe it. It finally happened. I now live in a world where leopard print can be considered a “basic”. Yes, it was exciting when gold shoes became a staple, and who could forget when even the most conservatively dressed woman owned a pair of fitted red pants? But finding leopard print in more and more American women’s closets? That’s amazing.
It would be remiss of me not to give credit to the Kardashian sisters, whose constant wearing of leopard print, to like, church, ushered in this fantastic trend.
When I was in high school, and all the girls wanted to get their prom dresses from Betsey Johnson, I went to Cache in the mall. Cache is a chain boutique filled with dresses and skirt suits for aging tarts. It’s the kind of store low-rent Mob Wives might go to, or where Meredith Palmer from The Office might go in her dreams. Cache is full of aqua lace, strapless taffeta party dresses, and more animal prints than the San Diego Zoo. And I love that stuff. Always have. I loved shopping for my prom dress while staring at leathery decolletage of divorcees. This is where I discovered my love of leopard.
The leopard print is a best of the animal prints because 1) it’s not crazy colors like tiger; it’s basically taupe and black, 2) it’s a smaller animal print so it’s more flattering stretched over your thighs or butt, and 3) it reminds us of the majestic leopard, which is one of those alluring, capricious, hard-to-please animals (at least as they’ve been portrayed in cartoons I’ve seen).
Leopard has developed a certain sophistication. Now you can wear an animal print and show people you’re a fun person, and not a fashion victim like Carmela Soprano. This BCBG stretchy leopard skirt is not a mini skirt (short animal print is dreadful), and, like Herve Leger- also made in the Max Azria family- it is stretchy and tight in perfect proportion for a sleek, body-con fit. I wear it all the time, with everything from a jewel-toned blouse tucked in, to a black tee shirt, to a tank and jean jacket.
For: formerly timid fashionistas who want to be a little wild or girls looking for a good bachelorette party outfit
I wish I would’ve saved my leopard skirt from when I was 15! Who knew the awkward 15 year old me (with braces, shudder) would be on top of a trend years and years later. I miss that skirt for realz and really need this one in my life.
Megan | October 14, 2011 |
i had a leopard pencil skirt from torrid that i wore until i fell apart! so good with a long slim red sweater and a wide belt …
madge | October 14, 2011 |
haha, i mean IT fell apart. not me.
madge | October 14, 2011 |
Because it’s now a staple, I can only find leopard print in the lower end stores covered in sequins or skintight. And that’s a little too Kardashian to be considered basic.
Carolyn | October 14, 2011 |
A few years ago, I inherited my grandmother’s leopard fur coat (which is actually a much less swanky situation than it sounds) and I wore that thing literally everywhere. My hausfrau life doesn’t offer lots of legit options for wearing leopard fur, so I just made up my own rules and wore it to the Acme. I am happy to see I’ll be a little less “eccentric” this year now the trend has caught up with us.
Your Cache description is hilarious and spot on!
Dawn | October 14, 2011 |
I’m not quite bold enough yet to wear a leopard-print skirt but I just discovered recently that every casual/plain outfit looks ten times cooler/more sophisticated/more fun with leopard-skin ballet flats. Right now I’m wearing a striped long-sleeved t-shirt and jeans, nice but plain, but with leopard-skin flats it suddenly looks so much more pulled-together and not just “I’m wearing jeans and a t-shirt.” I’ve been wearing my flats so much lately that I’m going to need a new pair soon…
Summer Block | October 15, 2011 |
or where Meredith Palmer from The Office might go in her dreams
LMAO
Whitney Soup | October 15, 2011 |
I just bought my first leopard print pants at Forever 21 and I am in love with them. But I was scared they might be a huge fashion don’t. Then I got on my favorite blog and got some reassurance! Thanks!!
kristina hackenburg | October 16, 2011 |
I remember when my mom told me she had found a fantastic dress for herself- and my mom always dresses her age- and it was leopard print- and it looked really good on her! That’s the moment when certain biases against animal print started to lose their grip.
Melina
Melina | October 16, 2011 |
I just blogged about this skirt! And then blogged that you were my girl crush! Ah, so obsessed.
http://douxrousse.blogspot.com/2011/10/it-must-be-fate.html
Doux Rousse | October 18, 2011 |