The Thing About Leopard Print...

Recently I wrote about my adoration for (obsession with) leopard print. I put panels of leopard print silk on my walls and printed it on my business cards... I'm truly falling hard. But to really delve into my innermost feelings about it, I find it necessary to tell you a bit about my past.

My relationship with the pattern began when I was about 3 or 4 years old and lasted until I was about 11. I had a brief leopard print (which shall henceforth be referred to as LP) hiatus in middle school... then the flame re-ignited somewhere around junior or senior year of high school. During those first 7 or 8 years, my LP wardrobe took on various forms. Sometimes it was in the form of an actual leopard costume (a spandex ensemble replete with a tail and a hood with ears), sometimes it was a shirt, and sometimes it was leggings... or shorts... which were actually just the cut up leggings once they got holes in the knees. In my high school years the LP took the form of mini skirts and bell bottoms (yeah you read that right).

This leads me to now. I have the panels on the wall, I have the business cards, but my feelings have changed about LP in the wardrobe. I recently visited my family at home in Oregon and partook in some major vintage shopping. I'm sure you can imagine the leopard print treasures I found -- fur coats, blazers, flowy skirts, blouses -- picture it in your head and it was there. At first it was exciting because recently I've been thinking about (obsessing over) this print more than usual. But as I picked each item up, held it in front of me and analyzed, I couldn't picture myself wearing it for the life of me! It looked trashy and awkward and cheap and... animal like. Like, not human... like, I was actually a leopard. My distaste for the LP shocked me at first and kind of made me upset. I'm sorry if it's making you upset too. You'll get over it. Because I have. Once I stopped trying to make sense of it, I started feeling more okay about it. I love leopard print as a design concept... as a theme... as a mood and an inspiration. As a blazer? As a leotard? Pass.

Ohbutwait. I'm still very okay with leopard print on shoes:

I can't explain that either. Shoe leopard print remains fierce regardless of time or trend. Kinda like black leather. It's sexy, it's tough, it's animal. Rawr.

How does everybody else feel about leopard print? Have you found a way to make it work in your wardrobe? Do tell.

Comments

[larry278]

How about zebra prints? Wearing zebra prints gets old well before you get old. Faux zebra prints don't have the cachet of leopard prints. They can be hard to find. Wearing zebra skins may be illegal in some areas. The forbidden is attractive to some. I've been married 3 times, right after my divorces became final.

[SallyMutant]

Edith Prickly, of SCTV, is my fashion Goddess.

[Circe]

It started slowly with me...leopard print socks (circa 1981) from the probably long gone and much missed Zipperhead on South Street in Philadelphia which I wore with my Weejun loafers, did the catsuit thing in the early 90's when I had the figure for it , various blouses and even a pair of leopard print bootcut jeans in the late 90s then...LP fear struck. Heading for 30 and it just didn't seem right anymore.

But that was over 10 years ago. Right now I just love, love, love the leopard print shirtdress I scored at H & M 3 years ago. Its a dress, its a tunic, it works every season. I can wear it with boots, flip-flops, my outrageous platform shoes, sedate librarian pumps, whatever...I've considered tossing it but this dress never makes it to the "charity bag". This fall I've got a LP cardi on my wish list to wear with velvet jeans and a (not yet bought but much desired) new Swarovski brooch ala Mrs. O.

[Mihal Freinquel - Huffpost Blogger]

Hmmm maybe the LP fear is inevitable after a long run with the pattern. Perhaps in time I'll be hitting up American Apparel and buying LP leggings and skirts and tanks. I'm glad the flame has reignited for you though, because an LP cardi!!! I've just decided I'm totally ok with that. In my head it has a kind of vintage feel, esp with a brooch.

Love it, godspeed.

[arabianway]

Animal prints will never go out of style. I recently reclaimed a particularly nice, sheer leopard print blouse that I had given to a friend in a weak moment.

Keep in mind tho' that wearing real animal fur no matter what kind reflects badly on she who wears it.

And that we should work to save the magnificent creatures who inspire the replication of their images.

[sheshi]

Why do you think wearing real animal fur reflects badly on she who wears it? I mean come on now...do you eat meat, chicken...fish? Do you wear leather shoes?
When it's really cold out fur keeps me warm in my cave. Roar......