How to Incorporate Animal Print Into Every Outfit, Because You Really Should Be

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by Laura Roscioli
Author's own

As someone who has experienced the magical power that comes with putting on something animal print many a time, let me tell you; the hype is real. There’s something that comes over you, a sense of badass b*tch realness, an inherent “I’ve got this” attitude, that we could all do with from time to time.

But I know that animal print isn’t a natural go-to for some people. You might really want to wear it, but every time you’ve tried it on; it just doesn’t look right.

As a self-proclaimed expert at sporting Le Animale Print, I am here to help. Whether you want to introduce it into your wardrobe slowly or jump straight into the deep end of layering different species; I have advice for it all.

Here are four tried-and-tested-by-me ways to incorporate animal print into your next outfit. Trust me, you won’t regret it.

Start Small

Remember, animal print is loud, so you don’t need much of it to make a statement. I often find that just one little bit of animal print has more impact than a whole heap of it.

  1. Choose one animal print item. It could be a pair of snakeskin boots, a leopard print hair clip, a zebra print bag, a pair of animal print pants… etc.
  2. Match it with a tonal outfit. This just means to make sure that the rest of your outfit is all the same colour or matching tones, such as all black or a range of nudes and beige, so that your one bit of animal print stands out.
  3. If you’re feeling brave, you can add more than one piece of animal print to your outfit; but make sure they’re the same. For example, a leopard print hair clip and leopard print shoes.

Layer It

Wearing animal print on animal print actually adds a super fun effect. It may sound overwhelmingly chaotic, but with confidence, it’s a vibe.

  1. When layering with animal print, it’s important to not get too ahead of yourself. Start with the base. A leopard print bodycon dress, perhaps? A snakeskin turtleneck with a high-waisted black skirt? Start with something basic.
  2. Whichever animal print you’ve used at the base, you’ve got to stick with. If you’ve gone for a tight leopard print dress, you could layer this with a leopard print turtleneck underneath. Then layer on top with a fluffy leopard print coat. Take it one step further with a leopard print scarf tied in your hair or around your neck. You could even go for leopard print shoes.
  3. There needs to be one or more sections of your outfit that are a different colour; to make it look cohesive. You could wear a matte red lipstick and a red beret, or black heeled boots, or even a block colour skirt. As long as the majority of your outfit is all one kind of animal print, you will achieve your desired look.

I always take inspiration from Shania Twain in this look. Please see the iconic music video that birthed my love of leopard print and red lipstick below.

Go for a Coloured Animal Print

Animal print doesn’t always need to be in its traditional colours; coloured animal print is super fun and sexy, and an easier way to wear animal print if you’re a new to the game.

  1. Leopard print and snakeskin are the most common animal prints at the moment, that are coming in multiple colourways. This BWLDR Amelie Dress X Kristina ($139.95) is the perfect example of a statement dress, in a red leopard print material, it’s somehow less “out there” than regular leopard print, while still making a statement.
  2. Choose a colour/palette that you love. Green leopard print, like this By Johnny Lime Skin Leopard Mini Dress ($180) is a total vibe, as is this Chuchka Shyla Snakeskin Neoprene Bucket Bag ($79) in tie-die snakeskin.
  3. Build around it. Use this coloured animal print piece as your main staple piece and find basic pieces to wear with it, like a platform black heel or a matching lippy.
By Johnny Lime Skin Leopard Mini Dress ($180)

Treat It As a Neutral

Literally, every colour goes with animal print. It may sound surprising, but animal prints can actually be treated as a neutral in your outfit; meaning that you can pair it really well with your favourite block colour of the moment. Whether it be red, green, purple or blue, your colour of the moment will be elevated with an animal print match.

  1. What’s your favourite colour right now? Have a look in your wardrobe and see what colour you have the most of. Go with it.
  2. You might have a bright green crop, with shoes in a similar shade and a puffer jacket too. Find animal print — literally any of them; leopard, zebra, cowhide, snakeskin — bottoms (skirt, pants, a tight bodycon dress you can layer) and chuck them on with all your matching coloured bits.
  3. Your outfit will slay. Dua Lipa who?
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