It’s time to all make peace with the fact that animal prints will never, ever go out of style. (Especially if you take your fashion cues from Peggy Bundy, like some of us do when wearing a particular leopard print sweater.) However, this year, brands like J. Crew and Old Navy are seeing a return to animals “ just in a different, more obvious capacity. So here’s how far to take the animal trend this season.
1. Mix and match
If you think you can’t mix a sweater with a fox on it with faux or vintage fur, you’ve got another thing coming. Because we’re seeing one print atop a neutral background, it’s safer to bulk up on accents since it won’t seem like you’re literally playing dress-up. Yes, you may have an animal on your sweater, but that doesn’t mean you can’t wear a fur hat.
2. If you’re going preppy . . .
Since the animal print sweaters are almost innately preppy, make sure the style is fitted enough not to look messy, and accessorize it with gold or silver necklaces, bracelets, and/or rings. Opt for a pair of cigarette pants for a clean silhouette, and top with a blazer to make it office-appropriate.
And if you don’t want anything to do with that idea, worry not.
3. Keep it quirky
Let’s all take a step back and remember that we’re wearing sweaters with animals on them. Thus, the look can only be taken so seriously “ which is fine! If that’s the case, mix a neutral-toned sweater with a leather skirt or pair of shorts, or a bright jacket to keep everything feeling light. Mix textures, colours, and accessories, and treat the print like you would any other graphic.
4. Avoid actual animal print
However, it’s possible to have too much of a good thing, and animal print with animal print falls under that umbrella. While you can mix and match prints normally, in this case, you’ll look more like you’re trying to dress like an animal. For the most part, keep colours solid “ which still leaves a lot of room for variety “ and use colours, accessories, and textures like leather, suede, and fur to help your sweater stand out. [Fox sound]
[image via Pinterest]
