How to Style: The Leopard Print Trend

Leopard Print Top & Jeans – Dynamite

If you like to stay up on the trends, then by now you will have seen the leopard print resurgence all over your social media feeds and in every store. What was it that brought this particular animal print back from the archives after disappearing for more than 4 years? Who knows! But if you’re someone who enjoys playing into trends, here are some things to consider so that you don’t walk around looking like an actual leopard.

I remember about 4 years ago when I posted one of my first few outfit posts on my blog that the entire outfit was built up on a pair of leopard print loafers and another post featured a beloved leopard print scarf. Those shoes have long since been tossed primarily because of how quickly I wore them in (I was obsessed with the print back then), but also because after awhile leopard faded into oblivion. Animal prints have this strange dichotomy where they waver back and forth between being tacky and trendy and now is the perfect time to break back out all of your prints because it’s perfectly in line with being the epitome of style for the upcoming fall and winter seasons.

But to be able to style the animal print trend well, there are definitely some things that you want to keep in mind so that you can avoid looking like the actual animal itself. I’ve put together 4 tips that’ll help you look like you stepped right off of the runways this season!

Treat Leopard as a Neutral

The organic dispersion of the leopard print pattern makes it an easy neutral as opposed to a pattern, so treat it as such! You can actually pair leopard print pieces along with other patterns such as stripes and polka dots to create a statement outfit.

Treat Leopard as an Accent

On the other end of the spectrum, if you prefer a more muted and toned-down approach, think of leopard as the perfect accent. Similar to how you might not want to be dressed from head-to-toe in sparkles (though it’s definitely okay to do so), you might want to add on a sparkly belt or sparkly heels to spruce up a simple look.

You probably already own a pair of tortoise shell sunnies, which can sometimes pass for leopard, so there’s your step one of an accent piece without having to invest additional finances into the trend. Otherwise a cool pair of shoes, or even a leopard hair scarf are easy ways to play into the trend without going too over the top.

Pair Leopard with Denim

For some reason this print pairs exceptionally well with denim. Whether it be the neutral overall tones in the pattern, or the businessness that juxtaposes well against the simplicity of denim, it just seems to work. Since a leopard print blouse is much easier to restyle with multiple pre-existing pieces in your closet, I love to pair it together with any pair of jeans for a casual but elevated outfit. I went for this culotte style to alternate things up a bit from my standard skinny jeans.

Pair Leopard with Leather

Maybe because leopard tends to pop up around the autumnal time of the year that it pairs so well with leather, but regardless it just works. Throwing a black leather jacket over top of your printed blouse, dress, tank, pants, bodysuit, skirt, or even turtleneck is not only a great way to not only stay warm by layering, but it also tones down the print a bit so that it’s more approachable.

Make a Leopard Statement

If you aren’t one for subtle accents and prefer a stronger look, you can definitely go for an all-leopard look from head-to-toe. Whether it be wearing just a leopard dress, to a full on leopard jumper, this “neutral” print can easily transition into a statement print by not layering anything else over or under your leopard pieces.

A great way to create versatility in your wardrobe when it comes to leopard print, is by finding a top and bottom in a matching print. This will greatly increase your chances of being able to re-wear each piece as a singular outfit together, or with mixed together with other pieces in your closet.

Another alternative is to splurge on a leopard jacket so that you can not only rock the trend with every single outfit this season, but to stay warm too! As the teddy silhouette is still big for these upcoming winter months, include a faux-fur leopard print jacket into your rotation to shake things up a bit.

Photography Credits: Mel Inspired
This post was sponsored by Dynamite Clothing, however all views are 100% honest and my own.