Animal Magic

Animal print is undeniably the fall '09 trend with the most significant hit-or-miss potential. On the one hand, there is sheer perfection such as D&G fur coats, Lanvin patent clone heels and Jimmy Choo totes (all pictured on the right, left and right, respectively)... and on the other, there are Greenwich Village cat ladies sporting mismatched leopard print separates, "rebeling" 15-year-olds in hot pink zebra spandex à la Dave Johansen, and the generally style-unconscious, seemingly unaware of the difference between risk taking and complete style havoc. Too much, too tight, cheap-looking materials or accessory overload is never cute or chic, and especially not in the case of animal print fashions, which are statement pieces in themselves and will look overwhelming (at best) when styled badly - as illustrated below by Paloma Faith in the October issue of Nylon, a random lady outside of Cosmic Cantina on 3rd Ave the other day, and Avril Lavigne giving zebra a bad rap.











I will always advocate the principle "less is more" no matter what, but particularly in case of this wild and (sometimes) crazy trend! Hence, I prefer....

..... Daria's gloves over Kate's jacket:











..... Irina's and Kasia's bags (left), rather than their dresses (right):











...... ankle wraps at Jimmy Choo, rather than full length gown at Oscar de la Renta:











...... mini dress with classic camel coat, rather than print-on-print at Blumarine:











...... sheer leopard tights at Nine West rather than on Vashtie Kola in Nylon:











...... leopard leggings at I.N.C. rather than snakeskin ones on set of "Adjustment Bureau":











Preppy, colorful and fun instead of predictable, bejeweled and ladylike - as exemplified by the six looks below.

APC in TeenVogue vs Forever 21 in Women's Health:











Aldo vs Oscar de la Renta:











Kate Spade (yes, those shoes are leopard peep-toes with bows... and an owl motif bag!) vs Michael Kors:











Tiiu Kuik in Marie-Claire vs fall look at DVF:











TeenVogue editorial vs glam hooker boots at Baby Phat:











Alexa Chung in Nylon vs the Volcom fall'09 campaign:












Just to make things clear, I have no problem with insane styling and weird accessorizing per se... but I cannot stand outfits that are borderline tacky or just plain boring, thus making me lose interest and stop guessing. That said, while I will happily wear animal motifs such as Scarlett's Mango wolf tee (right), I am usually content skipping the crazier styles and instead admiring them on other people.... if they look good, that is. Left and below: Christopher Kane's infamous croco dress, fall footwear at TopShop, AW09 look at Manish Arora - did you notice those lion shoulder pads in one of my snapshots from set the other day....? ;)











And last but not least, please keep in mind during your next shopping spree that fur, skin and tusks look best in their natural habitat, on their original bearers. Anyone who disagrees needs to take a look below.