Saturday, October 10, 2009

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.

56 comments:

  1. I loveeeee Animal Print!!!! Great post!!

    http://hottheels.blogspot.com

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  2. I like animal print these days. I used to really hate it growing up, buts its really grown on me these last few months. I love those Lanvin patent shoes!

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  3. Mulberry are the absolute best ! Another great post - thanks !

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  4. What a great post!!!! Really enjoyed that!

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  5. Definitely with you on the less is more feeling. The gloves were my favorites! :O)

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  6. I too, appreciate an animal accent. Love, in particular, the gloves you featured.

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  7. I love animal print. Everything you posted is so FABULOUS!!

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  8. Fabulous heels at the top!!!

    xo Laura

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  9. Animal print is beautiful!
    I LOVE THE JIMMY CHOO PICTURE :D

    love annie, xx

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  10. Very well thought out post, you are so right less is more especially with animal prints. I had to laugh at the cat ladies-SO TRUE! I just picture them with bright pink or red lipstick with some left on their teeth.

    I spotted that Blumarine ad in Bazaar or some other magazine recently and fell in love with it, that I went online to attempt to copy that exact outfit (the one with the cream coat)..that's how animal print should be done!

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  11. I agree... less is more for animal prints. Still lusting over that Christopher Kane for Topshop top.

    Please... please... please do a black and white post. I will love you forever. Hugs!

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  12. animal prints are def style du jour this season and next.....

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  13. Animals are so chic and leopard prints are just fierce.

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  14. Great post!I love those Blumarine dresses

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  15. Fantastic post! I love that first picture of Linda Evangalista, so elegant.

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  16. I love animals prints ! Fabulous post !
    http://mimietnini.canalblog.com/

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  17. Liya Kebede is a goddess in that D&G fur coat and Naomi is an African queen! Am I the only person that wants my hair to be like the models in those Mulberry ads?

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  18. Great post! leopard print has always been a weakness of mine :)

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  19. big thanks!!!!! ur blogs are amazing, i continue reading u ;)
    big kiss from Spain!!!!

    xoxo

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  20. You're right. You definitely have to be careful when wearing animal print...don't want to look like Peg Bundy!

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  21. Absolutely gorgeous post, darling!
    Love Blumarine and Oscar de la Renta!

    xoxox,
    CC

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  22. oh yes. very cool. i like animal prints so much. especially zebra prints. those pics are a wunderful overview of the animal combinations

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  23. I love you for this. I am a huge fan of leopard print, but I too am of the thinking that less is more. For instance, I'll wear leopard print ballerinas, but refrain from full-on leopard print dresses and such. There's a fine line between fashionable and too much. :)

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  24. I really love Ur post! I'm not a huge fan of animal pring but I have got few pieces on my wardrobe which I adore, for example the Russel & Bromley bag. Of course this is a suede bag with leopard print! :-)

    XoXo

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  25. I'm waiting for the Jimmy Choo and H&M collection, there will be lots of animal patterns..

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  26. Yuck! what was Avril thinking?!

    Missy
    For all things fashion:
    http://thefashionfusion.blogspot.com

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  27. I am a humongous fan of leopard print, especially on lingerie. I think the vintage Vanity Fair leopard print is my favoritest ever! :-)

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  28. we do think alike because I just bought my leopard shoes this weekend!

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  29. i love how this season isn't just leopard/cheetah print, it's ALL animal prints (christopher kane's alligator/monkey shirts, giles' bugs shirts, mcqueen's scale dresses, etc.) LOOVE IT :)

    neutraltuesday.blogspot.com

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  30. This really is an outstanding post, and provides some helpful tips for one who doesn't wear animal prints very often, but would like to do so a little more frequently! That shot of Alexa in Nylon has to be one of my faves this fall!

    Have a great Monday!
    tp

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  31. great post!
    love the sheer leopard tights.
    xoxo

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  32. thanks for your comment :) it's actually not an editorial -- it's a chloé ad from either 06, 03, or 02 (i forget). nevertheless, it's incredible, right??!!

    neutraltuesday.blogspot.com

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  33. oohhhhhh leopard....love all photos!!!

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  34. so great to make a post on it !!!
    bravo*
    (great pics as well* and thx for you comment btw)
    luv your blog*

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  35. I love animal print. On the hunt for a zebra print rug to spice up my home office.
    Have a great day!
    xx

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  36. that floor length leopard gown is GORGEOUS!!
    love!

    xoxo
    Miss Neira

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  37. to me, I am not a animal print girl. except for my choice of bikinis.

    if i wear it, it cannot be over bearing or I just won't walk out of my house. SO your right less is more of them. I usually keep to my accesories with the prints. Shoes, purses, wallets, etc.

    xo ash

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  38. I luuuuurve animal prints, specifically leopard. But agree...it's best in small doses. : )

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  39. So agree that less is more in the prints de animal-and that Avril Lavigne image is going to give me nightmares. xx

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  40. Like you, I find animal prints a hit or miss and agree with the less is more strategy. I only have two animal print items, one is a pair of pumps and another is a top, which tends to have something layered on top of it. I'm not a fan of the Kane Croco dress by the way (the gorillas etc. on the other hand were great). Maybe it's because everyone's been obsessing about it, but I find the positioning of the croc's gaping jaw to be a bit unfortunate... ;-)

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  41. Love animal prints too, it's become sort of a problem...gotten to the point where I'm dressing my chairs in animal too. (Here

    It's lovely in small doses, but sometimes it feels good to be ridiculous and go all out, too.

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  42. animal prints always add sex appeal, even when a woman is covered up! love this
    -Simply Cheap Chic

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  43. I agree with you,"less is more"...some girls in my country don't think so..if you want I can show you:)...evil me:d

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  44. Oh yes, show me!

    Just woke up and could use a shock to my eye. :)

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  45. I totally agree with everything you said! LOVE THIS POST doll!

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  46. This is a great post, I love it. Great photos...Animal print is really in right now, I've been trying to find a sic pair of zebra stripe pants.

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  47. Hello, thank you for the comment! I love the shoes, so original.

    Maison Chaplin, the internationally recognized most stylish and glam fashion blog by some fashion houses!

    MaisonChaplin.blogspot.com @ Lisbon Fashion Week

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  48. i actually liked the vuitton hair!! i thought the yohji yamamoto hair was distracting, though!!

    neutraltuesday.blogspot.com

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  49. You did good research love all the photos!!
    olivias-pizzazz.blogspot.com
    xx

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  50. It irks me when suddenly animal print is the hot trend because to me it's a year-in-year-out classic!

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  51. Well, Wendy, most of us do not wear it as well as you do! I don't know a lot people who could pull off that long-sleeved dress of yours! :)

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  52. Great post as always!! I totally agree with what you day. Animal print is a little risky since sometimes there is a fine line between tacky and stylist. I love all the examples and twists!
    xoxo
    B* a la Moda

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  53. The leopard shoes are Stunning!

    Maison Chaplin, the internationally recognized most stylish and glam fashion blog by some fashion houses!

    @ MaisonChaplin.blogspot.com

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  54. I don't own any animal print outerwear, but leopard is one of my favorite designs on lingerie. It's playful, classic, and sexy...all at the same time!

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  55. Sheer prints make tights so stylish. Nice collection of photos! Nice feature.
    www.thebudgetsecret.com

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