Oh, and you knew this was coming eventually, yaaaa’ll. Us southern women have never not loved our animal
prints! We’ve known for decades that
nothing gets the “chic and fierce” message across more succinctly, and for the
past few seasons, the runways and retailers have been following suit (lucky for
us!).
For our inspiration, we call upon Shania Twain
in her “Don’t Impress Me Much” music video, sporting her infamous
leopard-on-leopard-on-leopard ensemble.
Oh, yes, I’m going there: you
watched it with your girlfriends and made your fun, but I bet my sold-out
leopard Sam Edelmans that you were running home to your (or your mom’s!)
armoire, piling on every last printed piece you could scrounge up and
hitch-hiking in the bathroom mirror.
Oh. Was that just me?
 |
| image, lorabarbie.com |
….Anyhoo!...Yes, we at Feet First have been obsessed with
all things leopard, zebra, and snakeskin (Oh, my!) for quite some time, and for
plenty of reason. Animal prints exhibit
such intense femininity in such a direct and in-your-face kind of way that it
cannot be ignored. Historically, animal
skins were the original status symbol; a sure sign that either you were
well-traveled enough to get one or that you were wealthy enough to purchase one
from someone who was. They were
considered regal and luxurious, and the connotation has certainly not
changed. In the sixties and seventies,
however, leopard and snakeskin began to be worn much more sartorially in the
bohemian movement. These two dimensions
to the look are what give it such versatility and also what allows the print to
be so perfect in every woman’s wardrobe, from uptown princesses to downtown
hipsters; from New York’s tough girls to Los Angeles’ laid-back bohemians. And for sassy southern ladies like
yourselves!
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| Vintage Azzedine Alaia Campaign, ca. 1980, lorabarbie.com |
So which print is the one for you? In reality, every animal print pretty much
goes with anything except for another animal print (no, head-to-toe only works
in the music videos and Alaia campaigns, people). For the
brave ones, you can mix your leopard prints with a more subdued floral or
stripe a la Missoni (just go easy on the accessories!), or you can play it safe
and wear it with a single color. Cobalt,
fuschia, red, emerald, kelly green, turquoise…it’s all good. Animal print accessories are almost always a
safe thing, but to wear animal print, ensure that the print “compresses” in the
places that need to appear smaller.
Leopard and cheetah print is hu-uge right now and has been
for quite some time. They both send the
clear implication of opulence and grandeur, not without a little
tongue-in-cheek, however. The Row, Junya
Watanabe Comme Des Garcons, and Milly all showed leopard for Fall, but it’s
definitely been pervasive on the runways for the past few seasons. The print is in keeping with the insistent
seventies vibe that everyone has been loving, yet remains luxurious and
perfectly appropriate for the least trendy among us.
 |
| L to R, clockwise: Leopard Vaneli “Pivot” oxford bootie, 169.99 Feetfirststores.com, The Row F/W 2011, style.com; Miss Piggy at Fashion Week!, coolspotters.com; Atalla Leopard Print and Black Nappa Leather Bag, 289.99, feetfirststores.com; Image from Vogue Australia, 1984; Leopard print Rain Boots, 49.99, feetfirststores.com; Leopard Print Crossbody Bag with Gold Coin Chain Strap, 195.00, feetfirststores.com; street style image, lolaandemily.blogspot.com; Josephine Baker and her cheetah, myvintagevogue.com |
Zebra, to me, is the most "sassy southern lady" of all animal
prints. Wild and sexy, zebra is worn by
the woman who appreciates more graphic prints, who doesn’t mind being the
center of attention. Frankly, zebra
print is pure glamour served straight up.
Some of the most stylish southern ladies I’ve ever encountered don’t
mind draping their homes in color and zebra print, regardless of how modern or
traditional their décor, and their wardrobes are no different. While the print hasn’t necessarily been
everywhere right now, it is my
feeling that it will be in the seasons to come, especially since Tom Ford –
leader of the pack! - infused it into his F/W 2011 womenswear collection.
 |
| L to R, clockwise: Tom Ford F/W 2011, Delood.com; Detail from Peter Som S/S 2012, style.com; Guiseppe is the Monster Heel print, theblakewright.com; Libby Edelman Zebra Kendra Flat, 69.99, feetfirststores.com; Tom Ford F/W 2011, Delood.com; Image from Vogue Italia, 2009; Alexander Wang in his CRAZY apartment, refinery29.com; Zebra Print Cuff, 22.99,feetfirststores.com; Keds Safari Champion (also in leopard print!) 49.99, feetfirststores.com. |
Last, never least, is my personal favorite-for-years: snakeskin.
A good snake-print is so refined 70’s disco, so extremely tasteful and
versatile, and just the teensiest bit subversive. I could wallpaper my house in snakeskin I
love it so much! One of my first “luxury”
purchases as a teenager were a pair of red snakeskin platform ankle-strap pumps
that I had saved up for and wore every chance I could. Snakeskin embodies the kind of chic that I am
always craving: understated, but strong,
and undeniably sexy.
 |
L to R, clockwise: Prada
FW, modelvictim.com; Mme. Stefani Germanotta (Lady Gaga!) in Versace snakeskin
dress, coolspotters.com; Missoni F/W 2011, style.com; Lodis Veronica Snakeskin
clutch (also in cognac), 159.99,feetfirststores.com; Jennifer Lopez in her “I’m Into You”
video, glamazonblog.com; Chloe F/W 2011, style.com; Corso Como Delicious Pump
in snakeskin (SO comfy!), due any day now (!) at Feet First and on feetfirststores.com,
129.99 (call (504)899-6800 to reserve your pair).
|
Pick one, pick many; drape yourself in them or just try out
a shoe or handbag for starters (you can’t go wrong with that). Animal print is all about the art of owning it, so never forget your
confidence, your best accessory.
Love and Fashion,
Keke
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