5 Ways to Make Leopard Look Chic not Tacky

Leopard print is trending, and that’s exciting because it gives you the chance to be bold and throw an element of danger into your wardrobe. However, no one wants to end up looking like a leopard-loving fashion victim in a tight, gaudy animal print outfit and orange tan. Cringe!
This begs the question Is Leopard Chic or Tacky…Classy or Trashy?

It’s all in the way you style it!

Here are 4 style tips for how to create Leopard Print Outfits that Look Classy, not Flashy.

1.  Don’t Wear Tight Leopard Print

When you’re trying to put together a leopard print outfit, keep in mind that any big cat print is sexy on its own. Wearing a leopard print dress that is too short, tight or revealing is only going to ramp that up and take you to the tacky side.

An excellent look for gals of any age is this tea-length leopard print shirtdress. It has a clean, traditional silhouette helps tame the wild print, and it is a modest length ( although a leopard print dress at the knee or just above the knee would look great too!)  Wear this dress with a pair of simple, gold earrings, elegant black suede pumps, and a killer black bag. You’ll end up with a leopard print outfit that doesn’t feel chaotic or flashy.

2.  Combine Leopard Print With Classic Pieces

Leopards symbolize power, independence, and confidence, making leopard print outfits a good look for business. The key to keeping your look professional is to choose one leopard print hero piece and mix it with your favorite work classics. This polished leopard cardigan is classic but has just enough sass to show who’s boss without roaring like a beast.

3.  Add Leopard  Booties to an Outfit

A great way to take a walk on the wild side this fall is with a fab pair of leopard print booties.  This leopard print outfit features Chelsea-style spotted booties worn with frayed hem black jeans and a fall-colored shirt. The look is cool and classy, with the leopard print adding texture and a touch of edginess to a typical weekend outfit. Leopard booties are an understated, elegant way to embrace animal prints.

4.  Mix in a Big Cat Coat 

Some of the most fun leopard print outfits lately are based around a great jacket, and in this case, what looks like a faux leopard jacket is actually a faux cheetah.

How do you tell the difference? Cheetah prints have bright black spots, while leopard prints have two-tone, irregular-shaped spots called rosettes. Nevertheless, any leopard, cheetah, lion, or tiger print will do when you are looking for a playful animal print coat to spice up your fall wardrobe.

Here, I’ve paired this faux fur Cheetah jacket with a gorgeous burgundy sweater and suede circle bag to make it pop. Taupe booties ground the look and keep it classy. You can read more about faux fur,  and how it’s even better than the real thing in my Fall-Faux Fur Jackets post.

I hope you’ve picked up a few tips on how to style Leopard Print outfits. Send me yours. I’d love to see what you do with it.