Leopard prints with color twist roar into stores
This leopard print bodycon dress is available at forever21.com and Forever 21 stores. Credit: Forever 21
It’s a jungle out there when shopping for this year’s fall looks.
Everyone’s on the prowl for animal prints after they absolutely dominated this season’s styles on the catwalks of New York Fashion Week, but it’s leopard that’s taken the biggest leap into stores.
Leopard has long been a chic and stylish favorite and it never goes out of style, however countless designers went wild with it on their fall 2018 runways — including Carolina Herrera, Diane Von Furstenberg, Rag + Bone, Tom Ford, Bottega Veneta, R13, Juicy Couture, Victoria Beckham, Calvin Klein, Michael Kors, Adam Selman, Gareth Pugh and Zadig & Voltaire.
And they showed a leopard can, in fact, change its spots. Leopard was featured in classic brown and black, but it was also shown in neons and other nontraditional hues.
Some designers turned up the volume on their animal instincts to super loud, showing leopard prints in hot pinks, orange, yellow, green and royal blue. Tom Ford had some of his models strutting their leopard stuff in lime and lilac.
In stores on Long Island recently, we spotted leopard at all price points in skirts, shirts, blouses, crop tops, pants, jeans, handbags, wallets, headbands, socks, shoes, ankle and knee high boots, caps, hats, coats, jackets, raincoats, sweaters, vests — you name it. Those with the most leopard-print selections include Zara, Loft and Express.
Clare Harkins, co-manager of Loft at the Walt Whitman Shops in Huntington Station, says that featuring leopard in a big way was a must this fall.
Fashions this fall include bold leopard prints in orange and black Credit: WireImage/Thomas Concordia
“It’s the most in demand and most on-trend, with bloggers and most companies featuring it,” Harkins says. She notes the pattern is appropriate for any age and can be worn in many ways.
“We have a flare skirt and a comfy leopard sweater that you can pair with leggings, and we have jeans that you can wear with a red top,” Harkins says of the store’s leopard choices.
“It speaks to everybody,” Harkins says of leopard. “It’s a statement piece, but it’s still a neutral and you can add a pop of color to it.”
Despite the variety out there, we feel there’s still nothing like the classic leopard tones for a more elegant and stylish look, and less is definitely more. Don’t go leopard from head to toe — just one leopard piece can make that strong statement.
The leopard booties are available for $130 at Aldo stores. Credit: Newsday / William Perlman
Happy hunting!
