https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/matte-fabric-leopard-vs-smooth--leather Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Fri, 17 Apr 2026 10:57:52 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/matte-fabric-leopard-vs-smooth--leather#post-1749963 Sun, 13 Nov 2016 12:03:07 +0000 approprio 1749963@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I've just had an animal print epiphany. I own precisely two pieces of animal print right now, one being the pink tiger striped pants I bought the other week and the other a purple skirt I made a couple of years ago. Here's the kicker - both are jacquard fabrics in completely unnatural colours.</p> <p>Ok, it's a tiny sample so it probably doesn't prove anything, and if it does I have no idea what it is. Maybe something to do with cuddly toys.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/matte-fabric-leopard-vs-smooth--leather#post-1749959 Sun, 13 Nov 2016 11:20:16 +0000 Staysfit 1749959@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don't mind the texture of calf hair leopard. I think it adds interest. I am not fond of flat, matte printed leopard. I think this is related to an embarrassing personal bias I have somehow picked up. I associate flat printed leopard print with Borderline and Histrionic personalities and a lack of sophistication. Wow! Where did that come from? Is that association a relic from movie characters or television? Probably. It certainly doesn't come from anything I have personally experienced in my personal life or at work! LOL! :-)</p> <p>I like flat printed snakeskin and reptile print! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/matte-fabric-leopard-vs-smooth--leather#post-1749903 Sun, 13 Nov 2016 01:19:58 +0000 Diana 1749903@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yeah this is why I don't own more leopard items. I feel like the best looking leopard items are always haircalf. I don't like haircalf - I do not like hairy things touching my skin (same reason I do not like a lot of fur) and so will not wear it on anything that might touch my skin (like a bag). But then a lot of the "flat" leopard (like printed on leather) looks too shiny and fake. </p> <p>i have some shoes that are leopard print on a soft nubuck sort of leather that have a softer more natural look and a nice texture but the colors are a bit duller than I'd like. I'm not sure if the color is just a function of that particular print or if the softer texture f the nubuck makes it look duller. </p> <p>Suede might also be an option. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/matte-fabric-leopard-vs-smooth--leather#post-1749898 Sun, 13 Nov 2016 00:47:05 +0000 Brooklyn 1749898@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I like the texture of calf hair but I must admit I prefer faux calf hair, for the reason Lisa mentioned. My leopard bag is not calf hair, but I like it anyway. I think as you say the printed versions can look a bit plasticky. So you have to be picky, picky, picky. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/matte-fabric-leopard-vs-smooth--leather#post-1749896 Sun, 13 Nov 2016 00:39:55 +0000 UmmLila (Lisa) 1749896@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>It took me a few years to not be creeped-out by the feel of hair calf, or pony skin or whatever definitely non-veg thing it is! My first try was a sort of dalmatian-print tote from Boden that was very fashionable ... but I could never get past the Cruella de Vil feeling so I passed it on. I do presently have a couple of pieces with some hair calf, but my leopard tote that I like best is just a print on leather. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/matte-fabric-leopard-vs-smooth--leather#post-1749823 Sat, 12 Nov 2016 18:16:44 +0000 Emily K 1749823@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes! &nbsp;I am super picky about leopard, too. &nbsp;Personally, I love hair-calf but not (so far) with print on it. &nbsp;I'm trying to add some leopard for fun, so I just bought a couple of scarves that incorporate leopard (in gray-scale) with other prints as a sort of abstract mosaic. &nbsp;I also have a pair of velvet shoes in which the leopard is printed on the woven fabric but the nap is all tawny brown--this makes the leopard print very subtle as it sort of shimmers behind the nap. &nbsp;I love that and would buy other leopard items if they were made in the same way. &nbsp; I read leopard as a static design and very "loud". &nbsp;I think the subtlety and shimmer of the velvet fabrication is the reason I like it so much in my shoes.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/matte-fabric-leopard-vs-smooth--leather#post-1749821 Sat, 12 Nov 2016 18:13:18 +0000 Barbara Diane 1749821@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have mixed feelings about the calf hair trend. A small local jewelry store had a really special bag with prominent calf hair pockets. It was fabulous. The bag comes from a small cattle farm, which means it is a way of using more of the animal. The rancher's wife makes them. Fabulous, but still, I hesitated. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/matte-fabric-leopard-vs-smooth--leather#post-1749812 Sat, 12 Nov 2016 17:41:45 +0000 unfrumped 1749812@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love leopard but think I need to use in subtle ways. A leopard bag is appealing because I know I have a sugar eye for print handbags( usually florals).<br /> But, most of my leopard - live has been for cozy fabrics - scarves or wool or soft cotton sweaters -though I do have a belt- I think because I think of it as fur, soft. Yet I don't much like the hair- calf trend.<br /> A lot of bags have the leopard as haircalf.<br /> I don't have the same issue with reptile because it's " skin". Or maybe I have the reverse- I like reptile leather goods.<br /> I think it's more that some leopard patterns appeal and some don't. It can't just be " realism" because nothing is really real!<br /> Dies anyone else struggle with texture or other aspects of leopard, as in, some bags are too plasticky, but you don't want " fur" either? </p>