How much leopard would you wear at a time? - YouLookFab Forum

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How much leopard would you wear at a time?

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

I found a wider leopard print belt that I like at JCrew. I was reminded of my interest in such a belt after seeing MsMary's latest.

I have also in my closet leopard pumps, black boots with leopard insets, leopard flats, and a handbag with a whitish rather than tannish leopard block. I also have a skinny leopard belt but it doesn't show enough when I wear it, so I wanted something wider.

I think leopard belt and leopard shoes are okay on a on otherwise simple outfit. What if the leopard is the same color scheme but the pattern is not precisely the same? I also think three leopard pieces would probably be overkill (I had been covetously eyeing that Clare V clutch that is everywhere lately).

What ways have you mixed leopard, and how much is too much?

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Latest reply was from Jenni NZ

Deborah

Veteran

I would suggest not too much at once:) I was watching something on tv the other night (cannot recall what it was but think it was a British crime show) and the woman was wearing leopard everything and it was all different leopard lol. Not a tasteful look

Having said that I think you can wear more than one item of leopard. I think it just needs to be subtle. A tonal mix can work nicely. I quite like animal print worn as a bit of a statement so one piece works nicely. Particularly say an awesome pair of leopard heels.

I think what you are suggesting sounds great. You are talking accessories as opposed to clothing so mixing them and wearing more than one can work stunningly together.

Now I need to check our Mary's post

shiny

Veteran

I have a wider leopard belt and it is one of my most beloved accessories.

My rule of thumb is to wear just ONE leopard item at a time. So if I wear my belt, then I pair it with black or gold or bronze or brown or cream or red shoes/bag.

If I wear my leopard clutch, then I wear a different belt and bag -- black, white, red, brown, cognac, pink work great.

Similarly if I wear leopard on my feet, then belt and bag are not leopard.

That said & come to think of it, one could possibly do a "matchy matchy" thing with two leopard accessories at once, but I should think you'd want to keep the rest of the outfit completely monochromatic and patternless. Hmm.

I own animal print tops too, but none in leopard, for some reason. I guess I like B&W zebra better near my face. But I still apply similar principle: just one animal print at a time. Or to look at it another way, statement pieces are best on their own, and not competing with other statement pieces.

Jjsloane

Veteran

I have a rather extensive collection of leopard. I do limit it to one per outfit. To illustrate just what could go wrong:
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....st-for-fun
I would wear 2 items if they were the identical print (ie I have a Nine west belt and shoes in same leopard)

Anonymous

I've never worn leopard with leopard. I have a lot of leopard, but only wear one item at a time. But I do like to wear leopard with black and white stripes. BTW: I love that belt!

Joy

Veteran

I would only wear one leopard item at a time but have worn leopard with snake or croc textured leather. I hope it looked ok. I have thought about but not worn leopard with a black furry vest. It felt like too much animal.

Style Fan

Veteran

I love leopard and I think that belt is FAB. I personally would only wear one leopard item at a time. I think it makes a statement and looks very FAB that way. I have a leopard shirt and skirt. I have a brown giraffe skirt. I have a brown something tunic. Some other animal clutch.

I have seen women wear more than one item of animal print at a time and look great. It works for some people.

MsMary

Veteran

Here's an awesome example of Angie wearing a leopard belt and leopard shoes and looking divine. I have also done belt and shoes, or belt and bag. I feel like leopard shoes plus leopard bag is probably too much, although I daresay I've probably done it before.

But YMMV -- it all depends on the specific items and how you put them together.

Oh, and I feel like it's a plus if the leopards don't match (as in Angie's outfit -- big leopard on the belt, small leopard on the shoes).

Staysfit

Veteran

This is a great question Ummlila. I don't have much to add, but you have actually helped me because I have been wondering the same thing. I like to mix my leopard items with colors like green, warm blue and purple. If I'm feeling low contrast, I pull out the camel, brown, and Ivory.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

Between you and Angie I'm definitely going to try one of these! Maybe on a white out look.

Jules

Veteran

Yes I tend to agree with MaryK, as with any pattern mixing really, it's better if the patterns are a different scale. Slightly different patterns can just look off (although honestly, I think a low contrast animal print can work as a neutral - so two different tonal animal prints might work together well).
Basically, experiment

Laura

Interesting question! I'm carefully watching the other answers as I was thinking the same thing as well with my latest outfit!

bj1111

Veteran

I have to say, i have a poison eye for this particular animal pattern. So for me, none.

Now, reptile is a whole 'nuther story. Can anyone have too much?

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I have a wider leopard belt and it is almost worn out after a 1.5 years. That is how much I love it! It is a great accessory for someone with our hair colour. It creates cohesion in many outfits.

I usually wear it as my only leopard piece but I have been known to pair it with leopard print wedge pumps. And I felt like it worked. Usually the rest of the outfit is really simple, but once I wore both pumps and belt with a floral jacket, white on white jacquard shell and jeans. ALGO for relatively minimalist me, yet I felt absolutely fine.

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UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

Like that a lot, Suz. Don't usually see you pattern mixing but it totally works!

Laura

I am giving a talk at an aquarium and I original considered wearing too leopard items ...... but given what others have said, I might have to reconsider ..... I like your belt btw!

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Neel

Veteran

I almost always do leopard shoes AND handbag! I like how they bookend each other and complete the outfit.

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Suz

(website)

Veteran

Thanks, Ummlila!

Anonymous

My initial response was "only one please" - but I see how Neel and Suz have done it and it works. My eye would object to outright matching though - that is too dated. I'd pick two patterns in different colours (the trad caramel/black and one black/white and keep the dots/spots similarly sized). If the animal print has three colours - I'd keep to one piece at a time.

Deb

Veteran

It depends on how you are wearing leopard. I think one item of clothing looks good, but two would not. Two accessories can look good , as long as they are not right next to each other, and in small doses. Three is overkill to my eye.
By the by, I really like the blouse you posted above Laura....very nice!

rute

Veteran

I also prefer to wear just a item at a time, but it's a personal thing. I like Neel and Suz suggestions!

JAileen

Veteran

One. If the items were small, then maybe two. Otherwise it looks clownish. Which if you like that look the, okay, you like it. I found these pictures from Advanced Style. I think they're way over the top:

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thimblelina

(website)

Veteran

Leopard is sort of a gateway drug, no? You get a little, you get a little more... You see it paired with lace and stripes and plaid and whatnot... And then one day some transgressive part deep inside all of us wants to experience a lil leopard on leopard action. Kinda like denim on denim. And it can work; but be careful! I think tonality and scale really matters. I think belt and shoes would be fine if they don't look like two cats chasing each other around a room. I have mini leopard print shoes (kind of a stylized dot) and a scarf that coordinates beautifully. I've been known to tool around in both at once and no one asked me when the circus arrived in town!

viva

Veteran

I love JAileen's pictures!!!

I'm with the majority here. Definitely one, probably two, especially if the two are different scales / colors. And I love the belt, Ummlila.

crutcher

Veteran

Just one at a time, please...The leopard skirt is the perfect statement alone with a denim shirt and heels...don't add the leopard belt, flats or heels or wedges...Subtlety is definitely the key here...

Laura

Leopard print handbags look really neat but they are definitely a statement piece. I see what others are saying about how you only want one statement piece on an outfit as opposed to three or four.

maisyphk

I'm pretty tame... I'd stick with just one leopard item at a time. However, if it's a narrower belt, I think that would be okay with leopard shoes as well.

Noro

Leopard print is fun! I usually like for there to be two matching leopard print pieces. For example, Belt & shoes, purse & hat.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

9-year old thread!

The Cat

Veteran

Who revived it?

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