For the Love of Leo

Oh leo, how I love thee! In case you’re wondering leo is a pet name for leopard and it happens to be my favorite animal print. I try to add a little leo love to almost every outfit I wear, usually with my favorite cuff or in cooler weather my leopard scarf. However, my favorite combination is leopard and gingham. Sure gingham is a fabulous print on it’s own but add a little leopard and you have a case of fashion nirvana!

Allow me to demonstrate. Here’s my original outfit. It is fine as is, my newest gingham addition (similar)and black shorts.

Now look what happens when I add a little leopard print to the mix. So much more interesting, right? Simple and easy to do just add a few accent pieces and watch your okay outfit become fabulous! I simply grabbed my new clutch (similar under $40)and my favorite cuff. I am wearing my leopard sandals (this year’s version)as well. These are so old! I hardly wear them anymore because my feet require a more padded foot bed but I still adore these shoes. I am wearing my Kendra Scott necklace (similar and on sale) and my new sunglasses (just $12).

Don’t own a pair of leopard print shoes? No worries, break out a pair of brown or cognac shoes and you’ll get virtually the same effect. In fact, mixing brown and black adds interest to an outfit as well. Just keeps things from getting boring, you know? My trusty Vionics would keep me comfortable all day at work or my favorite espadrille wedges from Gap would be my choice for a day out.

Leopard is a neutral it’s true. You can’t go wrong with a leopard print shoes, scarf, handbag, or cuff bracelet. But just like everything else in life too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. So be careful. Animal print from head to toe is tragic, it’s a fine line, be sure you have some solids or another print (like gingham) to break it up. I wouldn’t normally do a shoe and a purse in leopard with the same outfit but since the shoes are so skimpy it works. On a larger scale it would be too much, in my opinion.