Trend Alert: Animal Prints

As a Brooklyn native, I’m naturally partial to animal prints – especially leopard – but the runways – from Tom Ford to Victoria Beckham to DVF – have officially made them a 2018 Trend.

Animal prints will likely peak this Fall/Winter, but why not get ahead of the trend and start indulging your animal instincts while the weather is still warm. All summer long, I’ve enthusiastically been bringing back my love for leopard. But thankfully, this time around, I’ve learned to temper the tack (no, I won’t be recycling those old satin bodycon dresses and bustiers) with more sophisticated silhouettes and minimalistic pairings for a more mature and refined look.

To create an evening look worthy of your favorite date night or girls night restaurant/lounge, I wore a leopard print midi slip dress with cowl neckline. This dress incorporate all the right elements: (1) cowl neckline to create the illusion of a larger bust and smaller waist; (2) midi length to balance a loud pattern from looking juvenile or garish; and (3) side slits to keep things sexy. For a more demure look, I wore a pair of nude suede slides (now on super sale) rather than super high heels (although I wouldn’t be opposed at the right venue) and classic black cat eye sunglasses. Finally, I opted for some unexpected accessories with tiered gold statement earrings and a white python clutch to keep the look interesting.