There are two phrases that, if uttered in the identical sentence, sound completely unsuitable. “Summer season outfits” and “animal prints.” Styling animal prints is a fragile artwork—one which tends to work greatest throughout the calendar’s coldest months, when you may mellow out your animal print with a bunch of black layers. Summer season animal print outfits, however, sound principally blasphemous. Animal prints are meant for use sparingly, proper? They’re imagined to be the pop of enjoyable in an otherwise-neutral ensemble, proper? They’d certainly look extremely cheesy if paired with summer time’s brightest, most saturated colours, proper?!
But when my line of logic is sound, why are there so many animal print garments on provide in a few of our favourite retailers? Significantly, Free Individuals, City Outfitters, Topshop and ASOS are all crammed to the brim with animal prints. So are Lulus, Missguided, Nasty Gal and Eternally 21. To not point out, my Instagram feed is, too. And the final time I checked, it was nonetheless July—AKA, the center of summer time. May or not it’s? May summer time animal print outfits truly be occurring?
As a fan of any sartorial problem—irrespective of how daunting—I got down to grasp this perplexing pattern as soon as and for all: I made a decision to type 5 summer-friendly animal print outfits. And let me simply say, I’ve solely worn animal prints a couple of instances earlier than. I’ve lengthy felt animal prints have been greatest loved in very small doses—a cheetah print scrunchie right here, or a pair of snakeskin sandals there. I’ve by no means humored the concept of decking myself out in head-to-toe animal prints—largely as a result of I figured there was no technique to do it with out trying like I stepped recent out of the Jersey Shore seaside home, hand-in-hand with my BFF Snooki.
Did I emerge from this weeklong expertise able to sport all-over animal prints on the each day? No. I’m positively skeptical of animal prints throughout the summer time—and truthfully, nonetheless just a little cautious of animal prints throughout any season. However I’m positively extra keen to get adventurous with them than I used to be earlier than. And that’s at the very least some type of win for Group Animal Print, proper?
Shirt: Missguided | Tube Prime: Missguided | Shorts: Missguided | Hat: author’s personal
Summer season is right here, y’all. So tube tops and shorts are my jam for the subsequent couple months. To begin issues off in essentially the most low-key means doable, I opted for an animal print prime that I might take away if I began feeling uncomfortable. I caught with an all-black look (all the time a traditional), threw on some enjoyable equipment and topped issues off with a light-weight snake print prime. (Which—enjoyable truth—I didn’t find yourself taking off.)
Prime: LIT Boutique | Pants: PrettyLittleThing | Footwear: Missguided | Hat: Brixton
This, you guys, THIS was out of my consolation zone. As I headed out the door in these in-your-face cheetah print culottes, I almost rotated and adjusted my pants. They have been loud AF. To tone issues down, I made a decision to maintain the remainder of my ensemble as impartial as doable—tan and black. One factor I’ve discovered about styling cheetah prints? It’s simple to go overboard. Unleash your internal minimalist and lean into subtlety.
Overalls: Missguided | Shirt: Missguided | Sun shades: LOFT
I’ve to say of all of the animal print items I experimented with, these cheetah overalls have been most likely my favourite. My type could be very enjoyable and playful, so these have been proper up my alley. At this level, I used to be feeling a little extra assured with animal print garments, so a bright-colored prime was the reply to styling these bottoms. I imply, hey, I’ve pink hair. Clearly, I’m not afraid of shade—so I figured I would as effectively go all in, proper?
Jumpsuit: Free Individuals | Footwear: author’s personal | Hat: Olive + Pepper
Jumpsuits will perpetually be my go-to, so once I had the chance to attempt one out that was decked out in animal print, I jumped on the likelihood. Because of the impartial inexperienced tone, I didn’t really feel very misplaced on this jumpsuit—which was truthfully fairly shocking, because it was head-to-toe ZEBRA PRINT. (WHAT?!)
Prime: Lulus | Pants: Lulus | Footwear: author’s personal | Hat: Lack of Colour
By the tip of this experiment, I caught myself feeling into the concept of sporting animal print items extra continuously. Usually, once I’m trying so as to add some spice to an outfit, I attain for one of many brightest colours in my closet. This time, I grabbed a cheetah print prime, as an alternative. (Progress!)
