mixing floral and animal prints

I think I’ve had a love affair with leopard or animal prints since I was a small girl. I can still remember the feel and look of a boxy leopard print tote with faux tortoise handles that my mother owned. I adored that bag and once on a train trip back East, she let me use it as my own for all my books and coloring supplies! That was in the late 1960s, but by time I went to college in the 1980s animal prints were big again and I claimed it for my book bag. All my friends coveted that vintage tote. Oh how I wish I still had that bag.

 If you read the post before last you know I was just up in San Francisco and did a bit of all shopping with my pal Adrienne of The Rich Life (on a budget). Shopping with her I found a dream blouse that was both floral and leopard from Equipment! Love! So me, since I already have a Floral & Leopard Pinterest board.  I was going to model my new blouse here, but I’m saving it to wear in Adrienne’s (and Jill’s of Everything Just So), special How I Wear My – animal print edition this week. Send your photos to them by October 1st., to be included in their fun posts of readers wearing their animal prints.

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I also love a good floral as you know from this previous post. Leopard I like in smaller doses. Women my age have to be careful not to look like too cougar or Jackie Collins, if you get my drift.

That said, a little leopard gives you some fashion cred. The floral- a bit of innocence and femininity. Perhaps that’s why the mix of the two, strikes just the right note..There’s something inherently appealing about it to me.

Look what Alice Temperley showed at London fashion week for Spring /Summer 2014 in the four photos below. Lovely! Apparently she likes the mix and we’ll be seeing more of it come Spring…

 Dresses in both have been a big hit this year, especially loved this…

Dolce & Gabbana

 And this..

Versace

 How great does Andie MacDowell look at 55?

via sadieandstella

Leopard and floral can look so pretty in a bedroom. I’ve always been crazy for leopard rugs, but not so sure how the hubs would be.

Pinterest

Don’t ask how much, (too much), but Roberto Cavalli is making a floral/leopard collection for children. Bergdorf-Goodman link here.

This look works best if one of the prints is in a small accessory counter to the other one. For example, I’ve been crazy about this floral jacket and how cute would it be paired with a small animal print wallet/clutch?

Can’t find the original link, but similar versions here.

Prada zip wallet/clutch surprising found on Overstock.com

A snap of my tote which I was using as my laptop bag as I worked at Peet’s this week. (Like my new sequin converse? :D)