How I wear leopard print

Recently I have been loving injecting a bit of leopard print in my wardrobe. I used to think that leopard print looked tacky, but if done right, it is one of the easiest to wear prints. It is versatile, easy to combine and a great neutral that pairs great with many colors. 

How I wear leopard print

My trick to wearing items when I am unsure how to wear them is to try it in a shoe. So when I first tried wearing leopard print that’s how I tried it. This is why most of these outfits feature a pair of shoes, as it is also my favorite way to wear leopard print. For each item, I have two different outfits to show you different options on how to style the same item in different ways.

Outfit 1

Sweater | H&M
Jeans | Topshop
Shoes | H&M

Leopard print is a great way to spice up an otherwise plain outfit. I like wearing neutrals, but I also like amping it up a bit. This outfit is a great example of that. The basis of it is neutral, but quite cool. The sweater is oversized and baggy with a high neck and cozy. It has a horizontal and vertical stripe mix for some added texture. The jeans add the edge this outfit needs: it’s a straight leg fit with a raw hem edge that I scored in the summer sales. The boots are the finishing touch and add color, pattern and a playful element.

Outfit 2

Shirt | H&M
Skirt | H&M
Shoes | H&M

But you can use leopard print also to play up the color story. I think a classic leopard print works well with mustard yellow. So again, some basic items (in the cut), some texture (from the velvet skirt), and some color (from the shirt) and you have the perfect blend of items to wear leopard print. The yellow adds a brightness to the outfit that takes it to the next level.

Outfit 3

Shirt | H&M
Shorts | Monki
Shoes | Sacha

While boots are great for the fall/ winter season, leopard print itself is not picky about seasons. I love wearing it year round. And that is why some summery outfits are also apt. This one features again a very basic outfit, but the twist here is the clash of prints. Leopard print is a print that doesn’t just pair well with solid colors, but also with other prints. Gingham is one such prints. With a solid black top to balance out the outfit, this outfit comes full circle.

Outfit 4

Shirt | Mango
Jeans | Topshop
Shoes | Sacha

A color that I think pairs very well with leopard print other than mustard is red. Red and leopard print is one of the ultimate clashes. But clashing leopard print with a full on red outfit is perhaps a bit much. Putting the red in a print on a crisp white shirt paired with jeans makes for a great casual outfit.

Outfit 5

Shirt | H&M
Skirt | H&M
Shoes | Sacha

One of my first leopard print items was this shirt. Since it doesn’t have the classic brown/ yellow/ black color scheme to it, it makes this item a lot easier to pull off and it is one of my favorite items in my wardrobe. So again, if you’re afraid to wear leopard print then going with a monochrome version might work better. Pair it with a cool boot and an a-line skirt in a contrasting color to create a feminine yet cool look.

Outfit 5

Shirt | H&M
Jeans | Topshop
Shoes | Asos

Lastly, I would like to show you an all black outfit. Because a black and white leopard print shirt works great in an all black outfit: it adds the fun element that an all black outfit needs to keep it from becoming too black. Pair it with smokey eyes and a red lip for that rocker chic vibe. A simple outfit in which the leopard print shirt is the center piece.

How do you wear leopard print?