Elegant and predatory, or animal prints in fashion

Is it possible to emphasize your personality and individuality with the right pattern?

The answer to this question is obvious. If you think about it, at first glance we will imagine differently the character of a person in an ethereal floral dress, differently of a person in a simple check or striped dress, and differently of someone wearing a creation in leopard spots, or as we say in Poland, leopard print. A pattern embroidered or printed on fabric can definitely express our romantic, professional or wild side. This, of course, also applies to accessories made of real or artificial leather or fur. It should be remembered, however, that while dresses for work usually have a dress code that excludes animal patterns, formal dresses or everyday dressesleave complete freedom in this regard.

Animal patterns in the past

From prehistoric or tribal times, when people clad themselves in skins, to today's clothing industry, animal motifs have accompanied our clothing. Often, furs were attributed various powers, including with giving the wearer the prowess of a particular animal. Hunters clothed themselves in the skins of the best wild animals they could hunt. With appropriate furs, rulers emphasized their status. Kings and queens are probably all associated with the ermine coat. Such coats were extremely expensive and only the most wealthy could afford them. In historical paintings, noblemen were often painted in such coats with white fur with the characteristic black points of ermine tails. Many times they asked for such attire to be painted into their portrait to raise their status, while in fact they could not afford it. This shows how important a particular animal design sometimes was to public perception. The same was true of other furs and skins worn later by a wider range of people, but still mostly those of high property and social status.

Fashion with a claw, or popular animal prints in the last century in formal dresses and beyond

Over the past century, a wide increase in interest in animal patterns could be seen in the 1930s. The movie about Tarzan, "Monkey Man," started a boom for such prints in popular fashion. Manufacturers began to mass-produce blouses, scarves or coats in patterns inspired by animal stripes and mottles. The moment that further spread animal prints was the appearance of the popular 1940s model Bettie Page in photos wearing a short dress with leopard spots. She was then hailed as Jungle Bettie. Animal prints took hold in fashion for good. Even in the quieter 1950s, Christian Dior released an entire line also inspired by leopard spots (or so-called leopard print), including formal dresses. Animal prints were beautiful, fashionable and very elegant.

The 1960s added more color to animal patterns. They were no longer a pure representation of nature, but a combination of inspiration from it and designers' wild imagination. How popular animal patterns were can be indicated by the fact that Bob Dylan wrote a song with a leopard hat in the title. They began to bet more often on faux fur and leather due to the increased awareness of animal rights in the hippie era. The next decade and the punk rock era took animal patterns in fashion to a new level. Nature-inspired mottles and stripes could now be found on everything from coats to dresses, shoes or even underwear. In addition to leopard and cheetah, zebra and snake skin also entered the fashion scene. In the 1980s, even entire dresses or outfits made of snake skin or a print inspired by zebra stripes were fashionable. The so-called total look from head to toe with animal print. The next decade saw animal patterns adorning even formal and work dresses. Perhaps a certain excess of this motif caused such patterns to become associated with cheapness and poor taste in the mid-1990s. The following years, however, brought a verification of this belief and animal prints regained their rightful place in fashion. This was demonstrated, among others, by Maggie Gyllenhaal, appearing at the 2009 Golden Globes gala in a blue dress with leopard spots. Since then, we no longer have any doubts: animal prints are a suitable pattern even for the most elegant events. Even if periodically such a pattern goes out of fashion, it always comes back in style after a while.

Types of animal prints in women's clothing

Leopard - leopard spots were for decades the most popular when it comes to women's fashion. Most often offered in natural colors, however, it has its unveilings in completely different colors. Women love this pattern, as it looks exceptionally interesting. It is the most versatile animal print. In Poland, we most often refer to it as a "leopard print" pattern.

Tiger - tiger stripes were the leading animal motif in the 2018 season. It is still a very attractive pattern that can be used in any item of clothing. Midi dresses and maxi dresseslook especially beautiful in this print .

Zebra - black and white zebra stripes have a chance after 2019, when they reigned, to return to the top again. Current color and design trends give the zebra room to take the lead when it comes to the most fashionable nature-inspired prints. Zebra stripes look extremely elegant not only on sweaters, but also a formal dress decorated this way will look exceptionally chic.

Cow - although it does not sound too predatory and wild,but irregular patches on a white background look fantastic on women's clothing. Not only formal or everyday dresses, but also shoes or handbags look great with such a print. This pattern experienced its great return to the catwalks in 2019 and is likely to appear again this year.

Snake - snake skin is a pattern that is probably known to everyone. It is most often used in styling accessories: shoes, handbags or belts. However, it looks equally fantastic in dresses. Most often it is presented in a mild beige, brown or gray color scheme, close to nature.

Crocodile - crocodile skin as an inspiration for prints in fashion is perhaps the least common, making it seem the most luxurious. Like snake skin, this pattern is most often used in styling accessories. However, cocktail dresses and evening dressesalso look very elegant with crocodile skin print . A long black creation with this motif looks amazing.

Show your wild side in elegant style - formal dresses in leopard and other animal patterns

A formal dress in spots, stripes or patches inspired by the animal world is one of the important trends of the beginning of the season. Animal print 2023 is somewhat modernized and the shape of stripes or spots does not have to be literal. It can also be a completely surprising color scheme! However, a formal dress with leopard spots, tiger stripes or zebra stripes in any color, but with the right styling, will certainly look beautiful. You should also consider formal dresses with a snake skin or crocodile motif. When choosing such a creation, it should be balanced with monochromatic accessories. Shoes, handbag, coat or belt will present themselves most chicly if they are neutral. Preferably in one of the colors present in the print on the dress. The look will then take on an elegant character. You can also reverse the styling a bit and wear a black formal dress and accessories in this color, and put on your shoulders a coat or a fake fur coat with leopard spots or tiger stripes. The wow effect is guaranteed! Clawed chic is a unique style that certainly will not go unnoticed! Visiting dresses with animal print are an excellent choice for many occasions.

How to incorporate animal prints into casual styling

Not only formal dresses, but also casual styling can include animal motifs. Everyday dresses with a print in leopard spots or zebra stripes will work wonderfully in the accompaniment of a black ramon jacket and a shopper or backpack of the same color. If it is to be an autumn styling, it is worth adding black boots. It does not matter much whether it will be aknee-length dress, a midi or maxi creation. All of them will look interesting in this combination. You can also bet on a smaller piece of clothing with an animal motif. Pants, blouse or skirt with monochromatic other garments will also look elegant and impressive. If we only care about a small accent in animal print, a handbag, stilettos, boots or boots in spots or stripes will always be appropriate. For ladies with a particularly predatory style in fashion there are also styles combining patterns inspired by different animals into one look. You can also bet on leopard or zebra from head to toe.

Fashionable formal dresses in leopard and other animal prints for autumn

Elegant dresses for autumn are ideal for animal prints. If we choose colors close to nature, then the creation will be perfectly in line with the fashionable colors of autumn. We can also bet on an elegant formal dress in other colors, such as deep plum, blue or green, but not only. Panther creations in bright jungle colors look great. These days there is complete freedom in this regard. Flareddresses in animal prints look extremely impressive and elegant. Simple dresses go well with snake skin or crocodile motifs. Airy chiffon dresses in leopard spots are interesting and unusual dresses for the wedding, which, properly styled, can look very chic. It is important to remember that no matter whatcut you decide on, elegant styling for special celebrations requires a lot of attention.

Summary

Leopard and other animal patterns have been fashionable for years in a variety of guises. It is worth having at least one such creation in our closet to wear when we feel like emphasizing the wild side of our nature. They may not be suitable dresses for work, but they will certainly work well as elegant formal dresses or classic casual dresses.