Animal Fashion for AW13

When someone mentions animal print, the first thing that springs to mind tends to be leopard print. A print that is not for the fashion-shy and certainly not to be abused by the people who love it too much, if you’re head to toe in skin-tight leopard print then I’m talking to you! With the return of the animal print, it’s only right we should go into the do’s and don’ts; when it’s done right, it looks amazing.

With mink coats being the ultimate must-have in Britain during the 1950’s, fur has always had a certain grace and elegance about it.  There’s no doubt it’s beautiful, but whether it’s right is another matter. Although many designers still use fur, there are many who do not. Stella McCartney, Calvin Klein, Ralph Laurent, and Vivienne Westwood, to name a few opt for faux fur or nothing at all. With the trend rearing is head all over the world it’s good we have so many options. While many people prefer to stay away from real fur, that doesn’t mean we can’t adapt the patterns from animal fur onto different fabrics entirely!

Leopard Print Looks For AW 2013 – Images Via Style.com

We’ve already established that leopard print isn’t for the faint hearted – it’s a strong look, but is here in full force so why not embrace it? With the likes of Mochino Cheap & Chic, Ermanno Scervino, and Diane von Furstenburg sending top-to-toe leopard print looks down the runway, it could seem a little daunting or even garish to some. But, styled into a simplistic outfit or injected into your look through accessories it can be much more comfortable. With ‘punk’ also making a comeback, this look is win win if you like to follow trends to a T.

 

1. Mango  2. Topshop  3. Ray-Ban  4. Zara  5. Topshop  6. ASOS  7. Forever 21  8. Aspinal of London

Animal print alone gives you a tick on the fashion chart, but enhancing it with a rock ‘n’ roll vibe will make the designers proud. For those looking for a softer look, try a black and white version of the print or wear with a blazer and a fedora.

Cow Print For AW 2013 – Images via Style.com, Cow Print Skirt From Zara , Blogger Victoria Tornegren and Natalia Alaverdian – Image Via Street Peeper

­With monochrome forever being in the fashion spotlight, what could be more perfect than a cow print to fit in with the trend? Although cow isn’t seen quite as much as leopard on the runway, it has been extremely prominent across the blogosphere and is great for those who like a sports luxe feel to their outfits. Givenchy have embraced the print, using it for full outfits in their AW 2013 collection, alongside structured clothing with a very masculine feel. Forget frills, this trend demands straight lines and sharp angles.

1. Muubaa  2. French Connection  3. Topshop  4. Alexander Wang  5. Zara  6. Topshop

Cow print will be a statement in its own right, so one item with the design will be all you need for a great outfit. Enhance it with black and white clothing and silver jewellery to make a clean sharp look, or try pairing it with a contrasting print for a quirky look.

Zebra Print Looks For AW 2013 – Images Via Style.com

Zebra print has been taken out of its comfort zone of clean monochrome lines and handed to us in full statement form. Much like leopard, zebra print has been a great part of the punk trend; Versace accessorised zebra print with spiked necklaces and smoky eyes, while Tom Ford ended his show with a full length zebra dress and black collar for AW 2013. Emilio Pucci ditched monochrome altogether, replacing the white with a rich gold and pairing it with lace, faux fur and military jackets, Versace went for PVC and mesh tops only just covering the models modesty, and Joseph contrasted the print with vibrant pink trousers. The designers seem keen to do something new with zebra, so experimenting with fabrics and mixing textures has been key. 

1. Michael Kors  2. H&M  3. Zara  4. Topshop  5. Marc Jacobs  6. Zara

If you’re wondering how to fit zebra print into your wardrobe, you can’t go wrong with a great bag. Whether you feature it on an oversized tote or a small clutch, it’s the perfect print to add a pop to your look. As we’ve seen the ‘white on white’ trend coming at us from all directions, this is a great way to add something extra.  If you’re looking to the colder months, there have been sightings of zebra print coats and jackets all over the internet through street style images. Bloggers Kristina Bazan, and Chiara Ferragni have been spotted in zebra coats as well as celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, Millie Macintosh and even Drake!

Crocodile Print For AW 2013 – Images Via Style.com

As well as the more obvious of prints, crocodile has been gracing our runways in a sleek, sophisticated style. The print has been used to create head-to-toe looks in a variety of warm and pastel colours – while Prada opted for natural browns and blacks, Antonio Berardi went all out with the reptile theme using red dresses on models with slicked hair and light eyes. Designers played with fabrics pairing the prints with silks, knits as of course leather. Using this print may be the most difficult to fully embrace; with it mostly being used on bags and shoes, there aren’t many clothing items available on the highstreet yet, but if you can find a crocodile print dress, jacket or skirt you’ll gain full marks on the fashion board!

1. Nelly  2. Topshop  3. Carlos Falchi  4. Michael Kors  5. H&M  6. BooHoo

Crocodile is perfect for a more mature look – you can use it to add colour to an outfit and make sure it’s the main focus. Rich tones also make it look so expensive and are great for the cooler months!

While we’re on the subject of reptiles, there’s another print which is always ready for us slither into. Yes, it is of course snakeskin, with python being the most commonly used. With coloured snakeskin employed throughout the Gucci and Erdem SS 2013 collections, it’s one to be creative with and experiment with collage and colours.

Animal print is extremely versatile. As you can now hopefully tell, it can be incorporated into whatever style suits you, whether it’s punk – which we’ve already seen as a huge trend for AW 2013 – sports luxe, or sleek and sophisticated. When styling print, try to stick to one print, as an all-in-one approach could just be a little too much! There’s really no need to go crazy mixing the prints when one will be a statement all by itself. However, this does not mean you’re restricted, as designers worldwide have been experimenting with textures by mixing sheers, knits, leather and fur into outfits. This trend is your chance to embrace collage!

There are pieces all over the high street and plenty of street style images on the web to get you started and provide you with inspiration and styling tips. Happy shopping!