One of my trend predictions for 2024 is a resurgence of animal print. I'm talking cheetah print, leopard print, cow spots, and tiger stripes. Hell, even throw some giraffe in there. Over the past couple of months, I have been struggling with this one. I find it adorable in the right pattern, with the right fit, in the right colours. Basically, I think that can be quite chic when used effectively. However, a little voice in the back of my head keeps saying, 'You're gonna regret that one day.' After all, growing up in the 2000s, I've always viewed these types of prints as a tad bit trashy. But as I grow older I'm having a change of heart. I want to wear cheetah print pants. Tiger stripe throw pillows sound fun. And dammit - I want to live my Kate Moss fantasy in a leopard print fur jacket. So I have come here to settle the debate once and for all. Animal print: is it chic or is it tacky?
A Brief History
Unsurprisingly, animal print got its start imitating pieces made of real animal furs. Pelts were worn or displayed as rugs as a sign of status among kings and queens. The pattern remained a trend amongst aristocrats until the 1940s when Christian Dior first brought it to the runway. The prints were for more 'edgy' ladies, as edgy as Dior could get in the 40s, and were a major contrast from the sweet and feminine image often associated with the French fashion house.
By the 60s, animal prints had become more mainstream. They were no longer restricted to the ateliers but rather walked the streets on the backs of hippies and peace lovers. In the 70s and 80s, they became a staple for new wave icons like Debbie Harry of Blondie. Animal print was officially for cool girls. Forget the rock star girlfriend aesthetic, I want to be her.
In the 90s, the pattern grazed the runways again with designers such as Jean Paul Gaultier leading the movement. However, during this decade, animal prints became so over-saturated that they came to be seen as cheap or tacky. Many attribute this to the fact that the mass production meant the prints were being printed on cheaper, synthetic fabrics. This took away the authentic, pelt-like look, and cheap stretchy fabrics morphed the integrity of the spotted and striped patterns.
In the early 2000s, the final nail in the coffin of associating animal prints with tackiness was the success of the reality TV show Jersey Shore. Need I say more?
Look at the Material
So it would seem that what separates the chic from the trashy when it comes to animal prints is the material. But a little bit of reserach into the materials being used for leopard prints jackets on Ssense and Amazon will quickly debunk this theory. While some retail for $1,000+ and others for $30, they are all made out of the same polyester or other synthetic materials. Basically plastic. And to be quite honest with you, the longer I look at these designer versions, the more I think they might look cheap too. So what is a girl with a new found fascination with animal print to do? I see two options:
Opotion one: Buy second hand, real fur. If you want something that looks authentic, sometimes you have to go with the most obvious option. Buy the real deal. While many people may not be comfortable with wearing real fur, I think buying vintage pelts can be a win win. No additional animals were harmed, no plastics were used to make your fashion, and you look damn good wearing it. Another great option would be to look for authetintic second hand designer. Even if the materials themselves are cheaper, the prints and design will likely be superior to that of second hand wet seal or fashion nova.
Option two: Embrace the trashiness of it. This is basically what we've been doing in the past couple of years by embracing other y2k fashions anyways. A low-waisted velour tracksuit isn't exactly what you want to be wearing to court, the office, or any professional setting. They're meant to be a little trashy. Damn it - its CAMP! Sometimes its fun to play into these stereotypes with fashion. Take Michelle Visage for example. A woman from Jersey, loud and proud, who now, with a hell of a lot more money and a refined wardrobe, still wears loud animals prints. For her, its campy, its drag, its fun. I think with Scandanavian styling and minimalistic dressing becoming more and more popular we can tend to forget that it's okay to wear wild fashion sometimes. That is what half the fun of it is. So throw on that stretch fabric cheetah print dress babe. It looks damn good on you.
Let me know your thoughts on this topic - I would love to hear from you!
Talk soon,
-Vanilla Darling Xx
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