Trend Alert: Seeing Spots

Whether it’s leopard, cheetah, or ocelot, feline spots will be everywhere this fall. Take your wardrobe on a walk on the wild side with us after the jump.

Out of all the perennially-returning trends in fashion, one of the most attention-grabbing has to be animal-prints. Having long since shed its association with cougars, strippers, and animal poachers (go faux!), leopard prints have become a classic way to add pattern and colour to almost any outfit, even office wear. Now that animal prints are back on the runways – Dries Van Noten went all out – there’s all the more reason to seek out some spots for your own fall wardrobe.

Dries Van Noten, Fall 2010

Christian Louboutin

When incorporating leopard prints into your own outfits, remember that the key to making the look modern and work-appropriate is keeping things playful, not super-sexy. Give the red lipstick a rest and pair animal prints with lower-key pieces. Spotty accessories such as shoes, handbags or headbands are a great way to get in on the trend without looking too vampish. Our picks from the glut online:

Clockwise, from top left: Love Moschino Leopard Hearts Cardigan, $425, Harvey Nichols; Animal Magnetism Dress, $62.99, Modcloth; All Black Leopard Wedge, $99.99, Urban Outfitters; Leopard Print Tights, $17, Topshop; Leopard Furry Headband, $16, Urban Outfitters; Sonia Rykiel Leopard Print Coat, $315, Flannel is Fashion.

How will you be wearing feline prints this fall? Let us know and we could feature your outfit posts in an upcoming blog post.