Bring out your wild side

From teenagers to middle-aged men and women, animal
prints have caught on, says Anju Chotrani

WHILE animal prints make men look macho, women, when using such prints, come out more attractive. Feeling wild, lately? When you feel like showing your untamed side off, nothing speaks like a classy yet sassy animal print. What’s more exciting is that the chic trend is not limited to women, as is the case with most other fashion trends. Right from teenagers to middle-aged women to men, animal prints have caught on.

The main reason cited for the popularity of animal print is the emotions generated by it in different situations. For instance, men think that animal prints make them look macho, and they can identify themselves with hunters and outdoor types. Women, when using animal prints, tend to think of themselves as attractive, passionate, hard to get, and full of energy like an animal.

Indian fashion designer doyen Tarun Tahliani says: "My animal print collection interprets the urban jungle with animal prints. It mainly consists of Italian prints with diamond work sneaking through the animal and floral motifs."

In the international arena and closer home in Malini Ramani’s creations, animal prints are the rage. Faux fur creeps on to collars, cuffs and lapels. The fabrics used are pony skin, fox and printed faux furs (zebra, leopard and tiger prints).

But some precautions are necessary when the girls take to animal prints. Number one point is that scale those animal prints to your size. Tighter prints like cheetah and leopard look great on most people. Larger scale prints like cow or giraffe, however, are more difficult to pull off. Pair animal prints with neutrals like black, khaki, cream and white. If adventurous, play with equally bold colours like leopard with hot pink and zebra with lime. It is important to use make-up in subdued tones to accompany the outfits. The clothes are already quite visually rich. So the make-up does not need to add much. Also, choose the kind of make-up to suit your skin and dress colour. "Animal prints are like the colour red; not everyone can carry these off," fashion designer Chandrika Joshi advises, and adds: "You need to have the confidence and attitude and these prints need to be matched and co-ordinated with the right accessories, too. So there is no excess or overdoing."

Falguni Mehta, another fashion maestro, recommends: "Unless you are attending to something specific, animal print headgear, like hats and caps, is not advisable. On the other hand, shoes and stoles or scarves in the same print will most likely set off several outfits, and the same goes for handbags." She also advises wearing animal prints above the belt.

There are a few essential tips you must remember if you dare to wear animal prints. Despite the fact that designers are wild for animal prints in their spring 2010 collections, you do need to exercise a little trend-independent fashion judgment.

Do not wear coordinating pants, jackets, jumpsuits, coats or skirts in animal print patterns. Don’t overdo animal prints. Matching too many elements of an outfit makes you look like you are trying too hard to make a fashion statement. Instead, aim for a balanced ensemble of complementary garments and accessories that look effortless. But restrain yourself. Animal print looks best when present only in one pattern in no more than one or two elements of an outfit.

Keep everything else simple, elegant and sleek. You are not a lion. Don’t wear a wild mane. If there ever was a time to have big hair, this is not it.

Animal print may bring out your wild side, but resist wearing animal print with a dangerously short skirt. You will look like a cougar on the prowl, and not the kind from the zoo.

The secret of wearing an animal-based pattern fashion trend successfully is to relate the volume of pattern to your personality.`A0If you are normally an understated dresser, then select just a small leopard print item.`A0If the full-on glamour look of Catwoman, with shades of the legendary Rekha at her most feline, is not for you, then leopard print shoes or bag can be the perfect answer.

The easiest way to adopt the animal theme is to buy a piece of jewellery or a bag.`A0An animal-styled ring, cuff or snake skin-styled bangle is a fashion trend in itself. A little call from the wild goes a long way in fashion. — MF

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