Trends come and go, but there are some things that never go out of style – pearls, blazers, white shirts, LBD (little black dress), and anything leopard print. Animal prints have been declared back “in,” but did they ever really go out? They may be more popular one season than another, but, on the whole, they are forever pieces that remain a woman’s wardrobe staples.
The power of leopard print is like the animal itself. Leopards are fast, powerful hunters that can carry three times their weight. In the beginning, the animals were food and their hides were used for warmth. Decorative animal skins from leopards and tigers became a status symbol. Egyptian pharaohs, thousands of years B.C., wore the real pelts. Leopard print as a fashion item dates to the 18th century when it appeared as a pattern on French silks. It did not really emerge as a strong fashion trend until the 1920s, when a leopard fur coat was a desirable luxury item. Silver screen sirens, such as Joan Crawford, were photographed in the print.
By the 1950s, leopard was a staple of the stylish woman’s wardrobe – the print and the fur. Christian Dior solidified the status of leopard as a classic. He included a belted leopard print dress in his infamous New Look collection. A leopard paw was also part of the advertising campaign for Dior’s first perfume, Miss Dior. The rest is history. Leopard has run the gamut from Jackie O to Peg Bundy.
Today’s leopard coats are faux fur rather than the real thing. Leopard was not the only big coat cat on the runways – there were tigers and cheetahs, zebras and reptiles, also – it’s a jungle out there. Don’t overlook all the new color combinations – pair leopard with sophisticated colors – navy, merlot and bottle green. Leopard accessories can add excitement to a lackluster outfit.
I truly believe a classic cut leopard coat you can buy today and wear forever. It’s a piece your mother and grandmother probably wore before you, and your daughter and granddaughter will want it, too. Visit Pappagallo soon, and “take a walk on the wild side.”
-by Nicki Smith
About the Author: Nicki Smith has been in the fashion industry for over 40 years. She is the owner of and buyer for Pappagallo, located at 2020 Scottsville Road in Bowling Green (The Pines Shopping Center, next to Chico’s).
