I always hold on to my leopard/camo/polka dot pieces becauseI feel like they rotate coming back in style every few years.   Out of all the prints – leopard is probably my favorite.  Luckily for me, 2018 is the year of leopard print – and it’s back in a BIG way!  You can’t scroll more than 5 pictures through Insta without seeing a blogger incorporating the trend into their outfit some way.  This year the trend is a little different than other years, because the golden rule is to treat the print as if it is black! What does that mean? There really are no rules to how you wear it!  Clashing prints, bold colors, and head-to-toe looks were all over the runways, and have made their way into mainstream fashion.  

Leopard print is an attention grabber.  It’s definitely for those who want to get noticed! 

Even though no rules apply, it still can be a bit tricky to pull off.   Here are three outfits I incorporated the leopard print trend into this season.  Each one has a varying degree of it incorporated into the look.    

Level 1: A Leopard Print Accessory 

If you have a more subdue style and aren’t ready to dive head first into the wild, starting off with an accessory is a good idea.  It’s an easy way to add a pop of style to a more neutral outfit.  In this look, I am wearing different shades of all neutrals. I love this olive-colored mini dress I got from Urban Outfitters.   It’s great because it’s simple enough to dress up or down with accessories.  Here I decided to dress it down with platform sneakers (anything to give me a few more inches 😉 ) and a beige colored newsboy hat.   The neutral color mix helps give the outfit more layers of dimension, but I thought it still could pack a little more punch with this leopard print mini backpack I got from target.  It gives the outfit a little something extra while still playing into the casual, relaxed style of the outfit.   Leopard print belts and boots are other accessories that are hot right now you can easily incorporate into any neutral outfit to give it that little something, something without being too wild 😉

Level 2: A Leopard Print Piece of Clothing

The next level is obviously incorporating the print into a piece of your clothing.  I got this bodysuit from Shein that is pretty simple to layer into any outfit.  I wore it with black jeans and booties out with friends one night, but in this outfit, I wanted to elevate the look with something a little more unexpected.  Combining Black and leopard print makes a great outfit that always looks stylish, but I wanted to get a little risky here.  I thought what better way to break the rules than pairing it with white denim on denim!  I added my black over-the-knee boots to make the outfit Fall appropriate.  Seriously, leopard print makes any outfit just a little bit more fun and exciting and that’s how I feel about this look.   A lot of bloggers are incorporating the print with faux fur coats and slip skirts which are super trendy and fun to give it a try with, too. 

Level 3: Head-to-Toe Cheetah!

Remember when I said I hold on to my printed clothing because I know it will come back in style?  This dress is one of those pieces!  I got it a few years back during another “on trend” year.  I came across it perusing the Junior’s section of Macy’s when I was waiting for my mom at the makeup counter.  Macy’s usually isn’t my jam, so I wasn’t expecting to find anything. I casually walked through the section with my hand out touching clothes on different racks. I wasn’t really paying attention until my hand grazed over something super soft that felt like PJs.  I looked down and was surprised when I realized it was this dress.  I wasn’t really sure about it, to be honest. I really only tried it on because I was bored, and intrigued by how soft it felt.   The length and fit ended up being perfect which NEVER happens with maxi dresses, being so petite.  The dress hugged my curves in all the right places, too.  On top of all that, the dress felt like a nightgown; I could have easily crawled into bed and fell asleep right there.  As you probably know now, I am not very fond of winter.  I find lots of jackets, sweaters, and pants to be uncomfortable and itchy so to find something so warm and soft I could wear for a night out was VERY enticing.  I bought it no questions asked. 

Okay back to the head-to-toe leopard print and the moral of this story –if you are going to wear it all over, the key to pulling it off is finding the perfect cut and fit for you!  A great fit is crucial for any garment, but it’s harder to get away with when you are drawing attention to yourself dressed like a cheetah 🙂 .  This is also especially true if you are petite like me.  You don’t want the print to overwhelm your small figure.  You want to wear the leopard, you don’t want the leopard to wear you!  Normally, head-to-toe prints aren’t my thing, but the fit and material made me feel comfortable (literally) and confident enough to pull it off so I went wild!   In this look I decided to add a belt around my waist to break up the print a bit.  Leopard pantsuits are other head-to-toe looks that are also hot right now and fun to give a try.  Again – just make sure the suit is tailored to fit! 

What do you think of the leopard trend?  Are you guys fans?  Leave your opinion in the comments below!

Outfit Details

Look 1: 
Superga Women's Lace Up Platform Sneakers
Urban Outfitters Dress - Similar
Zara Nautical Stripe Newsboy Hat - Similar
Target Faux Fur Leopard Print Mini Backpack - Wild Fable™ Brown
Target Women's Metal Oval Sunglasses - Wild Fable™ Antique Gold

Look 2:
Tobi Elsa Distressed Denim Skirt
White Lightning White Distressed Jacket
Shein Strappy Back Slim Fitted Bodysuit
Michael Kors knee-high boots - Similar

Look 3: 
Forever 21 Twisted Open Front Heels
Macy's Leopard Print Maxi Dress - Similar