If there ever was something like a panacea to all the winter fashion faux pas of the world, it must be the leopard print coat. Not only can the leopard print coat do wonders as a pick-me-up for the ordinary blouse or shirt underneath it, it is totally merciful to all your curves that might crop up in the wrong places.
Leopard Print Coat Origins
Have you ever wondered, exactly what is it that makes the leopard print or any other animal print has this timeless appeal for us? Well, the answer lies deep in the womb of human history; when hunter-gatherers actually used the exotic skins of animals they had hunted for the practical purpose of keeping warm and the supernatural intention of gaining that animals prowess through skin contact. That appeal is still there - doesn’t the sexiness of a leopard print coat add that something to the feline grace in your gait?
So although the charm of the leopard print has always been there, it’s only in the hands of the French royalty (oh yes! They had a hand in this fashion development too!) in the pre-French Revolution days that it gained much popular currency. In the 1980’s the leopard print coat saw the biggest wave but it was truly modernized and popularized by the Hippie Movement in the 1960’s. Since then it has kept appealing to the imaginations of designers the world over every decade or so.
Current Trends in Leopard Print Coat
It is red hot as a fashion forecast for the Fall – Winter collections 2009-10. Designers like Yves Saint Laurent, Calvin Klein and Valentino are gunning for you with masterpieces of leopard print coats in the most luxurious materials. While faux fur seems to be the material of choice for the designers while the linings are made from super tender satins and rich velvets. Velvets are also being crafted into exquisite leopard print coats which are then being lined with a cotton polyester blend.
But what has really caught the eye of the true fashioinista are the colours on offer – from the regular leopard tan to black, plum and the very bold red! You can choose to wear whatever mood you’re in as a colour – blue, black even a pristine white self print!
Accessorizing Leopard Print Coat
But all that designer aplomb will be wiped out in seconds if the accessories don’t blend in. The best way to balance the opulence of the leopard print coat is to pair it up with a simple dress or shirt in basic colors complemented with uncomplicated jewelry (platinum and diamonds are your best bet) and subtle but flawless make-up. The bag and the shoes should reflect the understated luxury that comes from classiness and the hair done up to a neat and healthy beauty.
Budget Leopard Print Coat
But depending upon your budget you can also go for good quality leopard print coats in satins and cotton blends, which are a far cry from the designer ones in term of price range and yet do very well as a fashion must. Again these can be wonderfully accessorized with resin beads, rhinestones and even gold jewelry. The make-up should however still be subtle and you will still feel like royalty without the Fendis and Manolo Blahniks! That’s the magic of leopard print coats!