Is leopard print unprofessional?

[LajesticVantrashell]

I ordered a new dress from Next and it came today. Tried it on and showed DH, said I might wear it for work tomorrow. He looked horrified and said he didn't think leopard print was 'professional'.

For background, DH works in a very corporate environment (shirt and tie) whereas I've just started a new job and the dress/culture is much more relaxed (jeans/chinos).

AIBU? Is leopard print really that bad? Planning on wearing it with black tights and ankle boots for context...

I wore a nice leopard print dress to work. Was told on multiple occasions that I looked nice, but one woman spent the day telling everyone behind my back that it was completely inappropriate for work. I stand by the dress and have worn it since. Cow.

I like the print but the cut doesn’t look very flattering with the drop waist and frill.
If you’re very straight up/down and super skinny like the model, it’s probably fine but I think it wouldn’t flatter anyone with hips. And I’d look like a twat if I wore it as I’ve got a huge mum tum.

However, I’d be seriously unimpressed with colleagues if they judge a person on their clothes choices and not their work performance.

It depends.
I can't due to the size of me norks. I look like Pat Butcher!

It's not about being old/stuffy/duffers......it's about having an opinion on whether that dress is suitable for a corporate job and the answer is emphatically no.

@LajesticVantrashell - you’re one of 20:14 is fine. I could wear that where I work (with the right accessories) and I work in conservative financial services!

It’s fine. I work in education and wear it, so does the headteacher and she is very smart and professional.

(the other one is cute, but not very office-y, depending though on your work environment)

@SinglePringle - thank God we are not working in the same office! that would certainly not go down well in my reasonably liberal minded office. I am no pearl clutcher but it does not look smart (or even smart casual) enough to wear in the office.
One might wonder what on Earth the OP is wearing for a night out!

I wore a leopard print dress (in an aubergine colour) to present at our board meeting last week. Nobody looked particularly startled.

I don't suppose anyone would, unless perhaps one of your board members is a gazelle.

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It’s absolutely fine op. Patterns can’t be unprofessional imo unless there is a rude or crude symbol.

FFS! What a bunch of staid old opinions some people have on here! We're not living in the 1950s you know! It's just a pattern- there's nothing more suggestive about leopard print than there is about a giraffe print, or a leaf print. To be honest, if you think leopard is for tarts and prostitutes it says more about you than it does about the wearer.

I’m going to wear mine with pride tomorrow now. Only on mumsnet!

Dear God, No.

The print and the cut are just wrong for a work/office environment.

The idea behind work wear is to make those around you feel comfortable, so little or no flesh showing and neutral colours (Don't believe the people who say that leopard is now a neutral. It may be for Insta Bloggers but not the rest of us).

Unless it's a tiny mini with spaghetti straps and your knickers on show I'm pretty sure it will be fine. If you feel that it's fine for work then you know best. Better than your husband or any naysayers here.

Hrh duchess of cambridge wears leopard print!

Completely fine! I work in a relaxed office.

I have to say Kate Middleton wearing leopard print was a conflicting moment for me - I have old fashioned views on it (I’m only 28 but I really dislike it), but I LOVE her style in general and she looked fantastic.

However her skirt was much classier than this dress - it’s very loud print and the cut is extremely casual.

I love how some are saying it’s emphatically wrong for office wear yet some are saying it’s perfectly fine for the office.

It’s almost as if places of work differ. Who knew that ‘emphatically’ could be so incorrect!

The idea behind work wear is to make those around you feel comfortable, so little or no flesh showing and neutral colours

Is it? Really? I'll make sure I tell that to the men in my office who sit with their legs spread and crotches on very visible display in every meeting I go to!

I'm a senior manager is a national company.

I wear leopard print.

It's fine.

The dress isn’t bad. It’s busy though so I’d probably break it up with a black cardi or jacket!

@LajesticVantrashell hopefully, the men have clothes on!

That Whistles dress is gorgeous.

I'm a lawyer. I work in-house at a large multinational. I regularly meet with city lawyers, customers and senior managers in the UK and abroad.

I also regularly wear not just leopard print but other animal prints (dresses, pleated skirts, shirts, shoes etc.). I LOVE animal print and bold styles.

I've managed not to be sacked yet for my outfit choices. Maybe what comes out of my mouth is more important to my colleagues than what is on my body whilst I'm saying it?

Whenever I read posts like this I always think thank fuck I left private practice!!

If you're allowed to wear jeans then leopard print is definitely acceptable

I worked in a bank though not customer facing but in a back office environment. That would be totally ok to wear.