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...

If you're allowed to wear jeans that dress is fine.
(It doesn't meet the description of business dress though)

Hahaha this thread is amazing it's really given me a laugh. I thought I was a middle aged mum but apparently I'm a 1980s prostitute working in adult entertainment hehehe
I have a lot of leopard print and have even worn one or two items when visiting head office . The scandal !

I wear a lot of leopard print, in and out of work. For work I regularly wear:

A-line shortish skirt (Oasis), with black polo neck jumper, opaque tights, flat Chelsea boots
Dark green jersey midi dress (Whistles)
Red and black pussy bow blouse (Zara)

Also a faux fur coat.

I never, ever wear low necks (in any print or fabric) and only ever wear things above the knee with 100 denier opaque tights.

I can’t warm to animal prints, particularly leopard print. It’s too ingrained that it’s Bet Lynch/Kat Slater style to me. TBF, I probably wear frumpy stuff you’d hate!

I’m with Caitlin Moran (about virtually anything) and, good grief, the OP’s dress is, if anything, rather demure! Some of the comments here are hilarious. I’m 53 and love wearing my leopard print ‘fun fur’ coat. I’ve a similar age colleague who regularly rocks a bit of animal print and looks great. The ‘adult entertainment’ comment was 😁. Believe me, some of you need to check out ‘adult’ fetish wear and revise a few opinions.

The print is fine but I think the cut is a bit too casual.

I have a leopard print dress in grey, midi length and long sleeved. I wear it with black jacket and boots and it's fine.

I agree with baubled you can't get any more relaxed and casual than jeans.

I work in quite a conservative environment, but it is starting to relax.

I don’t like leopard print, but that is a personal view. I don’t see that it is Unprofessional.

In my work Unprofessional is - cold shoulder tops, flip flops, vest tops, crocs, logos and underwear on show.

The dress is fine.

It always reminds me of Bet Lynch/Gilroy. Tacky, sorry! I wouldn’t.

Personally I think that dress is more casual than work wear, and would be more casual than jeans (assuming smarter jeans with a smarter top rather than casual attire). I think the other one you shared for your meeting was nicer and smarter.

If others are wearing jeans, casual shoes and casual tops then the dress would be fine.

People who think leopard print is not a neutral & only suitable for ladies of the night tend to be old or old fashioned.

I think it's too short, floaty and shapeless to be suitable for work. It's a bit 'VSCO girl'.

I hate animal print with a passion but I think it depends on the type and how it is worn. We have quite a few women who wear it at work, such as a skirt with a tailored jumper or a dress with a cardigan. A woman wears a leather skirt to work and she is the Chancellor's PA - very smart and professional looking.

@thirstyformore
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.

• would you wear what OP is suggesting? Honestly!

For me it is not only about the leopard print - but it being so tacky! The other PP posted a Michael Kors one, that looked stunning!

Hubby is completely right in this case.

The print and the style together are a definite 'no' for work, no matter how smart/casual you say they are.

Okay, I don't like the dress (just found the link) but if people wear jeans at your office then it will be fine. Personally most offices in visit are now going more and more casual now, I don't think what you wear dictates how you do your job anyway

Re everyone wearing faux fur by the way - you know it’s not even remotely biodegradable and literally melts into clumps of plastic! Just saying because people on MN always talk about the environment and it’s so bad for the environment!

@andyjusthangingaround - I don't think it's tacky. A little casual maybe. I would wear it in our offices, but not to an external/management meeting.

I would wear a leopard print knee length dress with a jacket to a meeting in the city though...I don't really care what they think!

I think it's tacky.

Not in that colour scheme, no.

The ones linked by @FakeFraudSquad are appropriate for work.

I think it's fine, I've got an animal print shirt dress I wear to work. If people in your place of work are wearing jeans I'm sure your dress will be fine

Wow there are some stuffy answers on here!! Where I work (relaxed corporate) people wear animal prints all the time

OP its really hard for people to judge if they dont know where you work and what people normally wear.

I work somewhere where everyone wears a dark suit. So maybe but maybe not depending on what you wore with it.

But you say you work somewhere where people can wear jeans? If you can wear jeans then of course that's fine

For me a total no. But, I've seen loads of animal print recently that was good for work unless you're very corporate. Go for it.

I work in a school and wear leopard print a fair bit!