Am I the only one who hates animal print?

[MyGhastIsFlabbered]

They’re everywhere. Maybe it’s because I’m a child of the 80s but I just can’t rid myself of Bet Lynch’s image. Am I the only one?

I don’t think anyone is clutching their pearls or suggesting we get the guillotine out over animal print🙄

You go girl, I bet you look the bomb.

Ooh I love that

I like leopard, in fact just bought a dress from Boden in leopard. It goes really well with my colouring. I have never felt drawn to other animals prints but to each their own and all that.

Oh I just remembered a halter neck floor length leopard dress I wore back in the mid 90s, like Scary Spice!

Exactly. People that wear it, in my experience are the people that declare they’re mad/wacky “ I’m mad me” types. I stand by that no matter how expensive the piece, it always looks cheap and tacky in animal print.

I’m nothing like that and love an animal print blouse. There are some that look amazing with navy and they are expensive makes! Jigsaw did a great large print that’s a nod to an animal this summer. It’s brown/black on a white background and it’s chic.

I also hate it, with the rare exception (there's always an exception). It generally has a cheap, garish vibe to me, a bit like obvious fake fur. I'm not sure why, though.

(Disclaimer: I'm not British).

@OtterlyAstounding Have you looked at better quality animal prints? Maybe not if you think they are garish?! Many are very subtle!

I have, but if something is recognisable as animal print then it still comes off as cheap to me, even if not garish. There's just something about it that doesn’t appeal. Leather trousers/skirts make me feel the same way.

I'm 60 and find animal print tops and coats ageing but I do quite like leopard print jeans that i can wear with chunky boots and oversized coat for the winter.

I saw a pair of leopard print ankle boots made to look like fur the other day. I don’t like the normalising of it tbh

Me neither.

I like touches of animal, I have an all saints leopard sling bag in muted dark brown. I have a boat neck long sleeve light cashmere blend top from intimissimi, again in muted dark brown. And I have a pair of dark pointed toe heeled ankle boots from zara which I like peeping out under my rich chocolate brown velvet wide leg trousers.

Oh and I have a massive silk leopard scarf which is light as a feather with a red trim which looks good under a wool coat. I wouldn't wear a big piece like a coat or dress but I think it's fun and neutral. Goes with everything!

Also I don’t get this idea that we shouldn’t judge people by what they wear. People choose what they wear to convey an image of themselves. What I wear to work is different to what I would wear to the pub with friends for example

even the defenders of animal print have fallen into it on this thread (Breton tops for suburban mums)

if I see someone with a subtle piece of animal print o don’t think much of it but if I see someone with a lot or matching it with loud colours then I’d probably give them a swerve tbh

Doesn’t suit me so I don’t wear it.

But it would be a cold day in hell before I’d refer to other women or their outfits as ‘tacky’ ‘trashy’ or ‘tarty’.

No need to drip with misogyny, after all.

Actually the two I’m thinking of are Theresa May and Angela rayner

the former used it to look ‘fun’

the latter to reinforce her working class credentials

Men can look tacky and trashy too. I agree with you on 'tarty' though.

@OtterlyAstounding I do get that certain prints and fabrics don’t appeal. That’s not making them garish though. They really can be quite subtle and used sparingly.

I'm totally in love with my leopard print barrel trousers, they are the most comfortable and flattering trousers I own. I wear them with either black or camel, or both. They are very muted leopard, not in your face.

No, you're right, they're not always garish. There's just something about animal print that feels cheap to me though, no matter how expensive it is. I'm not sure what's created that association for me, but it persists.

Although I never used to like cropped tops and now I love them, so perhaps in another decade I'll decide I like leopard print too!

Here are some ideas! Scarves are a good start. And shoes.

Then there’s jeans and other garments. Just not all at once.

I have the most amazing leopard print scarf. It looks great with wide leg jeans, a white T-shirt, and a black jacket.

And Bet Lynch fucking rocked 🤘

I have to say, I don't like any of those (on myself, anyway), but then I don't like barrel legs, pussy bows, leather trousers, or pointed-toe shoes, so perhaps the leopard print aesthetic fits in with a style of fashion that just isn't for me. I fear I may be too 'boring' 🫣
(I'm more into men's straight leg jeans, military surplus boots or ballet flats, cropped t-shirts, and either home-sewn button-up shirts in wild patterns that my mum makes me, or jumpers that I knit! Not really 'fashionista'!)
I did realise I have a leopard print scrunchie that's very cute though.

There’s not one image on this thread that I don’t think is ugly! That’s my opinion and I’m surprised by the number of people coming in trying to force people to love it!