The runways for SS ‘19 seemed to be inspired by a trippy urban safari; designers played heavily with animal prints, in both pattern and proportion. Gucci, Burberry, Off-White, and more sent prints down the runway that were exaggerated, mixed, and sometimes even neon. Street style interpretations showed gray leopard-print suits worn casually with exaggerated pink leopard tops, zebra-print pants with a leopard walking coat, mixed snake prints with pops of neon, and more.
Basically, fashion’s biggest trend for summer 2019 is going to the zoo.
We’ll show you how brands are showing off their stripes (and spots and scales) this season so you can try anything from adding an exotic touch to your look with a leopard-print Miu Miu minibag or going full-out fierce with head-to-toe python print from Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini.
Spotted everywhere: leopard print
Leopard print has long been a symbol of a sultry spirit, but newer iterations are more maximalist—even playful—in approach. Take Nike’s mixed leopard print sneakers, for example, some of which feature red and blue spots instead of the usual brown/black ones. Then there’s the Antonio Marras varsity-inspired leopard-print cardi with its short sleeves, striped trim, asymmetric hemline, and lace back. For more romantic takes, Paco Rabane mixes sequined leopard print with satin, and Dolce & Gabbana splashed its leopard print dresses, shirts, bags, and shoes with roses.
Stripe it rich
Some editors have proclaimed that tiger and zebra stripes will soon take over the animal-print kingdom, and luxury designers like Alexandre Vauthier and Gucci make a strong case for that argument—from neon yellow tiger stripes on sweatshirts and pants, to night-out dresses that are sure to make anyone your prey. There are also western-inspired options from brands like N.21 and Marc Ellis if you’re looking to go trend-on-trend. Chiara Ferragni and Golden Goose offer fun takes on zebra prints with a winking backpack and calf hair-accented sneakers.
Snake things up with Miu Miu, Off-White, and more
Once relegated mostly to cowboy-inspired styles and the rocker set, snake print is finally set to take over the mainstream. While there’s still no better print for a cowgirl boot, we’re now seeing that python print and its slithering siblings work well on everything from flirty dresses (like the neon ones by Off-White) to crossbody bags (like the mixed pastel snakeskin ones from Miu Miu). Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini is a go-to for head-to-toe looks, while Casadei, Chloé, and others released snake-print shoes that run the gamut from everyday ease to evening-out glamour.
Are you ready to walk on the wild side?
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By: Nafeesa Saboor
Nafeesa is the founder and editor of Shoes N Booze, a blog that pairs shoes with cocktails and provides shoe and cocktail-related tips, trend information, and reviews. Her writing has also been published in The Source Magazine, xoJane, Sisters from AARP and other publications.