All creatures

Adore them or abhor them, animal prints are not stepping away from the fashion scene – not in the forseeable future, anyway.

This continuing love affair with creature-inspired pattern is surely something to be celebrated. Once upon a time, leopard print in particular was little more than a TV wardrobe mistress’s shorthand for “dresses like a cheap and cheerful good-time gal”.

Think of Coronation Street’s pint-pulling sirens Bet Lynch and Raquel Watts, teaming tight leopard-print tops with huge earrings and teased blonde locks in artless homage to the received idea (in the Seventies and Eighties, that is) of what your traditional female bar attendant ought to look like.

These were the days when no sane woman would dare touch animal print, especially leopard print, unless she had a Tarts & Vicars party to attend (and even then, a black basque and fishnets was considered the classier option).

Now, however, animal print is a wardrobe essential, ideal for work and play, without even a hint of irony attached to the wearing of it.

How did this happen? Well, for starters, its change of image was helped by a spot of expansion and diversification, seen in the addition of zebra prints, snake prints and different varieties of big cat print, all providing attractive patterns that feature structured and recurring elements based on the real-life natural world. Best of all, these patterns are made up in colours that are remarkably easy to wear and flattering for all skin tones.

This is where leopard print, in particular, wins out, with its pleasing tones of brown, beige, nude, black and white. Take note, however: leopard print does tip over into tacky when the brown is nearer to orange, so check in daylight when buying in shops. This applies to all colour, actually. The lighting in some High Street stores can be moodily misleading, so try to view the item near doors or windows, if you can (preferably without setting off the security alarms).

The mixing of animal prints, both similar and different varieties, works well for this summer, but vary the fabric, for example, teaming cotton printed animal print with chiffon and silk printed items, for a luxurious feel.

Look out too for T-shirts printed with animal skin-inspired designs (see Dorothy Perkins for all fashion matters involving animal print this summer – lots of seriously wearable items in store and online).

Another key trend in animal print this season is the mixing of different types within the same printed fabric, perhaps zebra and leopard, blending the monochrome of the zebra into the warm, brown, rippled spots of the leopard, or perhaps mixing in snake and even feather prints, for an eclectic cartoon jungle/safari look that speaks of holidays and paradise.

Twitter: @yorkshirefashQ