It’s a jungle out there

Somehow or other, animal print has become a classic, like our blue, white and red perennial nautical look, except just a tiny bit later in the season, and actually pretty much acceptable all year round, although its teaming with utility themes is what has made it so wearable for spring and summer in recent years. It’s easy to see why – it’s sleek, glamorous and suits everyone, so what’s not to like?

Except men. Animal print does not suit men at all, and I have no idea why, as they have no trouble wearing floral-print shirts and even pink gingham checks, but a fierce and hungry-looking leopard print? Absolutely not, unless you’re Mick Jagger circa 1977 (and let’s not be that, please).

But for women, animal print really does work. Perhaps it’s because it emphasises femininity with juxtaposition, or perhaps it hints at a dangerous and animalistic aspect of female nature, feline, or snake-like?

Whatever it is, it works for most, especially when teamed with the nudes, that rich and varied palette that fashion has come to regard as a basic building block against which to display and offset other trends. The nudes range from cream through to taupe, caramel and khaki and all make the ideal display board for most animal prints, although it is best to keep to the same tone so, for example, team a warm sandy nude twill skirt with a leopard or cat print that has creams, caramels and golds mixed in.

But if you take a cooler piece, in perhaps a greyish or blueish snakeskin, then try teaming with a stone or pale grey or silvery piece.

On the other hand, you don’t necessarily have to follow the same-tone background rule when combining animal prints, so you might like to try a silvery-toned snake print piece with a golden-toned leopard-print piece. You have to experiment and judge.

Add brown and caramel leather accessories and you won’t go far wrong.

Bring in Bird of Paradise and jungle foliage themed prints too, as these can often introduce swirls of green, turquoise and purple to the mix, for a wonderfully exotic safari feel.

As these pictures show, animal print is surprising, not least because it can be for all ages and for all occasions, from casual sun-dresses for teenagers through to weddings and race meets for any woman of any age.

But maybe leave off the Bet Lynch earrings.