WHY ANIMAL PRINTS ARE THE NEW FLORALS

Taking the spotlight away from the flurry of florals, leopard, cheetah and snake prints have been creeping there way onto the major runways, streets and onto the worlds most iconic women. 

A staple print in the wardrobes of fierce and powerful style icons like Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell and Cindy Crawford to modern day influencers like the Hadid sisters Bella and Gigi as well as fashion royalty icons like Carine Roitfeld, show that this print evolution is far from over.

Kate Moss wearing a leopard print slip dress

Naomi Campbell wearing a leopard print maxi dress

Cindy Crawford wearing a leopard print cocktail dress

Gigi and Bella Hadid

Gigi and Bella Hadid

Their neutral colours, rebellious and edgy markings have long been a statement print at Little Joe Woman by Gail Elliott so with this in mind we interviewed the ultimate lover of animal print, supermodel and our Founder and Creative Director Gail Elliott. 

Gail Elliott wearing the Little Joe Woman Heart Of Gold cheetah print slip dress and The Mystic leather sandal.

Q: Gail as the creative director of Little Joe Women, why did you choose the direction of wild animal prints over florals this season for SS19? 

I’ve always loved the impact of good quality animal print and wanted the brand to move away from the over complicated and fussy styles we are seeing lately, into a simplified, effortless and timeless look, so I revived our favourite prints from our archives and recreated something timeless yet edgy, which could be easily adapted, using my favourite Chantilly lace and classic Little Joe woman slip dress and camisole shapes.

Q: Who is your favourite ultimate animal print woman and muse, and why?

For me no woman is more exceptional than Carine Roitfeld. A former fashion editor, current founder of the C.R Fashion Book and Global Fashion Director of Harper’s Bazaar, Carine not only inspires me as a designer, but as a woman. Always impeccably dressed, often in animal print, she’s arguably one of the sexiest women, not to mention fashion royalty in the fashion business. On style Carine eschews trends in favour of a stunning uniform of tailored pencil skirts, button down often animal print shirts, gorgeous heels and slightly smudged, sexy eye makeup.

Q: How does wearing animal print make you feel?

Confident, empowered and stylish with a rock-chic elegance - my leopard print pieces are ones I turn to again.

Q: What are your Do’s and Don’ts of how to wear animal print?

The key to wearing animal print is all in the silhouette - it’s best to avoid very short and tight mini skirts or dresses as this isn’t chic and can look a bit cheap.

A leopard coat will dress up jeans or elevate an all-black outfit - throwing on a leopard print coat or jacket looks as though you’ve made an effort, when you really haven’t.     

Same with a halter-neck leopard print jumpsuits, maxi dresses and flowing dresses or skirts that fall just around or below the knee that are all very easy to wear. 

Welcome To Paradise, Slip dress; Detroit Stone, Jumpsuit; Heart Of Gold, Slip dress; Lola, Camisole; High Tide, dress.

Mixing leopard print with white, is a fresh option and it also looks great pared with dusty pink, as well as with denim. 

DO WEAR ANIMAL PRINT WITH:

• A nude or a red lip and keep hair and make up simple for day.
• Mix prints like a floral skirt and a leopard camisole, as it’s very on-trend right now.
• Wear with solid ankle boots or shoes in colours like black or white or red which is also very on-trend right now.

Don’t be afraid to mix animal and floral print together but ground the look with a black boot and bag.

DON’T WEAR ANIMAL PRINT WITH:

• Don’t wear matching animal print or other animal print ankle boots or shoes as it’s too overwhelming.
• Don’t wear with khaki coloured boots, shoes or jacket unless you’re going on safari.
• Don’t wear with leopard print accessories as they tend to look cheap.

Q: What are your favourite ’Tips’ to wearing and styling your Little Joe Woman leopard print?

For a model-off-duty look you would wear our Low Rider ankle boots in black suede with our Heart of Gold leopard print slip dress. It’s a a simple but striking way of dressing. A bias cut slip dress evokes the 90’s style that I love and looks great on all body shapes and sizes as it’s an extremely flattering cut.

Animal print is an essential part of anyones wardrobe that will take you anywhere and make you look and feel perfectly dressed and polished and can take you practically anywhere. Worn with a simple leather sandal, ankle boot or heels, it can be worn for all occasions, summer, winter and on vacation.

It can be layered with a leather jacket, with cashmere and makes well worn and loved denim look polished. You can layer delicate gold necklaces and chokers like our Kissed Forever, Peace and Love and Be With Me necklaces as well as our Goddess bangles for a cool and on-trend look.  It’s the uniform of some of the most iconic women in the fashion business giving them a look that is cool as it is strong and will do the same for you.

Founder and Creative Director - Little Joe Woman by Gail Elliott

- by May Cortazzi -