Leopard print is no longer just a seasonal trend. It returns every winter, and every winter someone explains that it is back. What changes is how you wear it.
What has changed this year
The backgrounds. The classic print used to play on a rather raw yellow-beige. Our pieces this season are set against camel and brown backgrounds, which are more muted. The difference is clear when placed next to a piece from five years ago: the pattern is still readable, but it no longer jumps out at you from ten meters away.
That is what makes it wearable on a Tuesday morning, not just a Saturday night.
One piece, never two
The rule is simple and allows for no exceptions: only one printed item in your outfit. The rest should be solid colors.
This leaves four possible entries in our selection.
The sleeveless blazer vest, the easiest version. It can be worn over a black or ecru sweater and does all the work.
The long-sleeved shirt approaches it from the opposite angle: tucked into solid-colored trousers, it only reveals the torso and collar. It is the minimal dose.
The high-waisted palazzo pants, for those who want the print on the bottom. These require a strictly solid-colored, close-fitting top.
The short-sleeved blazer, the most assertive of the four.
Which colors to pair it with
Black, chocolate, ecru, and camel. These are the four solid colors that let the pattern breathe.
Avoid: cool gray, which dulls the brown of the background, and navy blue, which creates a clash that doesn't work.
The very dark plum of the season works, contrary to expectations. It provides a more dressed-up look than black.
The classic mistake
Pairing leopard print with another pattern, even a subtle one. A fine stripe, a houndstooth: on the hanger, it seems bold, but in a photo, it vibrates, and all you see is the clash between the two.
The other mistake is overloading on accessories. A strong print speaks for itself; it calls for neither flashy jewelry nor a patterned bag.
Where to see the rest
All our leopard pieces are gathered in this selection. The other patterns of the season, stripes, houndstooth, and jacquards, can be found in stripes, checks, and patterns. Details on the winter fabrics are here.
If you are hesitating between two pieces, trying them on settles it in two minutes. We are located at 21 Rue du Président Édouard Herriot, and we can prepare a selection in your size before your arrival with Le Portant.