It's a Jungle Out There. Animal Print Fashion Trend 2019

• The Hatista
• Outfits
• October 24th 2018 / Revised: January 24th 2020

There are many fashion trends that we’ve been able to thank Victoria Beckham for over the past few decades. The fascinator kick started when Victoria wore a Philip Treacy to the palace when David collected his OBE. Then, the Massive sunglasses trend adopted by nearly every fashionista last decade, and now this season she’s raided Scary Spices’ late 90’s wardrobe and (re)introduced us to Animal prints in her AW18/19 collection.

Animal print is not exactly a new trend, in fact it rarely totally goes away. Some designers like Roberto Cavalli have never stopped featuring it in the collections, but this season nearly all designers and influencers aren’t letting us avoid it. How does this make you feel? I think it’s fair to say that initially not everyone’s excited. People have strong reactions to it, and many of us shy from it as it brings back "Pat Butcher" or "Bet Lynch" memories, or think it says something trashy about the kind of woman that wears it. There’s an association with Animal Print clothes, through all decades, with women who behave badly or “naughty”, usually sexually.

But when Victoria Beckham, Tom Ford, Diane Von Furstenberg, Calvin Klein and Carolina Herrera to name a few, all showed the trend in their AW18/19 catwalks, we have to listen. They can’t all be wrong so we need investigate how to embrace the trend in ways Pat Butcher, Bet Lynch, or the “naughty” ladies would never have thought of.

It's taken me a while to come around to the thought of wearing some animal print this fall, but with 6 months gone since the shows, you'd be hard-pressed to find any top Instagram fashion blogger who doesn't have at least one standout animal-print item in their wardrobe right now - the fashion influencers of the world have adopted it with open arms. I've now managed to hunt out some of the best examples out there. Items that I'm confident I can wear without being paranoid I'm sending the wrong message to people that don't realize it's now on trend. I hope you like my picks. I've divided into different groups / budgets, from "I see these being a wardrobe stable for years, I'll invest in pieces that should last a lifetime", to "The trend will pass, I'm not totally bought into it yet, I'll dabble with budget pieces I'll wear a few times."

This post includes affiliate links - suggestions of items I've selected you. If you see anything you like, click the links and decide to buy the suggestion, then the retailer will give me a little commission (maybe even enough to buy a latte) to thank me.

1. "I see these being a wardrobe stable for years, I'll invest in high end pieces that should last a lifetime."

Below is a gallery of some luxury Shoes, Bags and Clothes with Animal Prints I've hunted out for you to splash out on.

Leopard-print coats, leopard-print shoes, and leopard print bags are the three most prevalent ways adopt the trend. Coats are braver of course, so if like me you are still only just "coming around to the idea", then dip your toes in the water with shoes and boots. There's also dozens of snake and python prints or zebra, and faux-croc for those that see certain connotations with Leopard print outfits.

2. "I'll probably get good use from it again and again for a few seasons, so don't mind spending a little bit on my outfit"

Below is a gallery of some animal print pieces you will be able to wear through a few years, confident that the trend will be here a while, but don't want to spend a whole fortnights salary on one piece.

3. "I'm thinking just for the one season, so items that will see me well till spring, but not too high budget."

Below is a gallery of some pretty animal prints, for most peoples budgets, to adopt the trend for this seasons wardrobe. If you pick just one animal print item, then make it a scarf, bag or shoes / boots that you can use to wear with lot's of outfits, and get great value "cost per wear". Adding an Animal print bag, or shoes to all neutral, green or yellow outfit will be a great way to highlight the animal print. Call it the new "Colour Pop" for the season.

4. "I just need something for the season, or an outfit for a friends wedding. I change my wardrobe every season, show me budget pieces."

Looking to complete your outfit with an animal print for a one off event, or just for the season. Below is a gallery of some on trend animal print items still perfect for once or twice use occasions like weddings, but for the price of a round of drinks.