The Style Suite - Colour Analysis, Personal Styling & More - Cardiff, South Wales & Online
Leopard Print By Colour Season
Leopard Print is making a huge resurgence this year. But I don’t need to tell you that, you already know – it is everywhere right now! I mean you probably found this article, googling how you can get involved and make leopard print work for you.
Working as a personal stylist, and being a conscious consumer means I’m not really big on driving fashion or “being fashionable” but leopard print comes around so often, it does have some longevity. It can also be quite neutral and versatile, really helping drive down the cost per wear.
As far as trends go, it’s becoming a classic. And whilst it’s not my favourite print to wear, I accept it can be a solid investment piece and become a wardrobe staple for some.
So lets look at how you can make Leopard Print work for you.
Three things to consider before buying leopard print
1. The Colour - Is it in your season, or does it harmonise with your colour palette?
2. The Scale - Is the print large or small, does the scale of the print suit your body type?
3. It's personality - is it loud, classic, edgy, or feminine, does it align with your style personality?
Leopard Print By Colour
Buying leopard print by colour season, or at least in an undertone or contrast level that is complimentary to your existing wardrobe will ensure it slots in with your current items seamlessly.
Get it right and you will be able to mix and match it well, creating lots of new outfits. Get it wrong, and you’ll be buying endless new items trying to make it work. HINT: If you need to do this, that leopard print is not for you!
When discussing leopard print by colour – this article does assume some existing colour theory knowledge. If you’re familiar with Seasonal Colour Analysis you’ll find advice on leopard print for your season below.
Total newbie? Join me on Facebook for a crash course!
Leopard Print for Winters
Cool - Clear - Deep
When we think of Leopard Print, our mind often jumps to a very traditional warm leopard print that looks like it’s come straight off the leopards back. Whilst this print can sometimes incorporate black which is great for Winter types, overall it is going to be far too warm and golden. Clashing with the Winter’s Cool or Neutral-Cool undertone.
When shopping for leopard print, Winters should consider the undertone of the print, it’s depth, and clarity. Do these align with any of their three colour characteristics which are Cool, Clear, and Deep?
When shopping for prints, it’s always going to be difficult to get an exact match. However, if you’re a Winter, matching one or two of these characteristics will ensure the item is cohesive with your current wardrobe and look.
Here are some examples of leopard prints for Winters incorporating some of winter’s trademark colours: black, grey and white.
Leopard Print for Summers
Cool - Soft - Light
Similarly to Winters, a true natural leopard print will also be too warm and golden for Summer types; again clashing with their Cool or Neutral-Cool undertone.
When shopping for leopard print, Summers should consider the undertone of their palette, alongside their two other colour characteristics which are Soft, and Light.
Since Summers struggle to handle a lot of depth or contrast in their look, I would argue that their Soft quality is the most important thing to consider when searching for suitable leopard print. A Soft, pattern will ensure the item blends more seamlessly with other items in a Summer type’s wardrobe preventing it from creating contrast or becoming too dominant against their more delicate look.
Honouring Summer’s Soft quality also opens up the opportunity to move away from the stereotypical Cool toned combination of grey, white, and black which can be too heavy for Summers. Especially those who are particularly Light or Soft in their appearance.
A slightly more authentic but Neutral toned leopard print will work better than stark white and grey combination. Despite the fact both white and grey appear in the Summer palette.
Here are some examples of leopard prints for Summers.
Leopard Print for Autumns
Warm - Soft - Deep
Leopard Print for Autumns can be a little more traditional than what’s recommended for Summer and Winter types since Autumn types can tolerate the more warm and golden tones associated with a true natural leopard print. However, similarly to Summers, Autumns have some softness to their image which should be considered.
When shopping for leopard print for their Colour Season, Autumns should consider the undertone of their palette which is Warm to Neutral-Warm, alongside their other two colour characteristics which are Soft and Deep.
Since Warm and Deep colours are a little stronger in nature, Autumns opting for a Warm and Deep leopard print should look to lower contrast by choosing a print that is a little smudgy. This will ensure the item pairs well with other soft tones in their palette, preventing it from becoming too domineering when paired with other items in their wardrobe.
Here are some examples of leopard prints for Autumns.
Leopard Print for SPRINGS
Warm - Clear - Light
Of all the Colour Seasons, Springs can generally wear the most authentic of the leopard prints. This is because Leopard Print is Warm, Clear, and Light (ish). Something which consistently matches the characteristics of Spring types: Warm, Clear, and Light.
However some deep browns and blacks do appear in more traditional leopard prints. Bright (Clear) Springs will wear these well despite black not appearing in the Spring palette. However, they can still be too strong for Warmer or Lighter Spring types.
Therefore Springs should pay more attention to their dominant characteristics when shopping for Leopard Print.
Light Springs, should look for Lighter prints. Warm Springs should look for Warmer prints. Bright (Clear) Springs should look for Clearer prints.
Here are some examples of Leopard Prints for Springs.
