The Best Animal Prints for Fall

The Colors

Dark teal appears all over the runways for the fall. Buy it in a bright, energetic hue or a more somber dark tone and use cedar green as an accompaniment. Black and white is timeless, as is amber and gold for fall, but pair with another brighter color animal print for a modern look. Less popular though just as appropriate is coral-red, very popular in snakeskin prints.

Snakeskin

Designers like Gucci have turned to the snake print this fall, reworking it with bright colors to put a new twist on an old favorite. Buy the print in a cool color like dark teal that goes well with the changing seasons and separates it from the warm colors of the summer animal prints. For an even more over-the-top look, pair it with a faux-fur coat or thick sweater in a matching or complimentary color. The sleek shine from the snakeskin contrasts extremely well with the texture of the fur. For a pop of print, wear a snake skin jacket and tone it down with a pale cedar green blouse and suit pants. Or, to showcase the print at the same time as subduing the outfit, pair with a solid black or cream outfit, depending on the color.

A multi-hued animal print should also be in your closet this fall. Gucci has a great snakeskin jacket that shifts from crisp gold-amber to a dark maple. This shifting effect heightens the natural scale look of the print and gives it movement.

Leopard

Like the snakeskin, this print looks best in cooler colors or black and white. Roberto Cavalli has a pair of fabulous teal colored leopard print pants paired with a shiny dark teal top. Once again, the contrast in textures creates that ever-enticing tribal-boho look.

Wear this print in a flowing chiffon or silk material to add a bohemian style to your wardrobe. Even in the cool colors it will still have that exotic spice to it. Roberto Cavalli does this with his black and white leopard print long-sleeved shirts in a delicate chiffon fabric, pairing it with a teal top underneath that shows through between the spots. These thin diaphanous fabrics are also perfect for layering, so heap on a bunch of patterned scarves over a few shirts or a dress and jacket without feeling overdressed.

Combinations

Mix up multiple animal prints for an edgy modern style. For example, combine a loose black and white leopard print shirt with an amber metallic snakeskin jacket and a black and white patterned translucent scarf for a punk gypsy look by Roberto Cavalli. When combining multiple looks, put the heaviest color on the bottom and let the sheer fabric float on the top.

Accessories

For those who gravitate towards the understated, go for an accessory with the animal print to liven up an outfit. Gucci has a great brown and tan snakeskin bag that is neutral enough to match multiple outfits. Scarves come in the same patterns as clothing, so throw one around your neck for a subtle touch of tribal. Wear it on a belt, a hat, a thick metal bracelet (Express and Cache always have plenty), or even a headband.

An accessory can also be used to provide the second texture/print to an outfit. Pair the Gucci snakeskin handbag with a warm hued animal print skirt or jacket for a complimentary look, or with a cool color animal print for a clashing, punk-sophisticated twist.

Try tying a long scarf or fabric belt in a bright animal print around a solid color dress for an instant fashion boost. This year is all about the midriff and accentuating the waist (when is it not?), and using the animal print to create this effect is killing two fashion trend birds with one stone.

Shoes

Just a quick reminder that shoes come in all of the aforementioned looks, so pair them with a matching animal print or wear alone for a touch of the wild within. Boots are, of course, the best thing to look forward to as summer comes to a close, and find them in a dark, shiny snakeskin print to ramp up the energy on any plain outfit.

It is all about the bold and the beautiful this fall, and animal prints are no exception. Use color and texture to freshen up an age-old fashion trend for a modern look.