Local fitness teacher and judicial assistant Shelley Black’s passion for exotic prints is evident in her wardrobe and her home decor. Black has a collection of clothing in cheetah, leopard, zebra and snake print that includes shoes, jackets, skirts, purses, jewelry. Her decor includes animal print throws, pillows, a bedspread, curtains, linens and more.Whether it’s reptile, alligator, cheetah or zebra, fashion followers are wild about animal prints. The exotic look remains popular in apparel and home-decor design year after year, said Arlene Goldstein, Belk vice president of trend merchandising and fashion direction.
“It’s a touch of exotic that’s chic and elegant,” she said. And in fashion, “it’s become a classic — like the turtleneck and skinny pants.”
Although cheetah and leopard prints are perennial favorites, snake prints are big for spring and fall, she said. Internationally known designers including Michael Kors, Giambattista Valli, Donna Karan and Anna Molinari have included animal prints in their 2012 spring lines.
While animal print can be interpreted in many classifications of fashion, from shoes to purses to jackets, wearers must remember that it’s a bold statement piece.
“A touch is extremely dramatic and can go a long way,” Goldstein said. “Animal prints are best used as an accent. Less is more. It’s so prominent that it takes over. It’s the focus.”