Mixing Animal Prints (& Not a Leopard Print in Sight) #iwillwearwhatilike

This isn’t my first pattern mixing outfit (far from it!), but this IS my first zebra print item of clothing.

It’s a zebra print blouse I’ve had my eye on for ages, and I finally caved last week. It seemed only sensible that I also wore another animal print in this outfit. But wait – it’s not leopard? What’s going on…?!

Not that it was intentional, but I really fancied mixing my animals when I put this outfit together and yet leopard didn’t come into the equation. The blouse is one of those lovely loose, not-at-all-fitted styles with a tie at the front (which actually comes in lots of colours and patterns) that’s so easy to throw on under a blazer. I hadn’t worn my (old) snake print boots for a while, and as all the snow had gone I thought a heel would make a change from the flats I wear all week while working from home and walking the dog.

So two animal prints but no leopard, and yes, orange AGAIN. But when it’s a double-breasted orange blazer that’s also on sale, who am I to say no? Don’t they (you know, “they”) know that if I see anything orange, I HAVE to have it??

In all honesty, I don’t actually consider two prints in one outfit that aren’t sitting next to each other pattern mixing at all. To me, there has to be a clash – and a clash can only occur when the prints are together and there’s some fisticuffs going on. Zebra print blouse and snake print boots, no pattern mixing. Zebra print blouse and a leopard coat – now THAT’S what I mean by pattern mixing!

 

Disclosure: This post contains some affiliate links which means if you click through and buy I may receive a small commission at no cost to you (click here for my full disclosure). Any items listed as* or “gifted” were gifted within the last 12 months.

 

SHOP THE LOOK:

 

In the end I wore this outfit out last weekend but with my Antarctic-suited pumpkin-coloured parka over the top – it isn’t anywhere NEAR blazer weather in the UK yet. But a blazer is great for indoors in winter (instead of knitwear) if you fancy looking a little smarter, which is what I did for Sunday dinner with my parents when I wore this.

The dark green and the saturated orange colours together spoke to me. I’d not thought of pairing the blazer with anything except warm colours when I bought it, but the rich green trousers leapt out from my wardrobe when I was working out the rest of the outfit.

The mustard beret hid my severely unwashed hair (it had been in plaits for days, hence the messy crinkles!) and big gold earrings (try these) added the touch of bling the whole thing needed.

 

So that’s it! Be bold with your animal prints, I say. If you fancied some snake print boots or shoes I found some FABULOUS pairs when looking for some boots similar to mine – scroll down just past the pics to see my selections.

I now fancy some snake print shoes for the spring…

Do add your outfits to this week’s link up – and if you’ve added a link to here or my button to your post you may be featured in my bi-monthly Women Who Wear What They Like post!*

ANY FANS OF ANIMAL PRINT (THAT ISN’T LEOPARD) OUT THERE? COMMENT BELOW…!

*Due to the amount of work involved, I’ve decided to make the Women Who Wear What They Like post bi-monthly (once every two months). Sorry if that’s disappointed anyone, but I won’t have to rush it if I do it that way! Next one will be on the second Wednesday of March : -)

Blazer: Topshop
Blouse: River Island
Trousers: Asos
Boots: Mango (similar)
Beret: Asos (if sold out this is similar)
Bag: House of Fraser
Earrings: Mango (similar)

 

OTHER SNAKE PRINT BOOTS AND SHOES YOU MIGHT LIKE:

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Thank you for joining the #iwillwearwhatilike link up! This started as a campaign on Instagram in August 2015 where women over 30 wore everything on a journalist’s list of “inappropriate” items for 30+ women (including leopard print, short dresses and oversized sunglasses. Yes, really). It was so popular that I decided to carry it on weekly where women of all ages link up their fabulous style, never mind what anyone tells them not to wear!

The link up goes live every Tuesday at around 3pm UK time and will stay open for a week. Whilst the original article was of course aimed at the 30+, you can be ANY age to link up. The only criteria is that you’re wearing whatever you damn well like!

Click here to receive an email reminder for the next #iwillwearwhatilike link up as soon as it’s live!

Linking up etiquette…

CLICK HERE to read the rules of linking up (and to grab the #iwillwearwhatilike button). Basically it’s just good manners to link back to here – to leave a comment is even nicer!

PLEASE NOTE: This is for linking up WHAT YOU’VE BEEN WEARING ONLY. Non-outfit links will be removed and you might be blocked if you turn out to be a repeat “offender” (and no one wants that, do they…)!