There are more than just giraffe print purses out there.  It seems like the entire animal kingdom is hot right now, and not just in the handbag world (although animal print bags are hot right now).  The animal print craze has taken over the fashion world.

Recent fashion trends have coined the animal print as the hottest thing for the Fall and Winter seasons.   The traditional tiger (some people feel that tiger print gets the shaft) and leopard prints (even toilet seats) will always have a place among the fashion world.  More recently, however, we have seen a dramatic increase in other types of animal prints, such as the zebra (even zebra sunglasses) and cow prints.

The general idea to making animal print fashions work for you is to choose designs that match your normal personality.  If you tend to dress more conservatively, you should stick to something small, such as a pair of animal print shoes or purse.  If you tend to be a flashy dresser, however, by all means go all out; get a coat, shoes, dress, hat, and gloves in animal print fabric.

The best clothing that you can get, fashion wise, is subtle pieces, like a knee-length dress or ¾ sleeve shirts.  If you are just looking for a creative way to vamp up your wardrobe this is the way to go.  With these two choices, you can pair them up with just about any kind of solid material, from black leggings to khakis.

If you are simply looking for an accessory update, animal prints are a good choice here too.  You can choose purses, shoes, and jewelry, scarves and yes, even animal print hair extensions.  Each of these items can provide amazing contrast to solids when used as complimentary pieces.  If you have a black dress, for example, that you want to wear to a social event, try adding a small animal print bracelet or necklace, an animal print clutch, and a pair of animal print shoes.  You can easily create a pleasing result.

In addition to the traditional color schemes of the animal prints used, you should be on the lookout for others.  On the fashion wire this year, fresh from the runway, are mix and match separates that utilize the same traditional animal prints, but add a new twist: different colors and styles.  The ruffled Victorian blouse is back, and paired with a flared out skirt with ruffles underneath (think of the skirts from the 50s).  The twist to these is the gray and black snakeskin print of the shirt and the red and black zebra print of the skirt!

Check out what some others have to say about the coming animal print craze in 2009:

My Fashion Addictions says watch out for Zebra

My Prom Style thinks animal prints might be strong this prom season

Trend Hunter Magazine says that animal prints are still hot

Let me know what you think is going to be the hottest animal print of 2009 (besides giraffe print of course).

]]> http://www.giraffeprintpurses.net/current-trends-in-animal-prints/feed/ 4 http://www.giraffeprintpurses.net/christmas-eve-giraffe-print-links/ http://www.giraffeprintpurses.net/christmas-eve-giraffe-print-links/#comments Wed, 24 Dec 2008 20:13:38 +0000 Emily http://giraffeprintpurses.net/?p=13 The Glamarous Life had a good post on designer inspired animal print handbags – you can find here.

Bag Bunch on B. Makowsky Oslo | Metal Trim Dome Satchel in Zebra Print - here.

Giraffe and Zebra Print luggage at the house of purses – here.

This falls under leopard print, but I thought it was interesting – here they talk about celebrity DIY style

What makes these critics so largely against giraffe prints is the fact that too many people get carried away with it. A few small accents of giraffe print, like on a purse or a pair of shoes, is one thing. To dress from head to toe in giraffe print items is completely another. You are pretty much making yourself look like a miniature giraffe, and this is not good.

To make the giraffe print look trendy, you need to pick a few crucial items that can be used for contrast in your wardrobe. A pair of shoes , a purse, and a few pieces of jewelry is all you need. If you want to make a little louder of a fashion statement, you can go for a wrap or hat. You can even try some animal print hair extensions if you want to be daring. Most importantly, you do not have to wear every single giraffe print item that you own all at once! This completely defeats the purpose of complimenting other items in your wardrobe.

Trendy vs tacky is really in the eye of the beholder. Obviously, if you think the miniature giraffe look is too much, chances are you will think it is tacky. If you tend to gravitate toward more subtle looks, you will find giraffe prints rather trendy. Don’t let these fashion weirdos ruin the look for you. Giraffe prints are now on their way to the classic animal print hall of fame.

I ran across a few different post debating similar topics here and here.

Is trendy or is it tacky? Let me know what you think and why.