Animal Motifs

Would you believe that one of the biggest trends of the moment is having animal motifs emblazoned on your clothing? It?s arguably the weirdest trend of the last few years. The style appeared on scores of runways for Fall/Winter 2012 collections and it?s taken off so quickly that you can now find mass produced animal motif garments in high street stores. Here?s how to pull off the look for maximum effect.

Save it for the sweaters

Sweaters, jackets, satchels and more have been subject to being adorned with pictures of animals. Some designers have even released pants with animals printed on them. Leave them to the runways and stick to the more conventional choice of an animal motif sweater. Not as big an investment as a jacket and not as subtle as a small accessory, a knitted or cotton animal sweater is the safe and stylish way to adopt the trend.

You?re not wearing pajamas

The animal motif trend can all too easily morph into a throwback to the dinosaur pyjama set of your childhood. You want to avoid looking like an overgrown five year old so excited about his new pyjamas that he?s wearing them in public. Any fabric which has a repeating animal pattern resembles nightwear too closely and is hardly even on trend. Stick to one big motif to make a bold and more mature statement. Usually an animal face, but often the whole body as well, the motif should be placed at the top of your sweater rather than across the stomach. Centre or slightly off-centre placement works well. The motif should always be on the front side of your outfit for greatest impact.

You can wear masculine animals

Majestic foxes, powerful eagles and lithe deer are manly animal choices which, for the moment, are at the height of fashion. You can never look stupid with a ferocious wolf emblazoned on your jumper. Tigers and owls are also popular choices. Other animals such as dinosaurs, kittens and reptiles don?t have the desired effect and make people wonder if you are reliving your childhood. Dogs are on the borderline- if you find an amazing dog jumper, then go for it, but tread carefully.

Keep the colors muted

Warm, understated colors are the way to go. Burnt orange, brown, navy blue and cream are popular options for the base color of your sweater. Stay away from brights to avoid looking like you shopped in the kids? section. A piece with a picture of a lion on it is never going to look fiercely sophisticated, but that doesn?t mean you should be bursting with all the colors of the rainbow. When wearing an animal motif sweater you are going for an indie-cool look rather than a childish one.

What to match your animal sweater with

A pair of fitted jeans or chinos is a perfect companion for an animal motif sweater. In keeping with the animal theme, wear it with leather or suede shoes. If it is a wool jumper and you?re wearing it on a chilly day, accessories such as a scarf or a beanie would not go astray.