Leopard is a big trend in Fall 2010, but is it a good choice for women executives in large corporations or professional firms? Absolutely! In fact, it’s a classic we all should add to our professional wardrobes over time. Leopard is versatile (coordinating with all sorts of colors, including black, brown, camel, red and even gray this season), has a stylish retro vibe (think Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn and Mad Men), and properly done adds rich interest to an otherwise staid and boring office outfit.
However, it doesn’t take much for leopard to go from sophisticated to just plain tarty, so it’s important to observe a few guidelines when wearing it in a professional setting.
1. Look for quality. There are leopard prints that look authentic and then quite a few that look fake or garish. A good print will have spots in a natural shaded pattern as well as that dark rich tortoiseshell blend of caramel, brown and black that is distinctive of real leopard. Avoid high color contrast in the pattern and non-neutral backgrounds.
An insider tip: It can be an excellent investment to spend the money that is sometimes required to get a quality leopard print. A cheap-looking print may feel like a bargain but generally ends up as a short-term novelty. However, an upscale print will serve you well for years. Ms. Incognita has a fantastic leopard belt ($200) that she wears with multiple outfits, and she foresees still wearing that belt decades from now. Take a look at the picture below. That’s a significantly better return on investment than cheaper stuff that lacks versatility and shelf-life.
Ms. Incognita's wide calf-hair leopard belt (looks a little shiny in the picture due to glare from flash)
2. Wear only one leopard piece at a time. Leopard has a big visual impact. A little of it looks sophisticated and professional. A lot of it screams “Party time!”—definitely not authoritative or office-appropriate. You will always be safe if you wear only one leopard piece at a time and keep the rest of your outfit simple.
Here are some great ways of incorporating leopard into your professional wardrobe as well as some items to avoid.
TO BUY
1. Belts. Both professional and versatile, especially when done in calf-skin. A wide belt can enliven a solid color sheath dress or even be used to cinch a solid color coat. A narrower belt can be used for pants and skirts. Some good current examples of both are being done by Anne Klein (http://www.zappos.com/ak-anne-klein-2-3-8-studded-haircalf-inlay-with-lion-logo-rivet-leopard?zfcTest=prodPage2a:1); by Tory Burch (http://www.toryburch.com/toryburch/browse/productDetail.jsp?icProduct=22105726); and, as an investment piece, by Yves St. Laurent (http://www.ysl.com/us/en/onlineBoutique/Women/Belts/Classic/P-Classic-Leopard-Belt.aspx). Ms. Incognita particularly likes this mid-range priced version by belt maker W. Kleinberg, available at Saks: http://www.saksfifthavenue.com/main/ProductDetail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=282574491726261&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524446236794&R=674716041512&P_name=W.+Kleinberg&sid=12B2988CBFEA&bmUID=iIGBwuh.
W. Kleinberg leopard belt at Saks
Adrienne Landau Leopard-Print Fur Scarf at Bloomingdale's
3. Silk blouses and knit tops under a jacket or structured cardigan. This is a great office-to-dinner option. Under a jacket, blouses and tops add interest but remain office appropriate. After work, lose the jacket and add gold accessories for an elegant evening look. A lot of the classy versions are already sold out, but new ones should be available as the fall progresses. However, the picture below provides an example of how to do the look using a previous season’s blouse from Ms. Incognita’s closet. Other options that are available now include a gray version at Net-a-porter (http://www.net-a-porter.com/am/product/96372?cm_mmc=LinkshareUS-_-ProductFeed-_-LAgence-_-Tops&siteID=J84DHJLQkR4-9WVNWIPpXfTFhVxkvkWs4g), a well-priced thin cardigan at Talbots that you could wear back-to-front under a jacket in the office and on its own off-hours (http://www.talbots.com/online/browse/product_details.jsp?id=prdi25372&mode=search&backurl=%2Fonline%2Fsearch%2FsearchResults.jsp%3Fquestion%3Dleopard%26trail%3DSRCH%253Aleopard%26pageNum%3D0%26addFacet%3D%26removeFacet%3D) , and a very inexpensive t-shirt at Kohl’s that could work under a jacket in a casual workplace (http://www.kohls.com/kohlsStore/womens/tops/knittops/34sleeve/PRD~615783/Chaps+Modern+Traveler+Leopard+Top.jsp?prtID=pfx&src=k108283&cm_mmc=Performics-_-Affiliate-_-ShopStyle.com-_-Primary). If you are having problems finding an appropriate version for you be sure to follow Ms Incognita on Twitter for updates on what’s out there.
Leopard blouse and jacket from Ms. Incognita's closet
TO CONSIDER
1. Gloves and hats. Ms. Incognita loves the look but has also seen examples where the outfit goes over the top. Use good judgment here, and remember the one item at a time rule.
2. Flat shoes or sneakers for travel. Ms. Incognita used to travel on business between the US and Europe once a month for years. How to remain stylish, professional, and comfortable all at the same time on those long overnight trans-Atlantic flights? Black knit separates, sunglasses, and leopard sneakers from DKNY! Boy, does Ms Incognita miss those sneakers–she wore them to shreds.
TO AVOID (at least in an office setting)
1. Major wardrobe pieces. Unless you’re in design or some other fashion-forward business, leopard jackets, skirts, or coats take center stage and distract from the overall professional image you’re trying to cultivate. The only exception might be the addition of discreet leopard trim to an otherwise solid-color piece.
2. Heeled shoes. High-heeled leopard shoes are beautiful with a black sheath dress—Ms. Incognita owns a pair herself. However, leopard shoes are generally too distracting in the executive suite (unless the leopard is limited to a bit of trim). The focus should be on your ideas and energy, not on your alluring footwear! Wear more office-appropriate shoes during the day and trade them out for your leopard heels if you’re going on the town that night.
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