Three Ways: Leopard Print Ballet Flats

As I mentioned this morning, I prefer leopard print for casual wear.  However, if you wanted to, you could certainly buy a pair of leopard high heels and pair them with black separates and sheath dresses.  But I like to think of leopard as a way to jazz up my dressed down looks, instead of a way to glam up my work attire.

Polyvore Set Here.

Some people find a basic ivory, wool sweater to be boring.  And it is…on it’s own.  But an ivory cashmere sweater is the perfect palette to create something interesting.  Whether you want to add color or texture or, like in this outfit, add layers, an ivory sweater can’t be beat.  Unless, of course, you have a black sweater.

Here, I layered an ivory scarf and a camel blazer with wide leg jeans and used the shoes as a punch of chic.  I also added a simple, dark brown bag and a slightly more interesting purple stud earring.  And I like the aviators with this, I think they bring an air of attitude to go with the shoes.

If you had brown boots or basic, brown flats, you could wear a floral printed blouse underneath.  If you wanted to switch out the bad, I would recommend a cognac satchel.  I’d also wear this with a loose wavy hairdo, pulled up in a deconstructed (but not messy) way.

Polyvore Set Here.

Of all the colors on the wheel, I think leopard goes best with yellow.  Some women like red, but I really feel that yellow is a less provocative companion for animal prints.

Here, we has a muted yellow dress with the leopard flats and a cognac bag to balance th hints of orange and tan in the shoes but compliment the darker belt on the dress.  

And, as you’ve certainly noticed, I love green jewelry with yellow pieces.  So for this outfit, I used an olive stud earring as my only  piece of jewelry.  I like it simple since the dress is so bold and the shoe is sure to raise eyebrows.  However, if you want more, try a hoop earring and stacked bangles.  

You could also wear a collar necklace with some geometric or metallic touches.  But if you choose to wear a necklace with this neckline, it must be big and bold.  If you chicken out and go with a simple pendant, then all you are doing is ruining a glamorous, collar bone exposing neckline for no reason.  Go big or go home for the neckwear with this dress.

Polyvore Set Here.

This look is inspired by Anh over at 9 to 5 Chic and her modern, city girl look.  

Here, I paired a striped, silk blouse with skinny jeans and the leopard flats to mix up the patterns a bit.  I then added a statement necklace (more on that below), a cool utilitarian bag and the slightly hipster wayfarers.  

I’m crushing on the Philip Lim bag in a big, big way and I’ve had to hide my credit card from myself so that I don’t buy it.  It’s desperately important that I don’t buy it.  Unless, of course, I want to stop eating for a month or five.

While you can wear it anyway that you please, in my head, the top button of the shirt is fastened and the necklace is worn under the collar, almost like a bow tie.  I think that this geometric, textured necklace is the perfect extension of the Peter Pan collar on the blouse.