Leopard print is a fall favorite among both designers and consumers. Every year leopard print, and exotic animal prints for that matter, grace the runways, appear on store shelves and flood city streets in droves. For fall 2012, leopard print is the most prominent of the exotic animal prints and has moved to the front of the line as arguably the most important print for the fall 2012 season.

Leopard print is appearing on shoes, handbags, clothing and accessories for fall 2012. Designers are not just creating one pair of shoes or one handbag in the feline print, designers such as Prada, Christian Louboutin and Jimmy Choo have designed multiple styles for fall 2012; proving the importance of the print for the cool weather season.

This may be the most important accent for the fall 2012 season. Adding meow-worthy leopard print to any ensemble this fall season is the easiest way to update one’s wardrobe or add a feminine touch to a menswear inspired look. Smoking slippers, platform pumps, flat soled heels and boots are an understated way to add leopard to an outfit. Leopard print handbags and jackets are a bolder way to add the print to one’s wardrobe; but one must be warned-all over leopard print is definitely too much of a good thing.

Leopard print is racy by nature, but can easily be toned down when worn as a shoe or subtle accent. When worn as an article of clothing or all over the body, leopard print can become racy in the wrong way-if you know what I mean  The trick with wearing leopard print is to only wear ONE piece. Everything worn with leopard print should be neutral and should not compete with the print. This will ensure an understated yet on-trend look for the fall 2012 season.

We found a few fabulous leopard print items currently online and assembled them into the Polyvore set below. Hope you love it! Happy shopping and stay fabulous 

Leopard print always seems to make an appearance in Fall fashion. Here in the San Francisco Bay Area, leopard print, and animal prints, are shied away from by Fashionistas. Leopard print always seems to be on the flashier side of fashion which, here in the understated Bay Area, can be frowned upon. This Fall, leopard is coming back with a vengeance, which could signal a softening here in the Bay Area, where Fashionistas may ponder the thought of adding a touch of animalistic va-voom to their Fall ensembles.

This year leopard print has taken on a whole new life. There are traditional leopard print designs on everything from Christian Louboutons to Tory Burch Booties to Dolce and Gabbana handbags to full and fabulous cheetah print dresses. Dries Van Noten is showing a beautiful jacket in full leopard print and of course Roberto Cavalli is showing everything animal print; cheetah and leopard. Ralph Lauren, who traditionally shows conservative styles has a bold cheetah print clutch for Fall in his collection.

There are some designers who have taken the animal print to new levels. Dolce and Gabbana has a fabulous blue leopard print handbag and Yves Saint Laurent has an amazing traditional leopard print hobo. Blumarine has opted to go Zebra with a fabulous pair of booties for Fall. Philip Lim has combined Minimalism with leopard print by creating a mini, crossbody handbag in grey leopard print.

This Fall, the animal print trend, which is heavy on the leopard, is a great way to liven up a neutral, 70’s silhouette or for adding pop to a Minimalism outfit. Here in the San Francisco Bay Area, it is a good idea to shy away from the head-to-toe leopard look; although it works if you are going to Vegas for the weekend. Bay Area Fashionista would like to recommend sticking to an accessory such as leopard shoes, a leopard handbag or leopard print scarf. If you feel that is not animal enough for you, a leopard print jacket will suffice with a solid, neutral outfit. This is a great trend which will add the right amount of va-voom to any outfit. So if you have shopped your closet and there are no wild animals to be found, it is time to hit the mall. Happy shopping and stay fabulous.