Thanks to our friends from Jersey Shore, and many others I’m sure, leopard print is often viewed as trashy. But wait a minute… let’s not rush to conclusions on this just yet. As with anything, there are ways to make this work without kissing our  elegance goodbye! Just about everything comes in leopard print now; skirts, blazers, flats, bangles, and the list goes on. If you’re afraid of showcasing the print on a major piece (skirt, top, blazer), incorporate it into your look with accessories. If you want to go bold, see the above look.

The color of the leopard print can mean the difference between chic and obnoxious. Neon colored leopard print is fun for a summer tank top, but not acceptable in a professional setting. You could get away with a classic brown print, but I personally like the black and white. You really can’t go wrong with black and white anything, i.e. the success behind White House Black Market. So of course for my look above, I went with a black and white leopard print pencil skirt. Black and white screams chic, while a pencil skirt is very business-like. These characteristics will offset the previously negative notions of the print. 

A neutral top and accessories are key in this case. I chose a black top with a black lace collar. This adds some texture to the top and gives it an extra little something since it’s otherwise plain. It also doesn’t stand out too much because it’s black. A top with any small same-color embellishments (jewels, stones, lace, etc) will look nice for this outfit. 

I accessorized in gold and blush; both colors are personal favorites for neutrals. I used delicate jewelry (opposed to chunky or big)- the bow studs and bracelet add an extra ounce of femininity. The blush pointed-toe patent heels and gold envelope clutch are classics that I always come back to. You can’t go wrong with them! They go with most outfits because of the neutral coloring and the style is just plain chic. Lastly, the blazer– I love this one because of the texture it brings to this look! The neutral color makes it perfect for our outfit, while the fringe and stripe detailing jazzes up our otherwise simple set.

So what do you think, ladies? Would you wear this to work (or anywhere else)?