Try Adding A Sophisticated Edge To Animal Print

Despite Kate Moss’s addiction to them, I’ve never been drawn to animal print coats. Perhaps it’s the?rock chick vibe Moss injects to her?look, with her signature skinny black jeans and distressed leather boots, that’s put me off. I’ve never identified with her slightly scruffy day-to-day uniform?or wanted to emulate it. It wasn’t until recently, when a colleague of mine arrived into the office swaddled in the most luxurious looking grey faux-fur leopard-print coat that I decided I might really want one too. She looked so chic and elegant … and warm!?So in an effort to find my own take on this?trend, I’m searching for?inspiration from the stars of the street. Here are a few looks that are inspiring me now.

A skinny belt is a smart way to create a sleeker silhouette if you don’t want to feel overwhelmed by the texture of a faux-fur coat. This shorter-length style is good for petites also.

This cape-style animal print coat feels really fresh, and?looks very sophisticated. It instantly negates any low-brow associations that animal print might evoke.

Linda Fargo knows how to elevate any piece. Pairing her zebra print?coat with elegant wide-leg trousers and an oversized clutch offers a very grown-up take on the trend.

This fit and flare coat offers a complete reimagining of the traditional urban-style animal print overcoat. Rather than rock chick, it’s feminine and figure-flattering.

I love the cut of this coat, and how it’s been styled. In as much as the above silhouette is original for its femininity, the masculine shape of this leopard print single-breasted overcoat feels equally fresh. Purple is my least favourite colour in the world, but this shade of lilac works really well beneath the print.