the 20 items on my "Modern Leopard" love list

Let's roar forward, friends.

RAWR, Robinson. Credits.

(Anna Newton, this one’s for you. You recently said there’s a “leopard sized hole” in your wardrobe— would you believe I am so sentimental I instead read it as “leopard sized hole in my heart” (!) and have been thinking about it ever since.)

Quick, close your eyes and think about leopard in fashion. What comes to mind?

Leopard and I have been through a lot. I’ve loved and hated it. For a time I associated leopard with the Peg Bundy, the Married with Children matriarch. My worst nightmare: looking like I’m trying to be sexy.

And for a time I also associated Mrs. Robinson of The Graduate with both leopard and villain-status. But I’ve learned to give her grace. Now I believe that she and her husband had an understanding. And I see her as someone who like me, is interested in self actualization and pleasure! (She is the inspiration for my handle, BTW.) My perception of her leopard looks has changed too. Rather than “siren status” - for me they hold “roar status.” As in … I am woman hear me roar. I sound my barbaric yawp over the rooftop of the world. And “Oh Warner, do you remember when we spent those four amazing hours in the hot tub together after winter formal? … Well this is so much better than that!” (That sort of thing.)

I’ve felt this opening up to leopard even more since I’ve become a Trinny Woodall follower. Trinny pairs her leopard with more leopard and more leopard and then more still! For anyone who complains of being invisible after 50 this is the literal opposite .
Trinny always talks about leopard is being timeless, and I think that’s probably true but I do enjoy watching it have a moment. Because I am concerned with modernity. It’s a way that I feel part of what’s happening in the world. And I never want to look dated or dowdy, or worse: as if I’m struggling to capture the male gaze.

When leopard has a moment, I can whip out my pieces and feel very “in the world.” Plus there will be more out there that feels fresh. I think that’s key - picking pieces that have some ease versus Peg’s tight synthetics.

I recently spotted (pun not intended but wholly embraced), Holly Pan breaking out the leopard. Holly is my age and is always playing with what’s new, and her wearing leopard gave me a push to spend a day — and a night — in my old Adam Lippes cotton wide legs:

(Similar pair here.)

A full day in the print, across a variety of settings, helped me do some thinking about what I (and maybe you) want in your leopard. With that (and Anna!) in mind, I put together this list: