Animal prints...

 Animal print, or leopard print, is a clothing and fashion style in which the garment is made to resemble the pattern of the skin and fur of an animal such as a Leopard, Cheetah, Zebra, Tiger, Spotted Hyena, Striped Hyena, African Wild Dog or Giraffe. Animal print is also used for handbags and footwear and even some jewellery. A major difference between animal prints and fur clothing is that animal prints today very often use fake fur instead of animal coat.

Animal prints have long been a popular style for many reasons. For one, they are generally expensive and considered rather exotic; hence they are a symbol of wealth and status. Throughout history, kings and other high people have used animal print rugs and such as a sign of status just as mounted animals are kept as trophies. Animal print became popular for women in the United States in the late 1960s during the Bohemian movement.

• The 1940′s saw the emergence of animal print during the early stages of the women’s movement.
• The 1950′s fashion designer Christian Dior’s muse Mitzah Bricard was fascinated by leopard print. Dior followed his heart and infused his accessories, lines, and campaigns with leopard.
• The 1960′s saw a whole new revolution spawned by the Hippie Movement as a new place for exotic animal pelt patterns, which were emulated on printed patterns for popular women’s apparel in different new rebellious colours.
• The dangerous side of animal print appeared in the 1970′s. The Punk Rock movement brought about leopard print accents and torn cheetah print stockings. Rebellious music paired with the wild equals chic, sexy and dangerous. The 70′s also brought about nightgowns infused with animal prints, teddies, undies, etc. Leopard print jumpsuits, bell bottoms, even zebra print platform shoes.
• Now in the 21^st century the animal print is still going strong with people wearing leopard print leggings an coats