Prints for a sexy look

Shilpa Shetty’s cow print saree and Anushka Sharma’s fish motif dress are the rage now. Gul Panag has also contributed to the cause with her camel print kurti and Ayesha Takia with her bird motif dress. No doubt these celebs have brought animal prints back in fashion in Bollywood.

2013 has anyways been dedicated to animal prints with many international apparel designers embracing the trend. Their inspiration has been the Chinese calendar which marks 2013 as the year of the snake. So snake print dresses have dominated international runways this year moving away from the regular leopard and zebra print clothes.

Designer Vikrant Khosla of Kristian Aham brand says, “Nothing oozes fashion like animal prints. More than any other outfit, animal prints make you feel sexy, cozy and confident. It’s a different thing that not everyone can carry off an animal print. You need the right attitude to carry off this print combined with the perfect package – shoes and accessories - to go with it.”

“Ideally, you should start off with just one power piece - like a top or a lower - with an animal print and then build from there. Say if you are wearing a leopard print trouser, team a plain pink top with it. Or else, if you are wearing a long leopard print top, pair a black legging with it. Remember, the rule is to be minimal when you are donning an animal print outfit.”

“Also,” Vikrant adds, “Never mix different animal prints. You can’t have a
leopard print top and a tiger print trouser plus a zebra stripe scarf. Don’t make yourself look like a zoo. Ideally, there should be no distraction with an animal print except for a statement necklace probably. Let your animal print dress speak for itself.”

You can also have a lot of fun with animal prints in handbags, shoes, belts, sunglasses, even mobile covers. Vikrant says, “They are the easiest way to look hot. You can combine it with a metallic make-up, silver or gold colour lined shoes and bags and just dazzle the city.”