Spotted!

ADDENDUM (added in the p.m.): Check out my new {magpie covets} section for little tidbits of fashion inspiration throughout the day, including my latest fashion finds and special deals I’ve managed to dig up.

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I’m kind of shocked that I haven’t yet featured a post on leopard this season.  It’s been ev.ery.where.  And I dig it.  This season, I’ve snapped up two leopard blouses, two pairs of leopard shoes, a leopard scarf…outofcontrol.  It’s time to share my fascination with the spotted style and showcase some of my favorite finds for this season’s fiercest look.

{1960s Revlon Ad from VintageVogue — leopard overkill?!  Is such a thing possible?}

One of my favorite purchases in the past few weeks was this pair of textured wedges from Nine West (love the calf-hair texture and the sueded stacked wedge — $88, Zappos):

I took notes from the minimalista trend that I’ve been loving so much this season thanks to Celine, Chloe, and Stella McCartney, and wear it with a fitted black sweater or blazer (the cashmere sweater below is $145, J. Crew), cropped J. Crew Minnies (on sale for $69, J. Crew), and a huge camel-colored pashmina (Love Quotes, $86, Tobi):

Then I load up on the costume jewelry — with an outfit so understated, I feel at liberty to pile it on.  I’ll add enorma-studs (ooh la la, vintage Chanel! — $460, Farfetch) and some sort of tangly, cluster-o-chains (I like the vintage feel of up-and-coming designer Suzanna Dai’s pieces, like the “Antwerp” necklace below, which Blake Lively has been seen wearing — $382, Charm and Chain):

(PS: Secretly, dorkily love the way the shape of the round studs echo the large circular brooches on the necklace.) I’d top it all off with one of my two cherry red coats (one is a lightweight car coat I bought last year that I am in.love with — it has shiny gold flower buttons on it and a peter pan collar; the other is a J. Crew wool coat with a ribbon accent down the front.)  This Milly “Bastille” coat ($645, ShopTwigs) is devastatingly tempting, however — can I justify another red coat?!

Another major Magpie must for the season?  The clutch — so spectacularly versatile in all of its delightful iterations this season, but a leopard print version is just to die.  I adore both of these variations (gray is tres chic right now — $298, Henri Bendel):

I’d pair the latter with a gray sweater dress (I featured this cashmere Bruno Manetti number a few days back, and have been jealously eyeballing it since…$412, MyTheresa) and my favorite mini-wedge boots (don’t think you can improve upon the Loeffler Randall “Matilde” — $695, Loeffler Randall):

Yummy heather gray and rich tobacco leather marry so amicably…as do brown and black (contrary to what most of our mothers’ generation would have to say about it, the combo does work, and with particular panache in conjunction with the leopard look).  Consider, for example, a gauzey leopard print scarf (this looks identical to mine — Chan Luu, $245, Intermix), a simple black knit dress (long-sleeved for winter! — T by Alexander Wang makes some excellent basics — $108, Barney’s), and your low-wedge boots:

You’ll need only a rich, brown-leather tote ($375, J. Crew) and some sparkling baubles to bring the look to life.

I’m envisioning these topaz-esque studs (actually comprised of “navette crystal” — $68, Rachel Leigh) and a knotted necklace ($198, Henri Bendel):

Alternately, swap out the boots for these killer platforms ($89, Zara) and round out the look with a slightly masculine tortoise watch ($205, W Hotels Store):

If you’re gung-ho for gray, this blouse by L’Agence ($195, Net-A-Porter) caught my eye awhile back — it is just perfect for this season, which could be aptly summarized as “The Return of the Blouse.”

Pair with a high-waisted pencil skirt during the week or tone it down with jeans and a shawl-collar sweater on the weekend.  If you’re not a blousey gal, go the sporty route with these killer grayscale leopard vest ($395, Rebecca Taylor):

Think of yourself as a citified ski-bunny (literally — a snow leopard).  Love.  Pair with slightly edgier separates, like rocker-chic gray jeans and some serious chain jewelry to avoid looking cutesy.  This boxy-cut AKA leopard print tee is also right up my alley ($248, Shop Les Nouvelles) paired with skinnies and some worn-in black leather ballets (I love the simplicity of these straight-forward Vera Wangs — $195, Jildor):

Accessorize with glossy gold add-ons, like this CC Skye chain bracelet ($285, CCSkye) and these Carol Marie chain knot earrings ($65, Carol Marie Designs):

And while this ring is slightly edgier than I normally dare, I can’t resist its polish ($50, Noir Jewelry) — and I absolutely drool over completing the look with this slouchy black Anya Hindmarch tote ($950, ScoopNYC):

Side note: I snagged a gorgeous (and affordable!) leopard print blouse from Zara (I’m actually wearing it today, along with my Paige black jeans, mini-wedge black boots, enorma-studs, and enorma-ring…predictable), but had my eye on the variation below for awhile.  I love the lightweight fabric ($88, ShopNastyGal):

For an evening out, I’m loving this silky Tucker tank ($176, Madison LA) paired with some shoulder-grazing earrings (Suzanna Dai, $185, Scoop NYC):

And you’ll of course need some serious footwear.  This Versani pump suits me to a tee: it’s suede, for starters (favorite fabric of the season…), and it’s also non-trampy –I’ll go ahead and admit that I’d prefer to leave the triple platform styles to the pros, whether they be on the runway…or on the street, if you get my drift ($378, Shop the Shoe Box):

But if you’re a bit fiercer than I, I must admit that the artful cutout design of these Castaner near-booties caught my eye ($460, Scoop NYC):

Now, the big to-do this season has been the leopard coat.  You know something’s gone mainstream when you see an iteration of the style in Talbot’s (though…perhaps the omnipresence of the leopard coat owes to its trans-generational appeal: I’ve seen little old ladies wear it just as spiffily as teenagers) — or when a photo from one of your favorite fashion blogs features not one but TWO chic-peas sporting the look:

{Image from the talented Garance Dore}

I’ve gone back and forth on the style — I tend to think the print looks cheap when done on such a large-scale (although…partnered with a Chanel bag as above, I doubt you’ll have those concerns), and would prefer little pops of the spotted print paired with separates in black, brown, camel, or gray.  And occasionally red.  However — if I were to take the plunge, this Wren jacket would be my top pick.  Love the ladylike, boxy cut and the collarless neckline ($595, Wren):

If you’re similarly on the fence, these Jackie O. shots may just push you over the edge and find you guiltily snapping one up next time you’re out and about —

{Images from The Neotraditionalist}

It can be done.  (And if you’re in the market, you’ll have no trouble finding one.  Check out Gryphon’s — $690, Intermix, Topshop’s — $200, TopShop, or Milly’s — $445, Neiman Marcus to see my other top picks.  And to be quite blunt?  Anything under $100 is simply not worth it — it will just look cheap.  Sorry — and I hate to be a hater! — but this coat looks like it’s made of refabricated teddy bears.)  Despite my digression on the subject of coats, I’ll conclude with my favorite way of wearing the leopard style — as little pops of pattern against an otherwise monochromatic look.  I like, for example, a skinny patent leopard belt ($39.50, J. Crew) cinching a simple LBD at the waist or looped loosely with olive pants rolled up a bit at the ankle:

I’m also smitten with these leopard earmuffs (Eugenia Kim, $125, Bluefly), which I would love to pair with a cherry red coat and some furry mittens this winter:

And how chic would you look wearing a minimalista get-up with this statement-making calf-hair tote ($525, Tory Burch)?

It reminds me of the covetable Celine bag I swooned over earlier this season (ugh, hopelessly chic…)

I actually can’t decide whether I like the oversized tote above or the line’s cross-body bag (this style has been huge this season) —

Sigh…the buckle clasp…want.  In the meantime, this baguette ($140, Lori’s Shoes)  may just tide me over until some funds to fuel my handbag addiction become available:

Alternately, if you’re a high roller, I pretty much d.i.e. over this sophisticated, rich brown leather tote with the little pop of leopard print in the interior (who else but Yves St. Laurent?! — $1,727, Matches):

For evenings out, this Rebecca Minkoff minaudiere is on my lust-list ($350, Rebecca Minkoff):

But — for everyday fun — why not swap out your standard wallet for this happy little Kate Spade leopard variation (on sale for $66, Bloomingdale’s)?

But you know what I’m really all about?  The leopard print shoe.  I snagged the Ann Taylor ballet (it’s per.fect. — $158, Ann Taylor):

…but I seriously considered these pointy-toed Daniblacks ($154, Zappos), which I first saw on the shelves of my favorite accessory shop, Sassanova:

I could literally devote an entire post JUST to leopard-print shoes that have caught my eye, but I’ll cut myself short here and finish with these picture.perfect Kate Spade peep toes ($398, Kate Spade):

For just a taste of the print, how about these glittering enorma-studs ($279, Zappos) or this 70s-esque bangle (very Rachel Zoe-esque — $68, Tallulah Tu)?

Alternately, this Jennifer Ouellette headband could be a fun little addition to an otherwise staid get-up (and could easily be mixed with other patterns — $45, Barney’s):

If you’re up for some bolder headgear, I have to admit that this trapper hat made me stop in tracks ($29, Miss Selfridge):

I saw a whole stack of furry hats in this style at Cusp the other day and considered stashing one away for the ski trip I’ll be making this winter, but just couldn’t justify it without the cold December weather to egg me on.  If the full-on hat is too bold for your tastes, consider these ladylike Miu Miu gloves instead ($540, Net-A-Porter):

I’d venture to guess that you’ll find them just as chic now as you will when you’re 50, 60, 70, 80…similarly, ward off years of rainy days with this happy little umbrella ($29, John Lewis):

Are you out-spotted yet?!