Zebra print is one of the trends this year. But this obligatory ornament scares many fashionistas, because it is not always clear what to wear it with, other than monochrome. In this article we will talk about zebra print and why it is still relevant today. We’ll also tell you when zebra print first became fashionable and why famous designers love zebra so much. At the end of the material you will find a selection of examples of what you can wear with this unusual print.
The first zebra prints on fabric
The first round of fashion for animal prints arose in England and France in the 18th century, when the great empires raced to colonize the countries of Africa and the Middle East. The first travelers brought back not only maps, spices and unusual relics as trophies, but also the skins of rare animals: leopards, tigers, lions and zebras. The latter immediately attracted attention with its exotic pattern and soon milliners began ordering black and white fabrics with animalistic patterns.It is unusual that, despite the herbivory of the animal itself, the zebra print looks relatively predatory and does not get lost against the background of cat skins. Over time, the fashion for exotic prints passed and fashionistas rarely decided to shock the public with bold outfits.
Fashion for zebra print in clothing in the twentieth century
The zebra print was brought back to life by one of the central figures in the fashion world - Yves Saint Laurent. It seems that the Algerian roots of the couturier played a significant role in the emergence of this trend. His collections often featured African motifs, which influenced our perception of the daring style of the 1960s. Due to the fact that the zebra print reached a qualitatively new level and was awarded the first catwalks of the fashion capital, fashion historians combined all animal prints into a special style - safari.
Over time, “zebra” began to be considered primarily a summer print, in contrast to its truly predatory counterparts (leopard, tiger), whose colors are preferred to be worn mainly in the cold season. French fashionistas love to wear zebra print and its variations in spring or summer. Often, designers abandon the classic natural version of the zebra print and add unexpected additions of blue or red stripes to the monochrome lines, or even change the rules of the game altogether, replacing black and white colors with contrasting colors. On translucent fabric such solutions look quite impressive.
Current trends and what to wear with fashionable zebra print
When choosing an animal print (any one, not just zebra), it is worth remembering that from now on it is the one that plays the first violin in your image.A fashionista is required to have a sense of proportion and the ability to balance a predatory design with calm basic colors. The simplest and most obvious solution is to make the look monochrome by wearing a versatile black dress under a zebra print coat or cardigan. To reach a new level and look stylish with other combinations, it makes sense to hang around in the mirror for a long time and try on several options under different lighting (yes, it also plays an important role). Beige, powdery or light brown colors are also suitable for zebra, but in this case you need to carefully look at the undertones. If there is even a slight doubt whether the zebra goes with the item you have chosen, feel free to put the item in the closet and return to the proven monochrome. The only exception, perhaps, can be sweaters and blouses with a zebra print, which can be relatively safely worn with jeans. If you wear a total look with a contrasting zebra print, then you are going to a really worthwhile event, and not just to the store or to meet friends. Otherwise, there is a risk of looking vulgar.
What to look for when choosing zebra print products?
When choosing zebra print products, all attention should be focused on the quality of the fabric and the scale of the pattern. Alas, animal prints are not the case when you can get by with a budget analogue. For the desired effect, it is better to fork out more: preference should be given to natural and high-quality fabrics, for example, wool, expensive knitwear, chiffon, silk. The fabric should not stretch, otherwise the print will “float” very quickly and become deformed. It is best to give preference to the medium size of the pattern, since usually it is the small and medium print that is easiest to wear.And if the designer made the design muted and abstract, then such a product can even be worn to the office.
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