Go Wild: In Praise of Animal Prints

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Robin Williams once said, “Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s party!,'” and we couldn’t agree more. There’s something about the first taste of the season that makes our imaginations run a little wild. Our tendency to gravitate toward neutrals takes a brief hiatus as we seek out elements that add a burst of energy to our rooms and wardrobes, and as proven by the above space by Austin’s Page Home Design, nothing packs a punch quite like pink and tiger print.

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There is a strong argument to be made that leopard print is practically a neutral. The animal-inspired dress, available from Jackson’s Forty Four Fifty, shows why—it’s the perfect throw-on-and-go piece for spring, and looks particularly stylish accented with a pink crossbody bag. Meanwhile, Loeffler Randall’s mint-and-cheetah print sandals (top), available from Lexintgon’s Omar + Elsie, would just as easily add personality to a little black dress as they would complement a more daring look, and the line’s flat versions, available from Omaha’s The Mix, are every bit as versatile yet still statement-making in their own right.

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Black-and-white is always in style, but expertly pairing it with pale pink and citrus accents as Chicago’s Anne Coyle did in the above space puts the combination in an entirely new category of chic. The stunning palette, symmetry, and selection of a zebra rug make this sitting room feel fresh, vibrant, and wonderfully wild.

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For those who appreciate their animal prints in smaller doses, a well-placed leopard lumbar pillow, available from Austin’s Biscuit Home, may be the ideal playful touch. Kids can get in on the action thanks to TSG Chicago’s Bonpoint and their “Shanga” sandals, which they appropriately bill as the “purrfect pair” (we wish they came in our size!). And as far as accessories for adults go, a Clare Vivier clutch, available from Sarasota’s Influence Style, is simply spot on.

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We couldn’t resist sharing one more space by Chicago-based designer Anne Coyle, who yet again marries zebra with a gorgeous palette as well as other patterns to create a space that is elegant and cohesive yet heeds the call of the wild.