Fashion
I’m addicted to leopard print and my wardrobe has 70 spotted items – people think it’s trashy but that won’t stop me
A LEOPARD never changes its spots – and that’s certainly true for Karen Kendel-Smith.
She has more than 70 leopard-print items in her wardrobe which she’s collected over the past 40 years, from clothes to shoes and bags, and even her phone case.
Karen Kendel-Smith has more than 70 leopard-print items in her wardrobe which she’s collected over the past 40 years
Karen’s wardrobe is full of leopard print clothing, shoes and bags, and even her phone case and water bottle are leopard print
She wore the first of her animal-print dresses aged 14 and claims she wears the style 99.9 per cent of the time.
Karen, a former university lecturer and blogger from Richmond, south-west London, says: “For decades, leopard print was stereotyped as being a bit brash and embarrassing.
“In the 90s, TV characters such as Bet Lynch from Coronation Street wore it with big earrings and it was a bit of a trashy look.
“But it is something I have always loved.
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The blue leopard-print dress from Clockhouse C&A is the first thing I remember wearing when I was only 14.
“After that, I went through a goth and punk phase so I wore a lot of leopard-print scarves.
“A friend sold me her vintage faux-fur leopard-print jacket for just £10 and I wore that everywhere.”
On one occasion, a teenager shouted “Bet Lynch” at Karen as she was out cycling, wearing her beloved jacket.
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“That did put me off for a while,” Karen recalls.
“But I soon went back to it — the lure was too strong.”
The mum of one owns many designer pieces including a Juicy Couture bag, which she bought for £12 on eBay, and a Mulberry bag that cost £200, also from eBay, which is probably her most expensive purchase.
She also owns Vivienne Westwood ballet pumps, which she bought for £5 in a charity shop.
Karen says: “One of my favourite pieces is a faux-fur coat from Whistles. It instantly elevates whatever I’m wearing. I got it for just £15 from a charity shop.
“Sometimes I’ll wear quadruple leopard print, especially if they are more neutral in tone — your greys and blacks.
“I own leopard-print bikinis and when my daughter Samantha, now 12, was younger I’d dress her in leopard, too.”
Leopard print has been around for decades, but many designers went particularly heavy on the style for this year’s Autumn/Winter collections.
This has spread to the high street, with brands like H&M going big on the trend.
Karen says: “Over the years, I began to realise that whatever I put on I was usually wearing leopard print somewhere.
“It dominates my wardrobe. I almost don’t see it any more.
“I seem to make a subconscious decision to buy these items when I’m in the shops.
“I’ll buy something thinking the print is nice and then when I get home, I realise it’s leopard print.
For me, it’s no different to wearing stripes or polka dots. I just think it’s really versatile and goes with anything. I wear it as a neutral.
“Even my phone case and water bottle are leopard print!
“It’s a real statement in my wardrobe. If I’m wearing quite a plain outfit, I can throw on a leopard-print scarf and it’s less dreary.”
Carolyn Mair, author of The Psychology Of Fashion, said leopard print has come to be associated with “both class and trash, sexiness and sophistication”.
“Because leopards are wild, fast, powerful and independent animals with soft skin, leopard print can also portray those characteristics, adding to its appeal,” she says.
Karen, who has a fashion YouTube channel under the name Karrie Kendel, adds: “Leopard print gives me instant style and confidence.
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“People often stop me in the street to compliment me on what I’m wearing.
“Everyone should wear whatever brings them joy. In challenging times, having fun with clothes can bring a lot of comfort.”
PA:Press AssociationBet Lynch from Coronation Street was famous for her love of wearing leopard print[/caption]
Karen’s leopard print wardrobe is a mixture of high street pieces and designer bargains she’s found
Not known, clear with picture deskKaren during her goth and punk phase where she’d wear a lot of leopard-print scarves[/caption]
Not known, clear with picture deskThis blue leopard-print dress from Clockhouse C&A is the first item Karen remembers wearing when she was 14[/caption]
SHOP THE LEOPARD LOOK…
Trousers, £44.99, MangoNot known, clear with picture desk
Not known, clear with picture deskDress, £42, Next[/caption]
Trainers, £32.99, River IslandNot known, clear with picture desk
Not known, clear with picture deskScarf, £20, Accessorize.com[/caption]
Not known, clear with picture deskShirt, £15, F&F at Tesco[/caption]
Not known, clear with picture deskSkirt, £28, Boohoo.com[/caption]
Not known, clear with picture deskCoat, £28, Vero Moda at Next[/caption]
Bag set, £8, Studio. co.ukNot known, clear with picture desk
Belt, £3, PrimarkNot known, clear with picture desk
Shoes, £22.99, New LookNot known, clear with picture desk
A LEOPARD never changes its spots – and that’s certainly true for Karen Kendel-Smith.
She has more than 70 leopard-print items in her wardrobe which she’s collected over the past 40 years, from clothes to shoes and bags, and even her phone case.
Karen Kendel-Smith has more than 70 leopard-print items in her wardrobe which she’s collected over the past 40 years
Karen’s wardrobe is full of leopard print clothing, shoes and bags, and even her phone case and water bottle are leopard print
She wore the first of her animal-print dresses aged 14 and claims she wears the style 99.9 per cent of the time.
Karen, a former university lecturer and blogger from Richmond, south-west London, says: “For decades, leopard print was stereotyped as being a bit brash and embarrassing.
“In the 90s, TV characters such as Bet Lynch from Coronation Street wore it with big earrings and it was a bit of a trashy look.
“But it is something I have always loved.
READ MORE ON FASHION
The blue leopard-print dress from Clockhouse C&A is the first thing I remember wearing when I was only 14.
“After that, I went through a goth and punk phase so I wore a lot of leopard-print scarves.
“A friend sold me her vintage faux-fur leopard-print jacket for just £10 and I wore that everywhere.”
On one occasion, a teenager shouted “Bet Lynch” at Karen as she was out cycling, wearing her beloved jacket.
Most read in Fashion
“That did put me off for a while,” Karen recalls.
“But I soon went back to it — the lure was too strong.”
The mum of one owns many designer pieces including a Juicy Couture bag, which she bought for £12 on eBay, and a Mulberry bag that cost £200, also from eBay, which is probably her most expensive purchase.
She also owns Vivienne Westwood ballet pumps, which she bought for £5 in a charity shop.
Karen says: “One of my favourite pieces is a faux-fur coat from Whistles. It instantly elevates whatever I’m wearing. I got it for just £15 from a charity shop.
“Sometimes I’ll wear quadruple leopard print, especially if they are more neutral in tone — your greys and blacks.
“I own leopard-print bikinis and when my daughter Samantha, now 12, was younger I’d dress her in leopard, too.”
Leopard print has been around for decades, but many designers went particularly heavy on the style for this year’s Autumn/Winter collections.
This has spread to the high street, with brands like H&M going big on the trend.
Karen says: “Over the years, I began to realise that whatever I put on I was usually wearing leopard print somewhere.
“It dominates my wardrobe. I almost don’t see it any more.
“I seem to make a subconscious decision to buy these items when I’m in the shops.
“I’ll buy something thinking the print is nice and then when I get home, I realise it’s leopard print.
For me, it’s no different to wearing stripes or polka dots. I just think it’s really versatile and goes with anything. I wear it as a neutral.
“Even my phone case and water bottle are leopard print!
“It’s a real statement in my wardrobe. If I’m wearing quite a plain outfit, I can throw on a leopard-print scarf and it’s less dreary.”
Carolyn Mair, author of The Psychology Of Fashion, said leopard print has come to be associated with “both class and trash, sexiness and sophistication”.
“Because leopards are wild, fast, powerful and independent animals with soft skin, leopard print can also portray those characteristics, adding to its appeal,” she says.
Karen, who has a fashion YouTube channel under the name Karrie Kendel, adds: “Leopard print gives me instant style and confidence.
Read More on The Sun
“People often stop me in the street to compliment me on what I’m wearing.
“Everyone should wear whatever brings them joy. In challenging times, having fun with clothes can bring a lot of comfort.”
PA:Press AssociationBet Lynch from Coronation Street was famous for her love of wearing leopard print[/caption]
Karen’s leopard print wardrobe is a mixture of high street pieces and designer bargains she’s found
Not known, clear with picture deskKaren during her goth and punk phase where she’d wear a lot of leopard-print scarves[/caption]
Not known, clear with picture deskThis blue leopard-print dress from Clockhouse C&A is the first item Karen remembers wearing when she was 14[/caption]
SHOP THE LEOPARD LOOK…
Trousers, £44.99, MangoNot known, clear with picture desk
Not known, clear with picture deskDress, £42, Next[/caption]
Trainers, £32.99, River IslandNot known, clear with picture desk
Not known, clear with picture deskScarf, £20, Accessorize.com[/caption]
Not known, clear with picture deskShirt, £15, F&F at Tesco[/caption]
Not known, clear with picture deskSkirt, £28, Boohoo.com[/caption]
Not known, clear with picture deskCoat, £28, Vero Moda at Next[/caption]
Bag set, £8, Studio. co.ukNot known, clear with picture desk
Belt, £3, PrimarkNot known, clear with picture desk
Shoes, £22.99, New LookNot known, clear with picture deskFashion – latest style news and Fabulous trends | The Sun
