Things I Bought That I Love: BCBG Leopard Pencil Skirt

I can’t believe it. It finally happened. I now live in a world where leopard print can be considered a “basic”. Yes, it was exciting when gold shoes became a staple, and who could forget when even the most conservatively dressed woman owned a pair of fitted red pants? But finding leopard print in more and more American women’s closets? That’s amazing.

It would be remiss of me not to give credit to the Kardashian sisters, whose constant wearing of leopard print, to like, church, ushered in this fantastic trend.

When I was in high school, and all the girls wanted to get their prom dresses from Betsey Johnson, I went to Cache in the mall. Cache is a chain boutique filled with dresses and skirt suits for aging tarts. It’s the kind of store low-rent Mob Wives might go to, or where Meredith Palmer from The Office might go in her dreams. Cache is full of aqua lace, strapless taffeta party dresses, and more animal prints than the San Diego Zoo. And I love that stuff. Always have. I loved shopping for my prom dress while staring at leathery decolletage of divorcees. This is where I discovered my love of leopard.

The leopard print is a best of the animal prints because 1) it’s not crazy colors like tiger; it’s basically taupe and black, 2) it’s a smaller animal print so it’s more flattering stretched over your thighs or butt, and 3) it reminds us of the majestic leopard, which is one of those alluring, capricious, hard-to-please animals (at least as they’ve been portrayed in cartoons I’ve seen).

Leopard has developed a certain sophistication. Now you can wear an animal print and show people you’re a fun person, and not a fashion victim like Carmela Soprano. This BCBG stretchy leopard skirt is not a mini skirt (short animal print is dreadful), and, like Herve Leger— also made in the Max Azria family— it is stretchy and tight in perfect proportion for a sleek, body-con fit. I wear it all the time, with everything from a jewel-toned blouse tucked in, to a black tee shirt, to a tank and jean jacket.

For: formerly timid fashionistas who want to be a little wild or girls looking for a good bachelorette party outfit