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Cheetah vs. Leopard: A fashion lesson
Thursday, all my dreams came true when I got to meet a baby cheetah at Busch Gardens. Here's the story, if you want to read it. There we are together at right, thanks to Times photographer Melissa Lyttle. I'm looking like a TOTAL PSYCHO, but that's what happens when you get around something that cute. You die fast and hard of cute disease.
If you read this blog, you know I cherish animal print. It's like a bad episode of Absolutely Fabulous up in here. No, I don't want to skin endangered cats and wear their bodies, but it's amazing that such beautiful patterns found in nature are mimicked in fashion. Animal print is also neutral in a weird way because of the color scheme, and goes with everything. The perfect pattern! I wore an animal print shirt to meet the little guy yesterday, and he kept eying me up. The zoologist finally said, "He thinks you're Mommy." Aw. For some reason, they wouldn't let me put him in my purse and take him home.
My shirt was leopard, though, not cheetah. The two are often confused. I thought this would be a good time to do a SEARING INVESTIGATIVE FOLLOW and explore the difference. Knowledge, Divas. That's what we bring.
1. Leopard
Oh, hai!
The leopard has a rosette pattern with a dark ring and a lighter center, intermingled with smaller, solid spots. It's the most common animal print in terms of fashion. Let's examine the great leopard print in its natural habitat. And by "natural habitat," we mean "shoes." These are $27.80 at Forever 21. Funky!
2. Cheetah
Hello there!
Cheetahs, like my new best friend from Busch Gardens, have solid black spots, more uniform and evenly spread. They look like they lost a fight with a dauber down at the bingo hall! Adorable.
In terms of clothes, it's tough to find a cheetah print that's ACTUALLY cheetah print. Most of them are small leopards billed incorrectly. But here is one from Manolo Blahnik that none of us can afford.
This concludes our animal print lesson for the day. Go forth, young ecologists, and shop with education! And if you see my little buddy at Busch Gardens, tell him his mommy says hi.
Deal Diva Stephanie
Photos: Melissa Lyttle, Times staff, Times files, Forever 21
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Looking for shopping deals in Tampa Bay? The Deal Divas are on the prowl, sniffing out hot fashion finds that won't leave your wallet in ruins. Now you never have to miss a shopping deal! Sign up for weekly Deal Diva Alerts by e-mail. by e-mail. And check in often for the lowdown on local bargains, as well as fashion advice, fun photos and style news. Because shopping should be all about the Washingtons!
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THE AUTHORS
Stephanie Hayes came out of the womb wearing high heels. While other kids were reciting multiplication tables, she was learning to calculate an extra third off the half-price discount during buy-one-get-one week. She loves animal prints, black mascara and anything that sparkles. She objects to visible panty lines, Crocs and anything that costs more than a car payment. And she doesn't drive a nice car. She can be reached at (727) 893-8857 or shayes@tampabay.com.
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Katie Sanders foolishly spurned pretty dresses and shoes as a child,
tossing new clothes over her shoulder at birthday parties with a totally
rude "no, thank you." Her drab days of monocolor outfits are over now, and
she certainly knows better than to turn down free stuff. Her wardrobe mixes
classic with quirk. Think blazers with statement necklaces, and lots of
patterned ballet flats. She can
be reached at 850) 224-7263 or ksanders@tampabay.com..
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Kameel Stanley has never encountered a thrift store she didn’t like. Her
mother taught her that the true value of clothes isn’t how much they cost,
but how many outfits one can create from them. Having grown up in Michigan,
she was delighted to learn upon moving to Florida that she almost never
needed to wear socks or boots again. There’s a lot of turnover in her
closet, and she’s obsessed with dresses, necklaces and wedge heels. She can
be reached at (727) 893-8643 or kstanley@tampabay.com.
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A disciple of the little black dress classics school, Letitia Stein stretches her budget by looking for styles with staying power. She lives for 80 percent off shoes at DSW, floral sundresses and bohemian chic tops. She confesses to being a bit of a snob when it comes to handbags and jewelry. She can be reached at (813) 226-3400 or lstein@tampabay.com.
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From camo pants and construction boots to sundresses, sweaters and sling
backs, Keyonna Summers knows how to make all of it rock -- at rock bottom
prices. A Detroit native, Keyonna delves into her urban roots to find
fashion pairings that give a nod to street fashion while maintaining the
class of the modern, professional woman. She believes in searching for
affordable clothes that look expensive and can easily be dressed up or
down. You won't find plaid shirts or fleece jackets in her closet; the only
hiking Keyonna does is to the bargain basement. She can be reached at (727)
445-4153 or ksummers@tampabay.com.
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Coming from a long line of fashionable women, Kim Wilmath considers herself lucky to fit into their hand-me-downs. Her wardrobe staples include her grandma's vintage blouses and her mom's funky jewelry. When she's in the market for "new" items, Kim hits her favorite thrift stores -- a habit she also picked up from mom. But when circumstances require a visit to the shiny stores in the mall, you'll find Kim at the sale rack like a good little diva. She can be reached at (813) 661-2442 or kwilmath@tampabay.com.
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