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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