WhatIWore: I have a lot of leopard in my closet. Whether it’s a coat, scarf or pair of shoes, an animal print easily takes a basic outfit and makes it a lot more bold. I bought my first leopard coat (faux and vintage!) online six years ago and have been loving it every since! I fact, it’s so well worn that the lining needs repair, so when I saw another version for a bargain in an antique store, I went for it. Here are four ways I’ve styled them over the years. See more leopard outfits from my archives here.

Faux leopard coats were super popular in the 1960s, and there are lots of options in vintage stores and places like ebay and etsy. Keep the following in mind:

Make sure the listing says the coat comes from a smoke free home. My first coat did not and took me a long time to get the smell out (I tried everything from dry cleaning to baking soda and finally threw it in the washer)
Vintage sizes are different from modern sizes, so double check the garment measurements against a coat that fits you well.
Remember that sixties’ styles often feature boxy silhouettes and bracelet length (read: short) sleeves. Keep that in mind if the garment isn’t shown on a model.