KERRE MCIVOR

KERRE’S PLEASED TO DISCOVER HER ANIMAL INSTINCTS ARE ON TREND

Reading the Weekly’s fashion pages last week, I was delighted to find that I couldn’t be more on trend. Fashion editor Leigh Matheson featured all sorts of animal prints – crocodile, snakeskin and leopard − and, coincidentally, that’s exactly what I picked out for myself on my recent weekend away.

In fact, I picked up so much animal print that my wardrobe looks more like a petting zoo than a collection of clothes.

Two leopard-print cardigans, on sale and perfect for Christmas in London; a pair of trackpants, also in a leopard print; a snakeskin jacket; and the pièce de résistance, a green denim leopard-print jumpsuit.

I wonder what Leigh would say about that? I’ve found it hard to wear leopard prints in the past. I bought a leopardprint coat from Zara a few years ago and only wore it once.

I felt like a tarty barmaid in it. With blonde hair and big boobs, it’s easy to look tarty even if you’re in a beige polo neck; wearing leopard print takes it to another next level.

I walked into a restaurant for lunch with friends and one of them admired the coat. I took it off and gave it to her on the spot. She’s a gorgeous brunette so it suited her perfectly.

This time around, the animal prints I’ve found seem to work. I was on a girls’ weekend away in Hawke’s Bay, and on the day we arrived we hit the shops in Havelock North.

It’s always fun shopping away from your own city or town. You generally seem to find something a bit different – such as a green denim leopard-print jumpsuit. It’s always more fun shopping with girlfriends too. They’ll find outfits for you that you would never think to try yourself. And if you have honest friends, they’ll let you know if you’re making a fashion faux pas.

To be fair, the jury was out on my jumpsuit. One of my friends was for it, another against and the third was on the fence.

I bought it anyway and wore it to work this week to see what my colleagues thought. I added bright red shoes as well as a bright red lip, and again the jury was out. Some of the young kids loved it, but the women my age thought it was a bit much.

Onesies should be for kids under four wanting to dress up as bears or alligators, one particularly chic colleague observed. But Leigh featured a jumpsuit in her animal-print range, so I’m taking it as a sign that I’m right at the cutting edge of fashion.

My daughter, who can always be relied upon for an honest opinion, has her doubts too.

“I’m dubious, Mum,” she said. “There aren’t many women who can rock an animal-print jumpsuit and those that can are generally tall and very thin.”

Which is a fair point. But then she graciously conceded that if I liked it that was what counted, and besides it would be fun and brighten up a London winter.

That’s what clothes should be all about, really. Fun, bright and comfortable. And if you care about such things, fashionable.

My green denim leopardprint jumpsuit surely ticks all of those boxes.