When A Look I’d Never Thought I’d Try Turns Out to Be a “Wait…I’m Into This”: A Trend Exploration

Consider This Post Your “Craigslist H... The Link Up: Julie’s Mind-Freeing Vac...

When A Look I’d Never Thought I’d Try Turns Out to Be a “Wait…I’m Into This”: A Trend Exploration

If there were one word/animal that I would historically not associate with myself, Emily Henderson, it would be “snakeskin.” I barely wear the more conservative animal prints like leopard and cheetah, so how did I jump from human to python so fast? Let’s explore. In this post, you’ll also get to witness current “influencer modeling” tips, which I like to call “touching the top of my hair as if I’m fixing it” followed by the even-more-popular stance we call “looking at my phone as if I’m reading a text.”

Let’s first discuss why I have historically not been attracted to animal prints. There is something about it that to me feels like is TRYING to be sexy, which is not my style and if you aren’t careful, it can look cheesy. For me, I need it to be more casual, more thrown together. Less leopard print body-con dress, more “I wear boots that happen to be made from pythons, but I barely noticed.” You gotta just throw them on, make sure that it feels effortless, either dress it down or lean into its weirdness. I think. I have no idea, this is literally the first time I’ve ever even liked an animal print.

Why now?

Here’s what happened: I saw it mixed with crazy patterns, colors and ruffles and somehow LOVED the insanity of the look.

images via Ulla Johnson: Left | Right

image via Refinery 29
Iginspiration

image source: Left | Right

Not sure I’d pair it with an orange fur coat but I love it with those jeans and especially the plaid pants. So I borrowed these boots (below) and tried it…

Shop the Look: Sweater (similar) | Skirt (similar) | Boots | Bag | Necklace (similar)

I spent 2 minutes putting together this outift (that I already had) and we decided that leaning into the color was fun. I think it could definitely be dressed down, even with a T-shirt with that skirt, or long denim skirt and a boxy sweatshirt. Or go full ruffle, with lots of layered necklaces and messy hair.

Am I trying to prove that snakeskin is a neutral?? I think so.

I know that I could have mixed it with a white prairie dress easily, or cropped denim FOR SURE. I think these boots are really versatile despite being “loud” and possibly “out there.”

But can one such as me pull off this reptilian trend? Does snakeskin exist in the “Uptown Prairie” look? Are there snakes on my prairie? Brian said absolutely not, but like most things that people have strong assertions about, I like to challenge this thinking. It may be too edgy for me, too severe, too extreme but when mixed with crazy fun patterns, colors and ruffles or dressing it WAY down, I’m actually pretty into it.

Those boots are nutty and likely not what most people would splurge on, so instead we found a pair that I actually would buy and love. These guys:

Shop the Look: Sweatshirt | Jeans | Boots | Bag | Necklace (similar)

This is my “running errands whilst casually wearing a snakeskin boot” look. I like it. Paired with my favorite ripped boyfriend jeans (that are on a huge sale by the way) and an affordable sweatshirt, it’s something I would wear in real life.

I liked these boots a lot and decided to keep them. Brian even approved and said “well, if you wear it like that, sure.” I especially love the length (they hit a few inches above the ankle) so they elongate my legs and pair really well with jeans.

I don’t think I am over exploring this trend yet, so I wanted to round up some more snakeskin boots that I am considering (and for you is this is something you are into).