RORY SEZ: Too Much Leopard Print Is Just Enough

Hey new friends! Me, Rory, here. The main reason why Tamar and I are friends is because of Rory, her cat... the OTHER reason is because of our mutual love of leopard print. I know you just met me and stuff, but let's get right into it. When it comes to leopard print (for men or women), too much is just enough.

I feel like right now is my time... I feel like the moment is now... I feel blessed that almost every fashion house has delivered leopard print in one form or another since the winter of 2009, I'm talking everyone from bougie brands like Givenchy to street brands like Crooks & Castles to store brands like Zara &Topman. It's like everywhere you look, and I am NOT complaining.

Some people say leopard is trashy... I say, fuck you. Right now some of my top mens' leopard print picks are:

These Joyrich drop crotch pants are a must have. Like Tamar, I totally have issues with drop crotch. I was blessed with no ass and when I wear drop crotch it looks like I'm carrying a load in my pants. However with THESE... I'm willing to overlook that. It could be a load of CASH for all you know, ok? My pants are leopard. Let's focus.

This little leopard print bow-tie from Patricia Field is like the perfect way to subtly add leopard to your look. It's not gonna hit your coworkers over the head unless you're pairing it with a leopard dress shirt, in which case they won't even see it. This bow-tie is EVERYTHING... and at $12.00, why are you still reading this?

Another subtle way to add some RAWR to your look is in the shades. These Hoss sunglasses from Von Zipper deliver. My favorite part is the gold band on the side to make them extra tacky, and for that I am grateful.

Another Joyrich gem is this leopard studded fanny pack. It's EVERYTHING. If you're going to be ballsy enough to rock a fanny pack (or "belt bag" as the classy folk at Gucci call it)... you might as well go balls to the wall and rock one that's leopard AND studded. AM I RIGHT?!

$290, DrMartens

Last but certainly not least my pick for leopard footwear comes from our friends across the pond at Dr. Martens. NOT ONLY are they leopard print, but they're ITALIAN HAIR LEOPARD PRINT. Hopefully it's not hair from the cast of the "Jersey Shore" or something. Anywho... these could be worn with pants or shorts because really, they're like the Reese's of footwear -- there's no wrong way to wear them. Their price point is a little high, but the way I justify shit like this to my therapist is to just say that you can't put a price on happiness, and they can't question that.

I'd also like to just throw this out there for any (straight) men who are uncomfortable with my selections... get chu one of these on your arm and you'll be good to go.

Forever In Search Of Leopard Print

My affinity for leopard print pants has gone from casual to fully committed.

Not only did I purchase these leopard print harem pants recently:

($24, ShopNastyGal.com)

... And not a second too soon, because I don't know if you heard, but within two seconds it went from "pleasantly spring-esque" to "ancient Egypt-hot" here in New York, so these were the perfect alternative to shorts, which everyone knows suck.


... But I also just bought the leopard print chiffon pants I blogged about and threatened to buy.

Which brings me to the third (and, let's be honest, probably not the final) pair of leopard print pants I recently spotted (harrr -- get it? spotted?) and will probably buy:

I went to the Forever 21 fall editor's preview and got way into this chick's leopard print pants. (WAIT. I didn't mean like I PHYSICALLY got into them. I didn't sexually, nor did I PUT them on, because let's be real -- I couldn't actually fit into that model's pants. That's why they're on her.) They're kinda almost leggings and not quite harem pants. The fact that they're not too tight keep them from looking too "hubba hubba" hookery.

(I'll let you guess which photo was professionally shot and which was taken by me on my BlackBerry, by the way. The suspense is probably killing you right now, isn't it?)

When she was pregnant with me, my mother probably didn't ever pat her belly and think "I'll bet my little unborn daughter will some day be physically unable to restrain herself from buying leopard print pants!" But, things don't always turn out as planned!

L.A.M.B. Tweed Harem Pants = Oof.

Surely tweed button-up harem pants would look amazing on Gwen Stefani... And that's it.

($275, L.A.M.B., Shopbop)

Love Gwen, love L.A.M.B., but tweed and harem pants are a classic example of "never the two shall meet." And also "just because you can doesn't mean you should."

I think Ruscha said it best when he said ...

Word.

Prada's Cavallino Bowler Is Doing Wild Things To My Head

I don't know who I think I am, but apparently I'm the kind of person who somehow, suddenly looks at Prada bags. Generally I write off Prada bags a.) because I can't afford them, DUHR, and b.) because I associate them with those terrible nylon black backpacks which are just the worst. But somehow I'm all into the idea of Prada's leopard-print Cavallino bowler.

($3,100, Prada, NeimanMarcus.com)

Great, right? Too bad I enjoy "eating," and "having an apartment" and "not being wildly in debt."

Anyway, my obnoxious Prada leopard-print bag fantasies inspired a major animal-print binge, which netted the following:

($585, Hammitt, Searlenyc.com)

Studs with animal print can be a leeeettle cowboy, but this bag by LA brand Hammitt still kinda works.

($745, Stella McCartney, Net-a-porter.com)

The elusive zebra-colored leopard print! Score!

($564, Opening Ceremony, Asos.com)

Opening Ceremony! Why are you so good to us? (And also, why are you so expensive?)

($158, Sam Edelman, Nordstrom)

Sam Edelman's Katrice wedge FTW! So '70s it's sick!

($80, Topshop)

I love an adventurous outfit, but have these leopard-print harem pants crossed the line from adventurous to crazy? Like Real Housewives table-flipping levels of nuts? Also, as much as I wanna make harem pants "work," I'm becoming increasingly convinced that they barely even look good on models whose body types are "pencil."

($36, Walmart)

Finally, this IS FashionBinge, where we do love a good deal, so far it be from me to leave you without something affordable. I mean, this Walmart leopard-print bag isn't the absolute worst. I'd carry it to the gym. Seriously, just tell people it's vintage deadstock, and they'll be all "ooh!"