FASHION: 8 ways to wear animal print this autumn

LAST month, three generations of us got together for some retail therapy. My mum and I howled at the cheesiness of all the leopard print available on the high street while my teenage daughter took snaps of us in various Bet Lynch guises for her social media.

From bags and jackets to shoes and blouses, animal print was everywhere and it felt as if we'd gone on safari rather than a shopping expedition.

But roll on a few weeks and I found myself trying on a full-length maxi dress in Zara in, wait for it, a grey-toned snakeskin print.

Fashion is weird like that isn't it? What you think is horrible one moment, suddenly becomes the thing you just really, really want to wear.

Well perhaps only if you are a trends' follower. But even if you are not, it's satisfying to keep an eye on the latest looks and incorporate one of two into your wardrobe just to prove you're not a fashion dinosaur.

And that's probably the best way to approach this renewed love affair with animal prints.

You can keep it at arms length by simply indulging in a print bag, shoe or boot (or even some jewellery). Or you can embrace it wholeheartedly with a dress, coat, jacket or skirt.

The secret to avoid that Bet Lynch look is to dress it down rather than go for a glamorous look. That means teaming your leopard-print jacket or jumper with a pair of faded jeans.

Another secret is to treat animal print as a neutral – and adopt the same style rules as if you were wearing black, grey, navy or camel. So, do team it with other prints. Don't believe me? Well try it. A leopard-print jacket with some check trousers and a crisp white shirt looks the business.

Look out too for animal prints in different colours: such as a leopard print in red, green or grey. These options make a great choice for evening wear and will make sure no-one hums the Coronation Street theme tune as you walk on by.