Why We Like it Wild

Welcome to 2010 stylish handbag lovers! As you can tell by the title, animal print bags are a big transitional trend taking us into Spring 2010. This oblong slouchy leopard pouch on the Carolina Herrera Spring 2010 runway is just the tip of the iceberg.

A quick Google search turned up a lot of articles about how to wear animal prints, who made animal prints their signature, (Betsy Johnson and Roberto Cavalli) and even a piece entitled 'Saudi Women Dare To Wear Leopard'. But when it came to why we wear animal prints--nada.

I did come across an article that made the case that wearing animal prints reminds us of a time when, as hunter-gatherers, we would envelop and adorn ourselves in the warmth and wonder of genuine exotic skins...but I'm not buying it. How warm and cuddly is a Judith Leiber Butterfly Minaudiere? On the other hand, I feel warm and cuddly at the prospect of clutching one!

Maybe the hunter-gatherer argument has a point. If a cave man were to bring this Nancy Gonzalez Shiny Python Box Clutch home to his woman, most likely she would squeal with delight.

I think it's simple. Animal prints are kind of sexy (these days they call it fierce), and wearing one like this Jimmy Choo Conti snakeskin shoulder bag with cheetah and zebra-print ponyskin panels is a bit like an ironic wink. When you carry an animal print bag, you're telegraphing a message that goes something like, "I may look sweet and ladylike, but deep down I'm a wild thing. So watch out!" I'm just saying.

It's good to be back! I'm looking forward to many more wild times with you, dear readers!

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