Fashion pedigree

Animal motifs, from dogs and cats to dragonflies and tigers, have come in and out of fashion in the past century. The Duchess of Windsor, Wallis Simpson, had a penchant for fine jewellery, including her famous Cartier onyx and diamond panther bracelet and a diamond flamingo brooch, given to her by the Duke of Windsor. In the 1950s, full-circle poodle skirts - in which the puppy motif was appliqued to the skirt - were just the ticket for Saturday afternoon movie dates, paired with lace-ups and bobby socks. And find me any girl of the '70s who wasn't besotted with Agnetha and Frida's matching cat tunics with detachable skirts and I'll eat my bear hat.

Why you need it now

Designers have been adding to the trend for animal prints with their use of animal motifs in recent seasons. For spring-summer 2011, Marc Jacobs sent out for Louis Vuitton pieces adorned with tigers, giraffes, zebras and pandas; Miuccia Prada went bananas for monkey motifs at Prada while its sister label, Miu Miu, featured snakes and swans. And just a couple of weeks ago, Giles Deacon featured lion heads on tops at Ungaro.

What to look for

Lions and tigers and bears - oh my! Or perhaps you prefer bunnies and cute kittens? Whatever your critter of choice, you'll find it somewhere this season, whether on earrings, tees or knits. If you don't want to be emblazoned as a bunny lover, you could always suggest your affinities in smaller ways, such as with a tiny pendant necklace or subtle ring. Or you can roar it from the rooftops with a T-shirt featuring the king of the jungle (or its favourite prey). Just don't wear more than one at a time, lest you start looking like a menagerie.

Style to suit you

Athletic shapes

Look for dresses with a large-format animal motif, such as one of Vuitton's zebra dresses, where the head is on the bodice and the print continues on the skirt.