As a child of the 70's leopard print said Bet Lynch and when my Mother had a pair of custom leopard print lycra leggings made I was horrified. I named them her 'Mildred's' after the character from the sitcom George and Mildred played by the fabulous Yootha Joyce. I hated the Mildred's as they screamed "LOOK AT ME !"
These days leopard print is a fashion staple. It is rolled out every year in a million incarnations of fluffy coats, silk shirts and ankle boots. We most recently have Kate Moss to thank for that. The queen of cool made the rock star staple print an every day item that injects a bit of kitsch glam into your wardrobe.
Big cats and leopards have always been a classic in jewellery design. The London Assay office hallmark is a leopard head that is indelibly stamped into every piece of jewellery hallmarked there.
The most synonymous image of a jewelled big cat was created by the jewellery giants Cartier. They made the amazing pieces collected by professional clothes horse Wallis Simpson. Wallis had gold, diamond and emerald broaches, bracelets and even a lorgnette.
Cartier still produce a Panthere range to this day. Got a cool £152K ? These white gold, onyx, emerald and diamond earring are yours ! If you're after something a little more modest you can have the more affordable mini panthere stalking your finger.
I have learnt to embrace the leopard and channel a teeny bit of the rock star in me. I've even started to love the Mildred's.
