Animal prints need balance

Hey Clinton!

I got this really cute short-sleeved, zebra-striped jacket, and I want to know how not to look boring with just a black skirt. I was thinking maybe red patent pumps and a yellow bag or something, but I want to make sure I'm not going to look like walking tie-dye. Thanks so much!

--Lee, Florida

Hey Lee,

A walking tie-dye? Maybe. But I think you should worry more about looking like a walking zebra that stepped in ketchup while carrying a bottle of mustard.

Red shoes and a yellow bag--that's tricky business, girl. I'm not saying it can't be done, because it sure can, but probably not with zebra print. But before we get to accessories, allow me to dispense my biggest piece of animal-print advice: Do it with structure and in the best quality you can afford. When you do baggy, shapeless, bad/faux animal prints, you run the risk of looking like Jane of the Jungle who just skinned her lunch and threw it on her back.

Animal prints need to be balanced with sharp lines or attention to silhouette, either in the garment itself (like a belted giraffe print shirt dress) or its accompaniments (a leopard blouse with a pencil skirt).

That doesn't sound like your issue, Lee, as I assume this jacket of yours has some shape to it. However, I don't want you to look silly by losing focus.

Zebra print is bold and will need to be the star of the show. A colorful bag and shoes will compete for attention, lessening the impact of your look overall. If you want to add color, that's fine. Just do it in one place, either in the bag or in the shoe.

If a printed blouse or dress is multicolored, you can pick up one color from the print for the bag and another from the print for the shoes. But with black-and-white prints, like zebra, you're better off pairing it with neutrals, plus one "pop" color and some texture or shine elsewhere.

So, the way I'd style this jacket would be with a black skirt (neutral), black tights (neutral again), a black patent heel (shine!) and a yellow envelope clutch (pop!). But you probably won't want to wear tights in Florida, so do it with a black skirt (neutral), silver sandals (shine!) and a green clutch (pop!). Or some dark denim (neutral), a red shoe (pop!) and a black beaded clutch (shine!).

I hope that helps. Enjoy the jacket. Beware of cheetahs.

[ Fashion expert Clinton Kelly is a RedEye special contributor and star of TLC's "What Not to Wear." ]