Given my propensity to maintain a classic and minimal wardrobe, I have traditionally shied away from animal print. It always felt a little bold for my taste, but it doesn’t have to be. By now, Shelly knows this about me, so she suggested I ease into it with a simple animal print pump, utilizing this trend to redefine the “neutral shoe,” rather than pigeonholing it to “statement piece.” What I love about this tactic is that animal print encompases blacks, browns, tans and every shade of neutral you can hope for. As a result, they go with absolutely everything! Talk about the “new” neutral. We opted to pair these pumps with a classic skinny jean and jewel tones on the top for a casual office or lunch date vibe. I have a tendency to start dressing in darker tones as the temperatures begin to dive (burgundy is a fall and winter favorite!), but fall does not preclude pops of color! I love the rich, cool tones of the purple blouse because this bold shade is appropriate for multiple seasons, merely by changing the color pairings. Coming from the opposite side of the trusty color wheel, the deep yellow of this saffron scarf is the perfect fall color compliment and adds a layer of removable warmth on these chilly fall mornings that blossom into sunny afternoons. If wearing two bold colors and an animal print shoe has you saying “whoa!” you can just as easily pair the shoe and a bold blouse with a camel or black scarf to tone it down.  This outfit could also benefit from a tasteful animal print clutch…. The possibilities are endless! One warning: wearing joyful colors on a gray fall or winter day becomes addictive! Especially with consignment prices, why not give mixing opposing colors a try?