In stark contrast to the season’s plethora of hot colors I decided to adorn black and white the past two days. I mixed clothing with some masculine edge to create feminine flair.

No. 1 – I paired white jeans with a new knit Cato top ($10.99 clearance) and black shrug. I wore a pair of thirfted Naturalizer slingbacks ($3) and earrings. Thefauz patten leather belt came with the top. (How cool is that?)

No. 2.  – I picked my black & white pinstripe pants to wear with a zebra print tank and black cardigan. I accessorized with wide silver-studded belt,  Ann Taylor peep-toe pumps ($5, thrifted nearly new) and jewelry.

Black and white are often the wardrobe staples of a woman’s closets. Most wear the items as a foundation for colorful pieces, however sometimes they are just meant to be worn together. There isn’t anything as striking as a simple black and white clothing ensemble.

Most women have a LBD, but why not change it up a bit with a LWD.  Imagine a stunning white shift paired with a black Pashmina, black pearls and black shoes.

Whether you stick to all black, all white or choose to mix it up the choice is yours. I just wanted you to see that there are lots of options out there and they don’t need to look like the checkered flag at the race track. If you’re into racing and that’s what you want to wear that’s OK, but it will not add the sophistication you may be looking for, just a costumey feel.

So do you ever pair black and white together? Do you like to mix is up for some sophistication or do you like to dress it down?

Is mother nature playing a cruel joke? I think she is because we go from a beautiful weekend back to a bleak and dreary Monday.  Anyway before I headed to a friends barbecue yesterday afternoon I stopped by Goodwill just to check out and see what goodies were in the store and I found this cute little cardigan for $3.

I think the leopard pattern looks cute paired with my black pants, tan tank,  new belt (clearance, Cato $4.99) and tiger striped Dana Buchman flats (Kohl’s 2010.) I accessorized with a vintage Coro necklace that belonged to my grandmother, a pair of earrings I picked up at the A.B.O.B garage sale for .25 cents, costume bracelets, a Jewels by Park Lane black Swarovski crystal bracelet and ring.

I’ve been wearing animal prints lately. Recently, I blogged on  City Safari style.  There are some women out there who will tell you that when you reach a certain age that maybe you shouldn’t wear animal prints. They couldn’t be more wrong.

Animal print clothes are a strong look that not all women will feel comfortable in. The key to wearing these bold patterns successfully is to keep the rest of the outfit sedate. Although head to toe animal prints may look appropriate on the runway, in real life it can look overdone particularly for work. The key is to select a single piece of animal print clothing to serve as the focus of your outfit.  If you’re not comfortable wearing the “jungle” style, then take advantage of animal print accessories.

Because animal print clothes are such a bold look, it’s easy to grow tired of them. Well chosen animal print accessories will keep working in your wardrobe year after year.

I think my leopard “cardi” helped me turn this outfit into the “purr-fect” style.

What do you think? Are you wild enough to pull off these prints?