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Leopard print has been a fashion choice through the ages, primarily for high-ranking
members of society. In the 20th century leopard fur and leopard print enjoyed its biggest popularity in the Fifties. Leopard
print and the term 'sex kitten' usually went hand in hand.
A quick guide to Leopard Print (source website)
Patron Saint: Sheena, Queen Of The Jungle
Image Makers: Jayne Mansfield, Bettie
Page, Bunny Yeager, Mamie Van Doren
Soundtrack: Elvis, Little Richard, Louis
Prima, Eartha Kitt, Julie London
Screen: "The Wild One," "The Girl Can't
Help It"
Technology: Polyester
Drug Of Choice: Martini
Wheels: T-Bird
Soundtrack '96: The Cramps, The Las Vegas Grind,
El Vez, Brian Setzer
Runway
'96: Valentino, Gianni Versace, Todd Oldham
Last Seen: On Alabama
(Patricia Arquette) in "True Romance"
Below
are some examples of the leopard print look which illustrate its evolution.
| The Jungle Girl as a Pouty Sex Kitten |
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| Untamed? Maybe... |
| Jayne Mansfield - 50's Starlet |
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| One of the most famous wearers of leopard print apparel |
| Two Continents - Two Die-hard Leopard Print Fans |
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| They love it, they wear it, we laugh about them.... |
Let's take a look at some potential leopard print fashion choices for Veronica
and the other Treehouse inhabitants.
| The Wonderful World of Leopard Print |
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| ... and Jaguar (Lady below right) |
Is this the kind of look that the Fashion Plateau envisions for Veronica? To be
perfectly honest - no. The leopard print look is invariable dated and reminiscent of B-movie starlets like Mamie Van Doren
and Jayne Mansfield. Veronica's look is not sex-kitten, it's self-reliant, kick-ass Plateau Protector. Her look is unique
and completely original, signifying her independance and ability to effortlessly adapt to her environment.
Marguerite in leopard print? She has shown so much restraint in her color choices, we haven't even seen
her in a blouse with polka dots or stripes, it is highly unlikely that she would choose leopard, zebra or tiger prints. Probably
not even a shawl...
Ned Malone and Lord Roxton certainly have shown fashion sense and commitment to good looks and impeccable
grooming, but their wardrobe is made up of rather conservative items. Could Ned Malone have a secret side to him and wear
leopard print briefs? Unlikely... Lord Roxton in a leopard print shirt? Unthinkable. The man is not adverse to stripes, but
anything bolder is not in line with his always present obligation to aristocratic fashion choices. Outdoor wear yes, but within
the limits of safari style.
Professor Challenger? We know, we also laughed ourselves silly...
So in summary: we definitely toss the whole leopard look out the window and think
it has no place on the Plateau.
| Voodoo Queen Latex meets Leopard Print |
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| What we fear most... |
But the Fashion Plateau as usual is only one voice among many. We invite you to
send us your opinion about Veronica's outfit and any changes in fabrics that you envision. We will publish all opinions, unabridged
and uncensored, true to the high standards of our publication.
So send your emails to the Fashion Plateau, we promise to update our site frequently to make sure your voice is heard.
| Ok... even we have to admit |
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| There are a few who look really cute in leopard print |
We are very pleased that a few hours after publishing our column, we have already
received the first style opinions.
Catsmeow wrote:
Not to slight Veronica, but who cares what she is wearing. I'd like to see
Lord Roxton in the little animal print number the guy is wearing in your fashion spread. <WEG>
I guess that means that Catsmeow likes leopard print. :)
Sherri tells us:
Christine what are you trying to do give a poor girl a heart attack imagining
WILL SNOW in that leopard thong! Viewership of TLW Season 4 would definitely go through the roof. Quite frankly RACHEL
would look just as appealing in the bikini skirt outfit. But we know the question is do we really want the explorers to be
known as you put it nicely Sex Kittens. My answer no. It would tarnish their image especially Jennifer's. She's not Sheena!
Veronica is more intelligent & the leather outfit suits her nicely. I just bet the show would get more male viewers if
Jen, Rachel & Lara pranced around in Sex Kitten attire but to me they are more than kick assing girls in leopard
skin. Kind of remind you of the show 'Babewatch".
The Fashion Plateau concludes: no leopard print for the women, but a leopard print
thong for Lord Roxton finds full approval from Sherri.
Explorer wrote:
As to the current poll re the leopard look, I still think that Veronica would
look superlative in an outfit very similar to that displayed by Irish McCalla (?) in your photo ensemble. She's the one kneeling
in that set. If I recall the lady right, she played Sheena in the 1950's; I've seen some reruns, and think she (and Betty
Page) were in, "Playboy" in nostalgia features.
The briefer leopard bikini, top right in the photos, model standing, would
be ideal for Veronica or Finn's lingerie or swim attire. Thong effect in rear view not essential; should vary with the episode.
Some
ladies here underestimate the practical value of the leopard look in the jungle. It offers not only glamor that would so enchant
the men that Voodoo Queen would have to wear it or fail to excite Roxton; it provides subtle camoflage enabling women wearing
it to blend into the jungle foliage, a world of light and dappled shadow into which the leopard itself merges effortlessly.
Those colors evolved for a reason. (You realize, of course, that I'm a serious amateur naturalist who has long studied wild
animals, and have read the works of men who hunted them in hazardous circumstances. They universally rated the leopard very
highly on the danger scale, partly due to its ability to disappear so well into cover.)
Some will say, "Pshaw! The leopard
bikini would be useless for concealment with so much delectable female flesh exposed." But, think positively: lightly tanned
white skin might look like patches of sunlight at a distance, broken in crucial zones by the spots and golden tones of the
leopard hide.
Overall, I think the leopard look has been disparaged too heavily by women who are afraid they wouldn't
look good in it. Veronica and Finn would. So would Marguerite. (Wow! Remember
how hot Rachel was in that little brown bikini in the , "FHM" feature?!) It'd be the ideal ensemble to wear as Lord
John Roxton massages her tired, if elegant, body...
The Fashion Plateau applauds Explorer for his efforts at a lengthy treatise about
this topic. The Playboy connection of leopard print afficionados is well known to us, as our research has covered Mamie Van
Doren as well. This lady is still taking her clothes off at 70, we can send the links to the websites to Explorer, if he likes.
Explorer's mildly insulting theory that women who dislike leopard print are simply
afraid that they would not look good in it - unlikely in our view, since most women (and quite a few men!) are able to talk
about fashion in a very broad sense. They like to discuss a variety of styles and who would be able to wear them, fully
aware that fashion is always an experience in diversity. An example: I never wear peach, because it violently clashes with
my skin tone, but it is one of my favorite colors and I love to see it on other people.
Mistycara shares her thoughts as well:
In my opinion I can't see any of the Explorers in leopard print especially
not Veronica. I think she would find it distasteful and tacky. Besides in the three years
they have been there
I don't think they've seen any wild cats except for that dead tiger in Blood
Lust.
Marguerite in leopard print? Never! Our girl is way to conservative in her dress except for the occasional
unbuttoned blouse, I think only to keep Roxton's wandering eye in season 2 on her. As for the men, I hardly think so.
Once again their taste in fashion runs to the practical. You don't want to look like dinner running through the jungle
now do you? I'm sure leopard print would definitely attract a T. Rex's and any marauding raptor's attention very quickly.
LOC190 gives us insight into the question with a British slant:
Hmm, It is no good I just can't imagine Roxton in a leopard skin posing pouch
and believe me I've tried!!!! He is just not the poser type, who normally tends to be a medallion man*.
Roxton is a man of action not a poser and would become easily irritated by a thong chafing his nether regions!
Veronica
in leopard skin or any other form of big cat skin? I just don't think it is going to happen. Approaching this
from a fashion perspective the look is just not happening. I think I may have formed this opinion whilst growing up,
ladies who wore leopard print tended to be, how shall I put this delicately, - past their prime, err mutton dressed as lamb*.
Let us face it Veronica and Marguerite would look stunning no matter what they wore, even covered up from head to toe they
would still turn heads! So I think they have no need enhance their stunning looks with gimmicks besides which it is
just not practical.
*For
Further information on typical medallion men see Tom Jones.
*For British readers of the Fashion Plateau - think Bet Lynch
from Coronation Street.
Thong chafing... we shudder at the thought! And we cherish LOC190's
thoughtful references to European fashion victims. After all - this is an international site!
Ariadne is offended:
I cannot tell you how shocked I am that this question has even arisen.
Is not the leopard an endangered species?
And is not Veronica the one who suggested the others become vegetarians because it is the more humane
alternative?
The future Protector of the Plateau would not throw away her principles
for a mere fashion statement, no matter how important Fashion on the Plateau is.
As for Roxton, the man who hid behind a tree lest Danielle see his long
underwear would never wear a leopard thong. (Ned might, if he thought
it would get Veronica's respect, which of course it wouldn't.) As for
Marguerite wearing such an outfit, the pay back would have to be many, many sparkling gems.
Curses of Oseema on all who support this idea.
She doesn't mince words. We like that in our contributors...
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