Whoever said you can't mix prints clearly hasn't met Olivia Rodrigo. While in New York City to promote her collaboration with Sony LinkBuds in a gorge purple colourway (AKA Liv's trademark hue), the artist had an impromptu photo shoot on an empty subway car. Ya know, as you do. But we're really glad she did as it gave us the perfect chance to check out her latest 'fit.
In the series of snaps, Olivia can be seen wearing a black and white polka dot midi dress. The retro design is the Helly Halter dress from New York-based brand, Dana Foley and features a cute tie halter neckline and low back. Emphasising the preppy, vintage feel of the ensemble was white ankle socks and black patent-heeled Mary Janes. However, the addition of a leopard print Kurt Geiger Bond shoulder bag injected a seriously modern feel – not to mention nailed pattern clashing in the process.
The art of pattern clashing is notoriously hard to do successfully, but Olivia made it look easy by combining two classic prints. The key to success lies in a common colour – in this instance black, with the dress' base colour tying in with the black leopard spots.
Olivia also earns extra style points for her maximalist look as polka dots and leopard are both *hugeee* fashion trends this season. If you haven't heard, polka dots are set to be big news well into next year with Patou showing the print on its ss25 catwalk. Meanwhile, all the It Girlies are already treating leopard like a neutral in 2024, and it's never been easier to add interest to an outfit than grabbing a leopard print bag.
Olivia's Kurt Geiger design is currently sold out in the leopard colourway (though is available in black, gold and a chic bronze snake print to tap into the animal look in a different way) but we've found plenty of alternatives if you're looking to snag a leopard print handbag whatever your budget:
Brb, recreating this outfit ASAP.
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Corinne Sullivan is an Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers a variety of beats, including lifestyle, entertainment, relationships, shopping, and more. She can tell you everything you need to know about the love lives of A-listers, the coziest bedsheets, and the sex toys actually worth your $$$. She is also the author of the 2018 novel Indecent. Follow her on Instagram for cute pics of her pup and bébé.
Alexandria Dale is the Digital Fashion Writer at Cosmopolitan UK. Covering everything from the celebrity style moments worth knowing about to the latest fashion news, there’s nothing she loves more than finding a high street dupe of a must-have designer item. As well as discovering new brands, she’s passionate about sustainable fashion and establishing the trends that are actually worth investing in. Having worked in fashion journalism for six years, she has experience at both digital and print publications including Glamour and Ok!
