Lions, Tigers, and Bears!

Those Isaac Mizrahi leopard ballet flats I fell in love with? The ones that I searched the Targets' of St. Louis for? The ones I just knew would sell at as soon as they hit stores... once they finally hit stores?

I took the leap and ordered them. Miss Lina, a teenfash reader who ordered my beloved flats, reported that the much-anticipated shoes were "so incredibly cute and not disappointing." Her words encouraged me... and I knew I would regret it if I didn't end up with leopard flats... so apparently they will land on my doorstep in two to six weeks. Except in two to six weeks I'll be comfortably (um, hopefully) living in a dorm, far away from where my darlings will be sent.

In case they don't work out for me (or you, if you have your eye on them as well), I used my shopping detective skills to dig up other variations on the animal print flat. It wasn't a tough task; animal prints seem to be turning up everywhere for fall.

Car Shoe leopard flats, $365 ... sweet silhouette, saucy print; driving moc sole is both comfortable and practical (unlike the price tag!)

J. Crew cheetah flats, $228 ... luxe in every sense of the word with a velvet bow calf-hair material, Italian leather trim, and a teeny key-hole exposing a teeny bit of "toe cleavage"

Hype square-toe flat, $125 ... these get an update with a square toe, rhinestone trim, and moccasin sole

Steven by Steve Madden lowcut flat, $110 ... cut extra low on the toes, these "scoop" ballet flats are ideal for your looong and lean jeans

Steve Madden rosette flat, $90 ... a bright red rosette adds a vintage twist to otherwise basic flats

Boutique Nordstrom leopard flat, $70 ... I love the little leather toe cap on this pair

Brass Plum dalmation flat, $45 ... if tan animal print isn't your shade of choice, opt for these ultra versatile black and white dalmation shoes (also available in leopard)

Newport News cheetah flat, $20 ... cheap, cheap, cheap and worth every penny

Now that's a selection! I'm relieved I already ordered a pair or else I would have a horrible time narrowing it down to one single pair... and two pairs of leopard print ballet flats is excessive, even for Imelda Marcos.

-tf