Your Stylist: Slithering snake prints for chic, creepy Halloween

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Exotic animal prints and skins are obviously a huge trend for fall. They’ve been so ubiquitous that I wouldn’t be surprised if Post-it started making cheetah-print sticky notes or Starbucks starts to offer limited-edition cup sleeves done in a fierce leopard print.

Since it’s Halloween, I am partial to the creepier and slimier side of this exotic trend -- snake print. We saw the wonderfully colorful ‘60s-style snake-skin boots on the Prada fall-winter 2011 runway, and the print (and sometimes, skin) is showing up everywhere and on everything.

Here are some items done in snake print that are a little less obvious than the usual python-printed boot or bag. There’s even a snake-venom-inspired beauty product that induces slight facial paralysis, similar to the effects of a snake bite. Yikes!

The animal-print jeans from Current Elliott have been hot all season, but these boa-print cropped skinny jeans done in a paprika-colored denim ($198 at neimanmarcus.com) are particularly fetching.

For a casual pop of the popular reptile print, this T-shirt from Sass & Bide ($190 at net-a-porter.com) is an easy way to spice up the usual jeans and tee combo. For something sportier, Keds has done its classic canvas oxfords in a graphic black-and-white snake motif ($40 at keds.com).

Snake print can go dressy quite easily, adding an edgy elegance to just about anything. The platform, peep-toe “Bodacious” shoe from Charles David ($250 at Charles David Los Angeles) is done in this cool, alternating snake-printed and black leather, with a T-strap that gives it a sleek ‘70s disco feel.

Kara by Kara Ross’ python and amethyst ring ($220 at maxandchloe.com) also has that ‘70s vibe. This would look chic with a bow-neck blouse tucked into a pencil skirt.

Don’t forget your gadgets. They need cute accessories too. A snake-print leather iPad case from Michael Michael Kors ($130 at net-a-porter.com) makes a statement while still protecting your techie toys.

And Rodial’s Glamoxy Snake Mask ($83 at beautybar.com) doesn’t technically have any snake in it or on it, but it does contain a neuropeptide called syn-ake that is said to have a similar effect to the bite of a Temple viper snake. In this case, that means a slight freezing of the face and a potential alternative to Botox.

The mask also goes on in a thick black goop, and then peels off once it’s dried.

Wearing the mask while handing out candy, could be an easy (and effective, both for beauty and scare factor) way to creep out the kiddies who come to your door tonight.

Happy Halloween!

-- Melissa Magsaysay

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Photos: Top: Prada snake-skin boots from FW11/Gianni Pucci, gorunway.com, left: Sass & Bide snake-print T-shirt/Sass & Bide, right: Current Elliott boa-print cropped jeans in paprika/Current Elliott, left: Keds snake-print canvas sneakers/Keds, below left: Charles David Bodacious shoe/Charles David, right: Kara by Kara Ross python and amethyst ring/Kara Ross, below right: Michael Michael Kors iPad case/Michael Kors, left: Rodial Glamoxy Snake Mask/Rodial