Leopard: Tacky or Tasteful?

I've got friends with quite a wide range of styles but the one major thing we all manage to disagree upon is leopard. Some of my friends rock the leopard mini-dress or high heels and manage to not look like they've just stepped out of the Jersey Shore while other people I see around...we'll just leave it at less is definitely more in their case.

I've never been daring enough to rock the leopard myself but I've been seing it pop up more and more lately, in some softer not so in your face styles, such as the sweater below which I've been coveting.

Image via Victoria Secret

Or perhaps in one or those new smoking slipper styles?

Image via Tobi

So let me know what you guys think,  leopard prints? Tacky? Tasteful? Cute? Cringe-worthy?

xo, Hil