Wearing cat ears used to be reserved for Halloween, but the latest trend in feline fashion is taking them out of the closet and turning them into a year-round affair. Last year saw the rise of kitty-inspired hats from designers like Anna Sui, Maison Michel, and Givenchy, but the style has evolved in 2012 to include cutesy hairstyles and more delicate hair accessories.

The trendsetters of Tokyo’s Harajuku street fashion district have recently taken to styling their locks to resemble cat ears, in a move that is said to be inspired by anime culture. If you’re like me, and trying to style your unruly mass of curls would result in lumpy bumps, ASOS has also thrown its cat-shaped hat into the ring by offering a leopard-print Cat Ears Fascinator Hat, and more recently, a rhinestone-encrusted Cat Ears Headband. It’s super sweet, but will probably garner you a few strange looks.

Everybody wants to be a cat, and artificial cat ears are just the latest way to get us one paw closer to achieving our dreams. Tacky, trendy, or best reserved for the end of October? What do you think of this quirky new look? Let us know in the comments!