Whether you consider it a neutral or not, you can’t deny this trend is definitely back. Below, a closer look at how everyone is wearing leopard print outfits.
Kate Moss in a leopard print jacket. Photo: Getty
Every generation imagines it has reinvented the wheel when it comes to fashion trends – rebelling against the styles and silhouettes of their forebears and striking out on their own. The TikTok generation, however, seems to be experiencing this cycle on speed, with every month bringing a new aesthetic to the fore. Take “Clean Girl”, an “I just woke up like this, but actually spent two hours doing my makeup” vibe, which has since transmogrified into “Mob Wife”, a grittily glamorous figure, all dark sunglasses, faux fur coats, and leopard print outfits.
But, as Vogue’s fashion writer Daniel Rodgers points out, the Mob Wife look has been circulating in the fashion sphere for decades, with “femme fatale leopard print” the most consistently crowd-pleasing element. Long before Gen-Zers were taking to TikTok to give their best Carmela Soprano, Naomi Campbell was wearing the pattern head-to-toe in Alaïa’s autumn/winter 1991 show; rock goddess Debbie Harry was striking a pose in a leopard-print jumpsuit; and Kate Moss was dodging paparazzi in drainpipe jeans and a leopard coat. We can’t forget Joan Collins, who has made the maximalist print her wardrobe MVP. While its cultural associations may have fluctuated over time – from silver screen starlet to “tacky” to It-girl and back again – it has remained a constant in fashion’s collective consciousness.
Kate Moss with a leopard print bag. Photo: Getty
“Leopard print has been worn by icons like Kate Moss, Anita Pallenberg, Blondie, and one of my all-time favorites, Kurt Cobain,” says Amy Bannerman, eBay’s preloved style director. “While some think of leopard as a bold print, I see it more as a neutral staple. A simple outfit with the perfect leopard coat will make you look like the coolest person in any setting. I am very specific on the print and fabric: I like the fabric to be smooth and flat, rather than that fluffy kind of fake fur. I also always size up, the bigger the better for layering and nonchalant chicness,“ she adds. “I promise you, a leopard coat is a wardrobe game-changer.”
Fashion week street style. Photo: Getty
Many of us will already have leopard-print pieces sitting in our wardrobes, so it’s all about reworking these classic styles for the new season – which doesn’t have to mean buying something new. Our leopard-print styling tips for 2024? We love the throwback vibes of Kate Moss’s ’90s leopard-print looks, which are centered on a single pop of print paired with more pared-back separates, such as a neutral crew-neck knit and tailored trousers, or straight-leg jeans. “I always dress leopard print pieces down because I don’t like looking too ‘done’,” Amy explains. “I will be wearing mine with men’s suit trousers, Prada loafers, and a men’s sweater. All preloved, of course.”
Fashion week street style. Photo: Getty
Of course, the Mob Wife approach demands a little more drama. We’re talking form-fitted leopard-print dresses (very Dolce), enveloping leopard coats draped over the shoulders, and plenty of doubling (or even tripling) up on print – a leopard-print shoe or bag is an easy way to do this. And don’t forget: secondhand is one of the best ways to shop this look: eBay, Etsy, and Rokit all have great options right now. All hail the timeless appeal of the print.
Originally published on Vogue.co.uk
