How to wear leopard print
The animal favourite roars back to life for the new season, writes Meadhbh McGrath
Leopard print is never out of fashion. From the flapper’s furs to Jackie Kennedy’s chic coat to Scary Spice’s jumpsuits, the spots have gone through many and varied phases of popularity. And this season, designers are determined to make you roar as animal prints stalked the catwalks at New York fashion week.
Tom Ford offered neon leggings, sharp tailoring and glittering minidresses, while Carolina Herrera included some actual animals on her printed dresses.
There was striking outerwear at Calvin Klein and Michael Kors, but Victoria Beckham stole the show with a chenille jacquard coat that is set to be the trophy piece of the season. She explained afterwards that she wanted to update the classic spots by rendering them in an unexpected material, opting for Venetian-inspired upholstery fabric.
Tiger, zebra and snake prints also appeared on the catwalks and are now prowling the high street, but our advice is to keep it simple with the quintessential leopard.
When women started wearing leopard print, it felt raunchy and a little bit outrageous, but nowadays it has run the design gamut and evolved into a hugely versatile, wearable print. You’ll hear fashionistas throwing out the line ‘leopard print is a neutral’; it may sound hackneyed, but the bold print really can function as a neutral to build outfits around — see Alicia Vikander (right) at the Louis Vuitton catwalk show. She masters the look by styling her bold skirt with a striped T-shirt and chunky boots. The print still looks decadent, but far more accessible.
If you’re wary of coming across too Liz McDonald, a skirt is a handy gateway into the trend, and the leopard midi has proved to be summer’s ‘it’ skirt. Go for sharp pleats, a wrap-around style or & Other Stories’ flowing bias cut version.
The leopard midi version can be dressed up or down in any number of ways — from off-duty cool, paired with a T-shirt and trainers, to sophisticated, with black knee boots and a fine knit tucked in, to party-ready, with a camisole and heeled sandals.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (left) goes high impact with a sweeping fur coat. As we head into cooler weather, the faux fur coat becomes an increasingly tempting winter wardrobe buy: you can go loud like Rosie in an oversized style teamed with pointed stilettos, or dial it down by pairing with a utility shirt, jeans and flats.
In a ruffled wrap dress with a red lip and vampy heels, leopard can be powerful and seductive, or equally it can look casual and laidback when toned down in a simple belt or pumps.
There’s no age limit on leopard, so find what works for you and you’ll be set for the season — and for years to come. There are a few more lives in this cat yet.