How To Wear Animal Print Now
Balancing statement and neutral, animal prints deliver both longevity, versatility and a kind of tactile appeal that’s hard to resist. Here GEORGIE LUCAS rounds up five ways to wear the perennial motif for fall/winter ’25
Off-duty
By day, leopard print and denim are a match made in sartorial heaven, and styled wisely, will segue neatly into evening. Khaite’s beautiful ‘Saraphina’ leopard-print calf-hair jacket is a case in point, delivering a real wow factor. Cut to a classic blazer silhouette and trimmed with leather, it’s a true investment piece. Out and about, pair it with Saint Laurent’s cashmere sweater and Agolde’s straight-leg jeans. And for a night out, wear it over a sleek black slip dress.
For evening
After dark, animal print is a classic choice, delivering the sort of effortless elegance that you’ll reach for time and time again. Build your night-time look around Nour Hammour’s leopard-print coat, which has a belted waist and is part of our NET SUSTAIN edit as it’s made from lower-impact materials. Finish the look with flashes of red and gold – Khaite’s patent-leather red pumps and Jennifer Meyer’s ‘Cascading Dome’ polished 18-karat gold earrings are perfect.
Try tone on tone
For instant chic with minimal effort, select tonal pieces to pair with leopard print – think beige, camel, chocolate and other classic colors. Ganni’s chiffon maxi dress is a great place to start. Knot Khaite’s ‘Milo’ cashmere sweater across the shoulders – it’s the perfect balance of elegant and cozy, making it a welcome layer when the weather gets cooler. Then add a classic leather jacket, such as Loulou de Saison’s refined chocolate-brown bomber, on top. Finally, a suede tote is on every editor’s wish list – you’ll carry Saint Laurent’s ‘Le 5 À 7 Bea’ for years to come.
With tailoring
Depending on your office dress code, animal print can be worn at work if it’s styled the right way. Take Nili Lotan’s ‘Gaia’ blouse, for example, which is cut from silk crepe de chine to a slightly loose-fit silhouette. Wear with tailored wide-leg pants – Tibi’s cotton-twill runway style are crafted with the perfect amount of slouch and can be worn long, or with hems folded up. Beautiful leather is a natural partner for classic animal-print motifs – layer on an oversized leather jacket, such as this covetable Magda Butrym design, then slip into Saint Laurent’s classic black ‘Vendôme’ slingback pumps to pull the look together.
Add a pop of print
The easiest way to wear animal print is via your accessories. Carefully chosen pieces will add a little something extra to minimal daytime looks and will also amp up evening attire. In terms of footwear, styles like Alaïa’s ‘Criss Cross’ snakeskin ballet flats are the sort of thing you’ll wear day after day, while Jimmy Choo’s ‘Maxima 35’ leopard-print knee boots deliver ultimate impact – both styles pair well with tailoring, denim and evening dresses. Timeless bags are instantly pepped up with an animal-print finish – see Toteme, DeMellier and Khaite. If you’re in the mood to make a statement, Wolford’s leopard-print tights are the perfect pick, or opt for a subtle flash of snakeskin via Déhanche’s snake-effect belt from our NET SUSTAIN edit.
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