Leopard print has always been a "love it or hate it" pattern. While some adore its boldness, others shy away from its statement style. But have the naysayers finally been won over? We're witnessing a full-on leopard print resurgence, embraced by fierce fashionistas of all ages. Want to get in on the trend? Read on to discover more about this distinctive pattern.
A spotty history
As is standard in the world of fashion, public opinion on leopard print has fluctuated throughout history. While it has appeared in practically every decade, its connotations have vastly differed.
Originally, the print was linked to masculinity, as leopard skin was worn as a status symbol by the men who hunted this magnificent beast. It became better associated with women in the 1940s, when they began wearing the pattern more frequently. However, only the daring took on the trend, using the primal print as a bold statement against the era’s stereotypes.
Wearing leopard print as a political statement persisted, with women across generations relying on the powerful image it projected to challenge gender expectations. Ironically, the print became so entwined with femininity that it took rock legends like David Bowie and Freddie Mercury to wear it and remind the world that fashion is for everyone. Fast-forward to the ’90s, and icons like Kate Moss, Shania Twain, and the Spice Girls continued to showcase the strength of this distinctive print. With modern celebrities like Olivia Rodrigo and Sabrina Carpenter proving it’s still relevant today, you have more than enough reason to add this striking pattern to your collection.
More than just a print
Now that you know about leopard print’s place in fashion history, let’s take a closer look at the animals that inspired the trend.
Leopards are solitary mammals that rely on stealth to hunt their prey. The spotted coat that we find so visually striking is actually a form of camouflage, helping them blend into their surroundings during a stalk. Like the rest of their big cat family, leopards are strong and powerful, yet impressively graceful too.
You’ll be forgiven for thinking leopard print is exclusive to leopards. The signature rosette pattern also appears in other surprising parts of the animal kingdom. Creatures such as the leopard frog, leopard shark, leopard butterfly, and giant leopard moth all display similar spot-based markings to conceal themselves within their personal habitats. Even among leopards themselves, variations exist. Leopards with darker colouring are known as black panthers, because, although their spots are still present, they’re difficult to distinguish against the shadowy fur.
With such an interesting range of appearances in the natural world, it’s no wonder this print continues to captivate us.
Over to you
Now, we can understand if you might shy away from dressing head-to-toe in leopard print (even though there’s plenty of examples of celebs owning this look: Anne Hathaway during Paris Fashion Week 2023, for instance). Although some are starting to view leopard print as a neutral, not all of us are so casually bold.
We recommend starting small with leopard print accessories. Even something as simple as a leopard print make-up bag would be enough to get you started on your animal print journey. Practical and stylish, a make-up bag would add just the right amount of wild to your everyday routine.
And who knows? Perhaps this is the print for you, and in no time at all your little bag will grow into an entire closet of leopard print clothes.
