The Leopard Print Revival Is Upon Us

Between Wales Bonner’s ultra hot Adidas Sambas and Michael Kors’s entire spring 2024 front row, it was a great year for . With the Indie Sleaze revival on the horizon, the proliferation of animal print is a major sign of its second coming. But the leopard print craze didn’t start with the party girls of the 2010s.

(In fact, it was worn in both iterations of the movie starring Cyd Charisse in 1958 and Parker Posey in 1995.) And the spots have found fans as far flung as Queen Elizabeth, Jackie Kennedy, Audrey Hepburn, and later on, Kate Moss and the Spice Girls’ Mel B. Still, leopard print can be a daunting addition to a wardrobe, especially if one is pivoting from the minimalist aesthetic we’ve been seeing the past few seasons.

Thankfully, we can look to the stars for some styling tips. 2023 saw no shortage of stars rocking leopard print. Some preferred a lighter touch, using a sparing splashh of print to add a kick to their outfits. Kourtney Kardashian, in the purest indie sleaze interpretation of them all, leaned into kitsch, wearing her leopard print shorts with a Madonna T shirt and trendy moto boots.

Her sister, Kendall Jenner, however, opted for a subtler leopard print on her coat collar. Some chose to use one leopard print piece as an accent, often pairing it with black to amplify the impact. Selma Blair, Maya Hawke, and Rosamund Pike all subscribed to this method this year, adding animal patterned jackets, blouses, and skirts, to their otherwise all black outfits.

For those who may not be ready to plunge into a full leopard look, another approach to styling includes a bold accessory. Both Dua Lipa and Halle Berry showed off their printed bags: Berry toting a duffle bag through the airport, Lipa pairing her shoulder bag with a sculptural knit dress and Kiki boots.

On the other hand—or, rather, foot—director Janicza Bravo and diver Tom Daley showed off some funky footwear this past year. The director gave a masterclass in power clashing, attending a Miu Miu event wearing a classic plaid kilt styled with leopard lace up Oxfords. Meanwhile, the Olympian paired his loafers with a sweet pink sweater, matching saddle bag, and gray suit.

But one of the most classic approaches to leopard print is to simply go big. Irina Shayk committed to the animal pattern this year, wearing it on several occasions. Her favorite item seemed to be the maxi dress, which she styled with sneakers. Winnie Harlow also took to the red carpet in a slinky, full length leopard print frock with long sleeves and rosettes at the hip.

And who could rock this print it better than J.Lo, who went for triple leopard? In May of 2023, Lopez wore a long sleeved minidress embellished with ostrich feathers over a pair of sequined tights, and finished off the look with leopard stilettos. Now commitment to the bit! So whether you’re leopard curious and want to dip your toe in with some light accents, or if you’re ready to pedal to the metal, we predict that 2024 will be a big year for leopard print..