Leopard Print - Fashion’s Most Universal Trend?
By Lucy Brunner
When trends are marketed, they often solely cater towards a select, slim, young, white, wealthy audience. Occasionally, however, we see something exciting emerge; a pattern, texture, or style that manages to transcend these restrictive barriers. These become the classics, the fashion staples that unite generations and inspire excitement and creativity across a breadth of individuals. As an employee in a high-end clothes store, I spent my summer styling women of all ages, and the one constant in their tastes and preferences was leopard print. Mothers, daughters, and grandmothers would be trying the same items, a unique phenomenon I only saw with leopard print. As an industry standout of 2024, and a recurring star in trend cycles, it is undeniably a true fashion staple, but exactly how and why is leopard so appealing to everybody?
When we see a print trend emerging, fashion houses tend to incorporate it into entire collections, leaving a variety of options from jackets to hair accessories. Its seemingly endless versatility appeals to all; for those who want to embody the trend Hailey Beiber style, they can amalgamate pieces and commit head-to-toe, or for others, it can be worn as a small but mighty pop of print. When styling, I found that leopard maxi dresses were a standout choice for graduation and weddings, whilst printed mules and belts were sought by the corporate shopper, and the Damson Madder leopard jeans were in high demand after they made waves across social media. The sheer volume of options lends itself to both more feminine and rebellious style choices: as a fashion staple it offers a sort of comfort, but can also be a symbol of sensuality and rock culture.
The palette of leopard print also creates a universal appeal: its neutral background is offset by dark printing, and therefore complements all skin tones, hair types, and most of the colour palette. Women feel confident in leopard print, and it seems to serve as a sort of second skin that somehow emits both youth and maturity. Its simplicity transcends texture, and has been seen for SS24 on mesh and denim, and for AW24 on fur and cashmere, making it a trans-seasonal staple.
In 2024, Leopard is no longer a sole symbol of the 2010s party girl, but has been elevated to the heights of luxury fashion. Its prevalence on the runway (Alaïa, Dior, McQueen) has made it a sort of refined fashion statement, but its remaining accessibility on the high street absolutely solidifies its success. It is accessible, appealing, and flattering on everybody, and a shining example of how fashion can make women feel confident. As a uniquely universal fashion staple, it seems evident that leopard will forever remain a true style success.
