Hunch Confirmed: Leopard-Print Coats Are on Their Comeback Tour
Graphic by Jasmine Fox-Suliaman for Who What Wear; Image credit: Launchmetrics Spotlight; @sobalera
"Are leopard prints a neutral?" That's the question we recently posed in an editorial meeting at Who What Wear. Although the jury's still out among our team, what's irrefutable is that this print never really goes out of style. Even when other print trends emerge in the fashion ecosystem, leopard remains at the top of the chain. In part, that staying power can be attributed to how popular this pattern became with prominent style icons throughout the '60s to '90s—leopard was spotted on the likes of Jackie Kennedy, Kate Moss, Gwyneth Paltrow, and so many others—cementing it as an alt-neutral among the It crowd. However, if we're being truthful, what's made this print timeless is that it's continued to evolve over time. We've seen leopard prints continuously reimagined on the runway, recent collections being no exception to that rule.
It's one of the few animal prints that has successfully adapted to various trending aesthetics over the last few seasons—including the rise of "old money" fashion and new-wave bohemian. Plus, it's one of the most straightforward fall trends to adopt because it can be worn in every form imaginable: bottoms, bags, boots, and big ol' coats. While there are plenty of ways to embrace this print, we'd argue that coats are the most compelling form. Before there's uproar in the crowd, hear us out: Leopard-print coats are on the prowl again (or at least their comeback tour), as they were spotted throughout S/S 24, F/W 24, and even S/S 25 collections.
Moreover, we've begun to see leopard outerwear encroach on the closets of women around the world—further proving the trend's dominance for fall. But if you're still unconvinced that leopard coats are coming back from extinction, keep scrolling. Ahead, we've rounded up a few examples of the jacket trend on the runway and in the wild that provide a master class in how to wear leopard print in a 2024 way. Plus, we've rounded up the best leopard-print coats based on quality, versatility, style, brand recognition, and price point. Whether you're inspired to dig your old jacket out of storage or shop for a fresh spin on this trend, one thing is for sure: Your relationship with leopard print is about to evolve.
On the Runway
Image credit: Launchmetrics spotlight; Pictured: Michael Kors F/W 24
Image credit: Launchmetrics Spotlight; Pictured: Gestuz S/S 25
Image credit: Launchmetrics Spotlight; Pictured: Palomo Spain S/S 25