Leopard print, once the bold choice of pin-ups, “mob wives,” and even royalty, continues to divide opinion.
Yet, as the festive season approaches, the striking pattern has cemented itself as the ultimate party look.
From high-street racks to designer collections, blazers, dresses, and accessories flaunting the print are ubiquitous.
Once dismissed as kitsch, leopard print has clawed its way into mainstream fashion, with some now considering it a neutral wardrobe staple.
Its evolution tells a fascinating story.
Often embodying dualities—punk rebellion and rock ‘n’ roll edge, pin-up glamour and royal sophistication—it has also weathered periods of being deemed gaudy.
Jo Weldon, author of Fierce: The History of Leopard Print, describes it as a “progressive print” tied to outsiders and bold personalities.
“The first woman to model it was an exotic dancer,” she explains, citing the print’s untamed and animalistic connotations.
Leopard print’s history dates back to Ancient Africa and Asia, where real leopard skins signified status and power.
In the 20th century, Hollywood popularized it in films like Tarzan and the Leopard Woman (1946), while icons like Eartha Kitt reclaimed it, transforming its associations from colonial exotica to empowerment.
Jackie Kennedy further elevated its status with her 1962 leopard fur coat, though its popularity came at a steep environmental cost, leading to the deaths of thousands of leopards.
As fur gave way to fabric, leopard print’s allure evolved.
It became a symbol of both glamour and grit—seen on characters like Bet Lynch (Coronation Street), Kat Slater (EastEnders), and Peggy Bundy (Married… with Children).
These portrayals often leaned into stereotypes, but modern icons like Mel B, Amy Winehouse, and Kate Moss have redefined the print as one of defiant self-expression and edgy sophistication.
For Weldon, the enduring appeal lies in the print’s inherent sensuality, mirroring the mystery of the nocturnal leopard itself.
“It’s ever popular in burlesque,” she notes, highlighting its seductive glamour. Yet, snobbery persists.
Weldon sees criticism of the print as often rooted in classism, particularly when tied to its association with outspoken, working-class TV characters.
“Those characters make me love the print even more,” she adds with a grin.
British Vogue’s Joy Montgomery agrees, noting the tension between leopard print’s embodiment of liberation, power, and femininity.
“It wasn’t long ago that leopard print was linked to a certain type of outspoken woman—Janice from Friends comes to mind,” she says.
Even former UK Prime Minister Theresa May’s leopard-print heels sparked fierce debates about the statement the pattern makes.
Whether celebrated as a neutral or dismissed as trashy, leopard print’s ability to provoke conversation is precisely what ensures its place in fashion’s spotlight.
As the party season kicks off, its daring spirit continues to inspire those ready to embrace its bold, unapologetic charm.
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