The mere mention of leopard may well make you yawn. We have been down the leopard road many times and who can blame you if you’re bored of being told that it’s ‘the new neutral’.
So let’s try a different tack: how about, leopard print is the new smartener. The easiest smartener of the season, in fact. Add a strong shot of leopard print – a coat, a jacket, a belt and a pair of kitten heels – to your tried and tested basics and you’ve got an instant autumn makeover.
To be clear there’s a lot of leopard out there – sheer blouses, floaty dresses, puffa jackets – but I wouldn’t go near any of it because it doesn’t pass the Smart test. It’s only a minute since Marks & Spencer’s flowy bias cut leopard print summer dress was flying off the rails but we’ve moved on – autumn is quite a different proposition – and now the only leopard to be seen in is ladylike and polished.
Leopard print has been ubiquitous recently, seen on celebrities from Salma Hayek (left) to Winnie Harlow (right)
Think Catherine Deneuve and Jackie Onassis, old school chic with done hair, sunglasses, a little heel and a neat handbag. This leopard moment is all about classic pieces that you can wear with the clothes you already own. Here are the dos and don’ts of wearing leopard, in autumn 2024…
Way to wear leopard
Hands down the best way to wear leopard – great over beige and black and cream and denim, any block colours, any neutral geometric prints (florals may be too busy). The leopard coat that will serve you best is a simple Crombie style like Massimo Dutti’s (£369 massimodutti.com); it’s not cheap but you’ll have it forever.Â
Black close to your face is draining as time goes on, but black lifted by the collar of a leopard coat is something quite different. Otherwise there’s always faux fur – so long as you keep it looking smooth. Try Zara’s (£79.99 Zara.com)
Leopard print can break up the harshness of black near your face, particularly as you age. This faux fur coat from Zara is a good example
The half way rule
M&S report a lot of interest in its new leopard patterned wide leg jeans (£45) and leopard trousers are definitely having a moment. Still, for many of us, it feels safer to give this one a miss and focus above the waist.
Try a lightly quilted round neck jacket, from Zara (£49.99) over a dark polo neck and trousers. Or a sweater: Zara does a great jacquard knit short-sleeved top with a jewelled neckline (£35.99) and a matching cardigan (£45.99) which can be worn separately or together with a midi skirt and boots or black trousers.
If you do happen to have some leopard print trousers, great, just be aware that the rest of your outfit should ideally be black and certainly plain – and skip the coat.
One major item in leopard is a good rule of thumb.
Mango’s below the knee pencil skirt
Skirts beat dresses
See the halfway rule. This way you can add a black or beige or cream top and the effect is less overpowering. The leopard print midi slip skirt is still going strong if you’re slimish and tall (£35 marksandspencer.com) or Mango’s plain below the knee pencil skirt (£35.99 shop.mango.com) looks good with a plain grey sweater and a small heel.
Shade is important
Zara’s leopard print bucket bag
This season’s print is darker and richer for a more vintage feel, or it has more black in the mix. Steer clear of the yellowish leopard tones and anything cartoonish or abstract: the more authentic and glossy the better.
Mix up two leopards
Double up in two slightly different tones. Hailey Bieber, Mrs Justin Bieber, was seen recently in leopard print coat (probably Toteme) and a mismatched leopard tote bag, showing off how to do leopard autumn 2024 style.
Zara does a leather leopard print shopper (£189 zara.com) or a great bucket bag (£89.99 zara.com). Choose bigger bold styles with leopard, nothing cute and dinky.
Accessories for life
Leopard print slingbacks can be worn with trousers or a midi skirt. Left:Â Sam Edelman shoes available from John Lewis and, right, similar ones from H&M
A leopard print ponyskin high stiletto is still quite a statement but a lower leopard kitten heel is something you can slip on with trousers or a midi skirt and a sweater.
Mango’s slim leopard print belt
If you want to cocktail up jeans for evening a pair of mid heel slingbacks like Sam Edelman’s at John Lewis (£175 johnlewis.com) or H&M’s slightly higher style (£27.99 hm.com) do the job. Leopard flats especially ponyskin are a great black trouser smartener for the office – Zara’s ponyskin style (£55.99).
Wear a slim leopard print belt with anything plain (£25.99 shop.mango.com) and double up with a leopard bag.