Hunch Confirmed: Leopard-Print Coats Are on Their Comeback Tour

the leopard print coat trend is shown in a collage of runway and street style images of women wearing some of the best animal print jackets
(Image credit: Launchmetrics Spotlight; @sobalera)
Jasmine Fox-Suliaman's avatar
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"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

Leopard print coat trend is shown on the fall runway 2024 collection of Michael Kors with a model walking wearing a leopard pony hair coat with black pumps and a black frame bag

(Image credit: Launchmetrics spotlight; Pictured: Michael Kors F/W 24)

leopard print coat trend is shown on the fall runway 2024 collection of Dior with a model walking wearing a leopard print peacoat over a black sweater with tan trousers and black ballet flats

(Image credit: Launchmetrics spotlight; Pictured: Dior F/W 24)

The leopard print coat trend is shown on the fall runway 2024 collection of Alaïa with a model walking wearing a white leopard coat over a black body suit with blue ankle strap pumps

(Image credit: Launchmetrics spotlight; Pictured: Alaïa F/W 24)

The leopard print coat trend is shown on the fall runway 2024 collection of Zimmerman with a model walking wearing a leopard print coat over a black embellished sweater with jeans, a tan belt, and black shoes

(Image credit: Launchmetrics spotlight; Pictured: Zimmerman Resort 2024)

The leopard print coat trend is shown on the spring runway 2025 collection of Gestuz with a model walking wearing a leopard print oversized blazer over a black button-down shirt with black trousers and black pumps

(Image credit: Launchmetrics Spotlight; Pictured: Gestuz S/S 25)

The leopard print coat trend is shown on the spring runway 2025 collection of Palomo Spain with a model walking wearing a funnel neck leopard jacket with a matching pencil skirt, gold chain belt, and black embellished pumps

(Image credit: Launchmetrics Spotlight; Pictured: Palomo Spain S/S 25)

In the Wild

The leopard print coat trend is shown on a woman standing outside wearing gold earrings, black oval glasses, and a leopard fur coat layered over a gray cardigan and white t-shirt worn with black trousers

(Image credit: @sobalera)

The leopard print coat trend is shown on a woman standing outside wearing black sunglasses with a cropped leopard coat, black shoulder bag, black t-shirt, black jeans, and animal print pumps

(Image credit: @nlmarilyn)

The leopard print coat trend is shown on a woman standing outside wearing a long leopard coat over black trousers styled with red ballet flats and a black sling bag

(Image credit: @_paulineleroy_)

The leopard print coat trend is shown on a woman standing outside wearing black sunglasses, gold earrings, a leopard print coat, and lace-up ballet flats

(Image credit: @minahabchi)

The leopard print coat trend is shown on a woman standing outside wearing a leopard trench coat with jeans, flats, and a brown suede shoulder bag

(Image credit: @lenafarl )

The leopard print coat trend is shown on a woman standing outside wearing TK

(Image credit: @TK)

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Jasmine Fox-Suliaman
Jasmine Fox-Suliaman
Freelance Fashion Editor

Jasmine Fox-Suliaman is a freelance writer and editor living in New York City. What began as a pastime (blogging on Tumblr) transformed into a lifelong passion for unveiling the connection between fashion and culture on the internet and in real life. Over the last decade, she's melded her extensive edit and social background to various on-staff positions at Who What Wear, MyDomaine, and Byrdie. More recently, she’s become a freelance contributor to other publications including Vogue, Editorialist, and The Cut. Off the clock, you can find her clutching her cell phone as she's constantly scrolling through TikTok and The RealReal, in search of the next cool thing. 

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