Can Leopard Pants Be the Blue Jeans of Fall?

Almost exactly one year ago, I distinctly remember screenshotting this photo of Suki Waterhouse, telling myself that maybe one day I’d be bold enough to try and copy her look. (If you're too lazy to click on that link, she's wearing a lilac sweater with leopard pants and Maryam Nassir Zadeh heels.) Fast-forward to today, at which point the color lilac has basically been dubbed a neutral, and I’m the proud owner of not one, not two, but three pairs of leopard-print pants, and have genuinely considered at times purchasing a fourth—specifically, these.

Could it be that leopard pants have become almost as mainstream as blue jeans? As a denim junkie myself, I don’t say that lightly, but my honest instinct is yes. After all, putting aside my personal feelings about the trend, you really can't argue that a well-fitted pair can not only stand up to statement items like the above bubblegum pink sweater but fit in seamlessly with all our favorite basics. In the fashion world, these days any animal print seems to be serving the function of a neutral, especially leopard.

Of course, you don’t just have to take my word for it either. Simply see what’s out there. There's a reason every brand and retailer worth paying attention to is selling them, don't you think? On that note, to shop my 20 favorite leopard pants of the moment—yes, even narrowing it down to that many was hard—simply continue on below. 

Up next? The shoe trend I actually own five pairs of.