Spots on or spots off? Outdated or innovative? Leopard print has been one of the most consistent discussion topics for the fashion industry since the 1920s. It borders the line of being either cheugy or show-stopping, with its natural colors simultaneously pairing and clashing with everything. The fur is undeniably a statement, regardless of the media’s ever-changing opinion on it, and it’s been a staple from closets to runways for the last century.
During the 1920s and 1930s, a period marked by increased sexual liberation, the popularity of leopard print surged as it brought a sense of untamed allure and seductiveness to the fashion market. This jazz era of flappers and television stars was dominated by leopard print, with faces like Josephine Baker and Theda Bara contributing to this trail of paw prints and spots. Celebrities would wear lavish fur coats, form-fitting leopard print dresses, and elegant trenches that were trimmed with the uprising pattern. Leopard print didn’t only stop there, though. Some elites would go to extreme lengths to show off their wealth, even resorting to buying live leopards for public display.
Leopard print didn’t begin to trickle into the majority of society’s eye until designers brought it to the runway. In the late 40s, designer Christian Dior shined the spotlight on the print, further enhancing its relatively promiscuous connotation. Dior proclaimed, “If you’re fair and sweet, don’t wear it,” as he promoted a leopard print dress from his ‘New Look’ collection. From then on, the print continued into the 50s with prominent names like Marilyn Monroe and Bettie Page adorning this feisty fur.
While the leopard print’s beginnings were already provocative and nonconforming, the swinging sixties cemented the print in edginess and raunchy chic. Even an influential figure like Jackie Kennedy was seen in a leopard print coat made from real leopard skin pelts. This made the leopard print industry soar, increasing the demand for real leopard print in stores. While the print continued to climb in popularity, the 60s was a time when the media began to contort sexual liberation into trashy desperation. As the hippy movement began to include animal rights in their activism, wearing leopard print became denoted as ignorant and distasteful. Despite it all, leopard print continued to prevail.
With the 80s being the prime time for flashy looks, and the 90s runways producing a revolutionary influence on mainstream fashion, leopard print began to see even more recognition. Lil Kim, Naomi Campbell, and Kate Moss modeled this maximalist design and by the 2000s, leopard print was an established look for every catwalk and every diva. It became immersed in mass fashion, the print expanding to an array of colors and pieces. Leopard print could be seen on crop tops, miniskirts, knee-high boots, and scarves.
Even historically ‘classy’ brands like Burberry and Coach adapted the pattern into their designs. Leopard print today remains painstakingly multifaceted, and for a pattern that never changes, it has endured decades of popularity. The print can be worn in any season, in any form, so don’t be afraid to rock those historic spots.
