The Wild Return: Animal Prints Rule Fall/Winter 2025

Animal prints are having a full-blown fashion renaissance. Once reserved for statement coats and daring accessories, they’ve re-emerged this season as a true wardrobe neutral—anchoring collections from Paris to New York and redefining what “timeless boldness” means in modern dressing.

From leopard and cheetah to zebra and snakeskin, this is not just a comeback—it’s a recalibration. Designers are reimagining animal prints with sculptural tailoring, unexpected colorways, and luxe textures that feel both familiar and fresh.

Why Animal Prints Are Everywhere Right Now

Fashion has flirted with animal prints for decades, but this season’s revival feels different—more intentional, more versatile, and surprisingly, more elevated. This isn't your typical iteration of cheetah-print coats of decades past.

This resurgence stems from a collective desire for expression after years of quiet minimalism. The print’s visual energy injects personality into an otherwise neutral wardrobe, offering both polish and play. Across runways and street style alike, animal print has evolved from novelty to almost a necessity.

Three reasons it’s dominating right now:

1. It’s the new neutral. Leopard and cheetah are being styled the way we once used camel or beige—balanced, understated, and endlessly mixable.

2. Runway validation. Nearly every major fashion house has touched animal motifs this season, cementing them as the texture of the moment.

3. Wearability reborn. The prints are more sophisticated than ever, reinterpreted in brushed wool, embossed leather, and silk instead of loud polyester or faux fur.

The result? A trend that feels surprisingly classic.

Fashion Houses Leading the Pack

Dolce & Gabbana

Few brands embody the spirit of animal print quite like Dolce & Gabbana. Their Fall/Winter collection doubled down on leopard in rich jacquards, silk slip dresses, and fur-trimmed outerwear. The brand has always treated print as power—and this season was no exception.

Khaite, Totême, and Alaïa

These labels are redefining how sophisticated animal print can look through a more contemporary woman's lens. Khaite’s longline leopard coat, Totême’s monochrome zebra knits, and Alaïa’s sculptural feline-print dresses all demonstrate how the motif can feel architectural (rather than theatrical).

Michael Kors and Jacquemus

Michael Kors’ runway brought out sleek, city-ready interpretations—think cheetah coats paired with tailored trousers—while Jacquemus leaned playful, layering zebra and cow prints with fluid shapes and undone ease.

Emerging Designers

Smaller labels are also embracing the moment, while others have animal print already well-established within their design DNA. 

Damson Madder
A London-based, sustainability-minded label known for playful and bold prints. They were among the early indie names doing leopard-print jeans. 

Rotate
Founded by Jeanette Madsen and Thora Valdimarsdottir, Rotate has introduced zebra motifs in its more statement pieces (cruise collections and such). 

Dhruv Kapoor
Though more known for maximal prints in general, Kapoor’s design ethos embraces bold pattern and print work. 

Carri Munden / CassettePlaya
Known for having a “primal / tribal / animal influence” aesthetic in her print work (e.g. paw print fabrics, primal mask motifs) over the years. 

Holly Fulton
A Scottish designer celebrated for bold graphical motifs and prints. While not always literal animal print, her aesthetic shows how print can be elevated and artful. 
Wikipedia

Across the board, print is being treated as texture—adding depth, not distraction.

Celebrities Embracing the Animal Instinct

If you’ve scrolled Instagram or peeked at red carpet coverage lately, you’ve already seen it: celebrities are fully leaning into the animal print moment.

• Cher turned heads in a plunging leopard-print Balmain blazer at the 2025 Spirit of Life Gala—a masterclass in rock-glam revival.

• Emily Ratajkowski elevated her Paris street style with a vintage leopard coat layered over all-black basics, proving the print’s timeless appeal.

• Shailene Woodley showed the wearable side of the trend with leopard pants, a crisp white tee, and sleek black pumps.

• Miley Cyrus dialed it up in head-to-toe leopard from Khaite, blending 2000s nostalgia with a more current minimalistic feel.

• Rihanna offered a fresh take in snakeskin textures, pairing a printed bomber with matching boots, reminding everyone that reptile print belongs in this conversation, too.

• Doja Cat closed awards season in a dramatic Balmain gown patterned with abstract animal print, turning maximalism into high-end art.

Each example proves the same point: animal print is adaptable. It can whisper or roar, depending on how you wear it.

How to Incorporate Animal Prints into Your Wardrobe

For those ready to dip a paw into the trend—or go all in—there are countless ways to make animal prints feel current and chic ,rather than cliché. Here are some different ways to style it for your wardrobe.

Start with Accessories

If you’re new to the look, begin small. A snakeskin belt, leopard-print boot, or zebra clutch can transform a neutral outfit instantly.

Treat Print as Texture

Opt for elevated fabrics like embossed leather, mohair, or jacquard. A tonal beige-on-beige leopard reads subtle and sophisticated.

Choose a Key Hero Piece

Make one printed item your focal point. A leopard coat, zebra midi skirt, or snakeskin bag can ground an entire outfit when everything else stays neutral.

Experiment with Color

Designers are reimagining traditional prints in olive, slate, and ivory tones—proof that animal print doesn’t have to mean its traditional brown and black "natural state" coloring.

Mix Prints Carefully

Pair two different animal motifs within the same color family—like a zebra scarf over a cheetah coat—for a noticeable-yet-controlled statement.

Try Unconventional Items

Think beyond the obvious. Animal-print eyewear, hosiery, or silk scarves are subtle yet impactful. Even a lining or cuff detail can add personality.

Ultimately, the modern take is about balance—pairing the primal with the polished.

The Animal Print Takeover

This fall, animal print pieces are among the most searched and resold items in the luxury resale market. From vintage Dolce & Gabbana leopard coats to Alaïa-era zebra boots, collectors are hunting for archival versions that feel even more coveted today.

The key is timelessness. The right animal print piece isn’t trendy—it’s a forever item. Whether you’re adding a leopard clutch to your everyday rotation or finally investing in that statement coat, this is one fashion instinct worth following.