No other animal print can dethrone leopard, with too many disciples of an iconic calibre (Pat Butcher, Cookie Lyon, Samantha Jones, to name but a few) and so much exposure that, by now, it's practically considered a neutral. But on the streets outside New York Fashion Week, that didn't stop other alternative, prints getting a serious showing on some of the city's most stylish women, from the lesser-spotted fawn to Dalmatian.

Not only do these alternatives quite literally make passers-by look twice—as they wonder if those splotches really are giraffe or perhaps cowhide—but wearing a somewhat lesser-spotted species than leopard will mean that it always stands out, which, at the end of the day, should be any animal print's MO.

Standing out was definitely the memo in New York. The Cut's Lindsey Peoples led the charge, wearing a coat that resembled a lynx, plus a snake-print handbag. Who said you can't mix reptile with mammal?

Another show-goer followed a similar formula, with cow-print outerwear—long enough to just touch her ankle—and an outfit underneath that complemented its cream-and-brown palette.

But with so little time until spring, another street-styler's approach might be more expedient. Stylist Jessica Willis gave an otherwise pared-down look—a khaki jacket, black trousers and soft-leather boots—some extra flavour with an animal-print accessory, in this case a tiger-striped bucket bag.

There's evidence that shoppers are fully on board with alt prints, too. M&S' snow-leopard jacket is almost out of stock online (I've seen it out in the wild and, can confirm, it's good), while cowhide is flying off the shelves at AllSaints, from a miniskirt to a jacket to jeans.

Which print you choose is entirely up to you, as is how much—or how many—you introduce into your outfit.

As mentioned, a gateway accessory is good for experimentation Déhanche, for example, has a snake-effect belt with its signature triple rings that would add something—call it the merest hint of sizzle—to basics. For top marks, however, you might want to consider a blazer, whether it's subtle (Mango's mock-croc jacket) or less so (Rabanne's zebra print). Either way, the rule of thumb is: the more surprising the print, the better.

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Another day, another nail trend. This time around, however, it's understated animal print designs. While leopard and cheetah patterns are very trendy, there is a whole host of other prints that look tres chic on hands. From deer to cow and zebra designs, these super unique patterns are ideal to bring to your next salon appointment, or even attempt at home. Nail artist to the stars, Edyta Betka, explains how.

Deer print nails

1. Prepare the nails by shaping, lightly buffing, and cleansing them.
2. Apply one layer of base coat and allow it to dry completely.
3. Apply two thin layers of a light tan or soft caramel-brown nail polish and let the colour dry completely.
4. Using a thin nail art brush, a toothpick, an orange wood stick, or the rounded tip of a bobby pin, dip into white or off-white nail polish.
5. Place small, irregular dots across the nail, keeping the design airy and uneven for a natural deer-fur effect, and let it fully dry.
6. Apply a top coat to seal and protect the design. Let it dry completely, then finish by applying cuticle oil and hand cream.

Cow print nails

1. Prepare the nails by shaping, buffing, and cleaning them. Apply the base coat as you normally would and allow it to dry completely
2. Apply two thin layers of white nail polish and let the colour dry fully.
3. Using a dotting tool or, if you don’t have one, the flat end of an orange wood stick or a bobby pin, dip into black or brown nail polish.
4. Optional alternative: If you only have a cotton earbud, you can also simply wet the tip and gently twist it between your fingers to smooth down any loose fibres before applying polish - this will allow you to create patches while preventing fibres from sticking
5. Create irregular, natural patches on the nail. Avoid perfect circles or symmetry—cow print looks best when the shapes are uneven.
6. If needed, go over some of the patches with a second layer to build opacity once the first layer has settled.
7. Allow the design to dry completely. Apply a top coat to seal and protect the design.
8. Let it dry fully, then finish with cuticle oil and hand cream for the best finishing touch.

Zebra print nails

1. Nail preparation: shape, buff, and clean your nails, then apply a base coat. Let it dry completely.
2. Apply two thin coats of white polish as the base colour. Let it dry fully.
3. Using a fine nail art brush, or if you don’t have one, a toothpick, the pointed end of an orange stick or a super tiny dotting tool, dip into black nail polish.
4. Draw thin, irregular stripes diagonally or slightly wavy across the nail. Vary the thickness and spacing for a natural zebra look. Make sure the lines are uneven and not perfectly parallel.
5. If a stripe is too thick or uneven, wait for it to dry and carefully touch up with the base color. Optionally, taper some ends with a fine detail brush for a more natural flow.
6. Let the design dry completely.
7. Apply a top coat to seal and protect the stripes. Once the top coat is dry, finish with cuticle oil and hand cream.

Best colour combinations for animal print nails

"When it comes to animal print nails, the colour combinations I provided in the step-by-step are the closest to the real animals, but there’s no limit to creativity," explains Betka. "You can be very playful with colours and experiment with the size, shape, and spacing of the patterns—there are no rules, so follow your imagination and have fun!"

The Autumn/Winter 2025 catwalks introduced an array of fresh new trends for season ahead, ranging from the niche and unexpected—like Victoriana details and punky leather—to the more predictable, weather-appropriate return of faux fur, ski-core and heritage dressing.

And then, there are those recurring trends that fashion just can't seem to get enough of—and that everyone will be glad to hear will be sticking around for the foreseeable. Chief among them? Animal print.

Long synonymous with glamour, maximalism and fashion with a capital F, animal print has been a staple of modern women's wardrobes for decades at this point, so much so that many now even consider it to be a "neutral". It feels somewhat redundant, then, to say that it is officially back for AW25, given that it never really left... What does feel noteworthy, however, was its sheer ubiquitousness on the runways, and the countless designer reinterpretations that are making animal prints more alluring than ever.

No longer solely reserved for high-glam Italian brands like Roberto Cavalli, Versace and D&G, the classic leopard print was spotted at Saint Laurent, Fendi and Khaite for AW25—in the form of power-shoulder PVC, head-to-toe leather, and calf-hair pieces respectively.

Meanwhile, Nina Ricci, Conner Ives and Balmain brought the oft-overlooked zebra print to the fore, courtesy of bold coats, bedazzled dresses, knits and knee-high boots, and cow print also cropped up in the Dries Van Noten and Zimmermann collections.

But undoubtedly, snake-print was the real star of the show(s), seen everywhere from Gabriela Hearst, Duran Lantink, Marni and Zimmermann to Valentino and Chloé. This should come as little surprise to those au fait with the Chinese Zodiac, given 2025 is the year of the snake—yet its appearance in the likes of sequins, soft ruffles, knitwear and sheer organzas certainly felt unexpected.

While the interpretations of animal print for Autumn/Winter 2025 took many forms, one thing they all had in common was a certain bite. Pops of pattern were less cautious and playful than in seasons past, designed to stand out and make a statement rather than quietly blend in—an attitude we would all do well to adopt this season, sartorially and beyond.

As for styling cues, this season the spirit is very much "anything goes" (itself another dominant AW25 trend, incidentally). Lean into the animal print that feels most you, focusing on luxe materials, timeless cuts and pieces that spark joy—that way, you can plump for a bigger investment safe in the knowledge that you'll love and wear it for life. That's the best thing about a recurring trend, after all.

Shop the Animal Print Trend

Now, if you're not a follower of the Chinese Zodiac, you may not know that 2025 is the year of the snake. And fashion, always the cultural commentator, has absolutely leaned into it in the best way it knows how: by flooding the Autumn/Winter 2025 runways with snake print pieces.

Take Marni’s greyscale snake-print trousers, jackets and skirts as just one chic example. Another? Zimmermann’s chocolate brown snake styles, this time with dresses, shirts and skirts in sheer silk organza—leaning into the more is more aesthetic the animal print is perfectly matched for. Then, there was dutch designer Duran Lantink, who give every kind of animal print from leopard to zebra its own moment in the spotlight—with snake, of course, receiving plenty of air time.

But, while snake print may immediately scream maximalist, there are ways to make it work within a more pared-back approach. As Khaite’s runway show proved, here it’s all about the accessories. Cue a plethora of snake print boots, snake midi skirts, bags and heels now available across a number of our favourite brands, both high-end and high-street.

So, whether it’s a statement-making snake look you’re leaning towards or a simple accent of a snake print accessory, below are the chicest python-inspired pieces to purchase right now. When using the runway as a key source of inspiration, the styling possibilities are endless.

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Animal print tends to split people into two distinct camps: lovers or haters. It sparks debates—is leopard print a neutral? (I’d argue yes) and can zebra print work for minimalists? (also, yes). Either way, the playful pattern is impossible to ignore right now.

A quick scroll through Google Trends proves it: searches for Adidas leopard-print trainers, animal-print maxi skirts and even animal-print duvet covers are climbing steadily. Meanwhile, on the Autumn/Winter 2025 runways, designers leaned into the statement print with full force.

Roberto Cavalli doubled down with leopard-print coats and snake-print co-ords, Balmain went bold with zebra, and Coach experimented with oversized, fuzzy faux fur.More labels still looked to animal print accessories as their entry point: Anna Sui’s hats, Brandon Maxwell’s leopard scarves, and luxe iterations from Prada and Bottega Veneta too—proof that even the most refined fashion houses can’t resist a walk on the wild side.

It’s a sentiment echoed by Marie Claire's very own Fashion Editor Clementina Jackson. “I wear a lot of black and neutral-coloured clothing, and tend towards a pared-back, minimalist style—so I have long been a fan of using animal print accessories to add some much-needed pizzazz to my looks,” she says. “There’s nothing cooler, in my opinion, than the unexpected pop of a leopard-print boot peeking out from beneath tailored trousers, elevating a classic LBD with a zebra-print bag, or the fun of pairing cow-print ballerinas with jeans and a T-shirt.”

Her styling advice? Invest wisely. "The trick is to choose accessories made from quality fabrics to ensure the prints feel chic rather than cheap—think leather, calf or pony hair,” Clementina adds. So yes, that Prada bag or those Alaïa heeled flip-flops are justified purchases. That said, high street gems can still hold their own. I, for one, recently picked up a pair of Topshop pony-hair cow-print mules and have never felt more easily inducted into the animal-print accessories pack. Vintage is also your friend here, says Clementina: "resale sites are treasure troves for timeless, well-made pieces."

Of course, the real question is which print to commit to. For first-timers, snake is an easy in—it comes in a wide range of shades and wears like a subtle neutral. Zebra, with its monochrome palette, feels tailor-made for minimalist wardrobes. Cow print offers something a little fresher and more playful, while leopard remains the perennial favourite, cropping up on everything from boots to silk scarves.

Whichever camp you fall into, the message from the runways—and our wardrobes—is clear: animal print isn’t going anywhere. Below, we’ve rounded up a few of our favourite ways to wear it now.

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I know we’re on the brink of resetting our wardrobes for spring right now but, let’s be honest, although the sun may be shining, it’s still pretty cold out there. So, while I’d love to fill my wish list with spring dresses and light, breezy tailoring, coats are still firmly on the agenda. That's why I’m still keeping a ready eye out for this season's biggest coat trends.

Thankfully it seems all my favourite influencers are still feeling the chill too, as my feeds are awash with stylish people all wearing one trending coat style in particular. Tapping into the animal print trend that took hold towards the end of last year, leopard print coats are big news right now. If you haven’t got one hanging in your wardrobe, it’s time you did.

A leopard print coat is a staple piece because of its ability to elevate simple outfits.

Remember that saying ‘leopard prints are a neutral’? Well, I firmly believe that—making it the perfect pairing for paired-back looks. Hailey Bieber proved this when she stepped out in Toteme’s leopard print coat towards the end of last year and again when she took to Instagram in No.21’s faux fur version, pairing the statement style with a simple black tee and jeans on each occasion.

On the other end of the style spectrum, Elsa Hosk and content creator Rikke Krefting Ulstein proved a great leopard print jacket really is all you need to make an outfit, pairing buttoned up styles with classic black court heels for a demure dress coat inspired look. Yes, they may not be best equipped for the cold weather I mentioned earlier, but, take note for a chic way to carry your leopard print coat through into spring.

Similarly, if you want to tap into the trend but feel it’s a little too late to be investing in a winter coat or faux fur style like Hailey, you can easily translate the leopard print coat trend to more spring ready styles too. The barn jacket is set to continue its sartorial climb through 2025 and Ganni’s leopard print iteration is a chic way to wear it. Alternatively, Free People’s floor-length duster coat offers a relaxed take on the leopard print coat trend perfect for wearing when warmer days roll around.

As you may have gathered, we’re spoilt for choice when it comes to stylish leopard print coats right now but here’s my edit of the very best…

Shop the best leopard print coats

When it comes to prints, few patterns evoke as much glamour and wild energy as leopard.

A staple in the wardrobes of some of fashion's most stylish It Girls, from Kate Moss and Alexa Chung to Angelina Jolie and Naomi Campbell, (whose Azzedine Alaïa bodysuit and beret ensemble is destined to appear on the mood boards of fashion lovers forevermore), the print has become a perennial favourite. Sure, it returns season after season, but new interpretations keep it fresh yet timeless.

This year, leopard print is back with a vengeance, making its mark on everything from the (aptly-named) catwalk, to red carpets, and street style.

Leopard print has always carried a certain mystique: wild and untamed, but also glossy and glamorous. Over the years, it’s gone through iterations and been co-opted by countless sub-cultures. From the grungy leopard fur of the 90s to the more recent Mob Wife trend, leopard, it seems, can change its spots.

But what about this year? All signs show that leopard is set to go all Old Hollywood, as Elle Fanning so beautifully proved at last week’s Golden Globes, where she opted for two leopard looks. Cardi B—who’s no stranger to a top-to-toe coordinating look—opted for a full leopard look when attending the party for Skims’ collaboration with Dolce and Gabbana late last year. Fittingly, the statement bodysuit was from the capsule collab.

Animal print also made a strong showing on the Spring/Summer 2025 runways, with designers taking bold steps to reimagine the classic pattern. Some, like Roberto Cavalli, opted for larger, attention-commanding prints, while others leaned into softer, painterly renditions of the classic print.

While the pattern has evolved over time, the core appeal remains unchanged: leopard print is a symbol of confidence, power, and individuality.

Shop Our Leopard-Print Picks

Dua Lipa celebrates the Year of the Snake early

The Year of the Snake, which according to the zodiac, will begin on January 29th 2025 and end on February 16th 2026, is considered a time for reflection, growth, and transformation. You might say, it’s time to shed old skin.

And while I love the chance to start afresh in the New Year, it doesn’t have to be as overhauling as, say, committing to 75 Hard or Dry January. New Year, and more broadly new starts, can mean reimagining your wardrobe and how you want to present yourself.

No one knows this more than the queen of trends and reinvention Dua Lipa (except for maybe Madonna).

Get The Look

Of course, everyone’s favourite pop girly has a signature style (a bit Y2K, very London-coded, and an enviable selection of bags), but perhaps what’s most notable is how Dua Lipa draws references from different eras and sub-cultures.

A true millennial (even if only just), Dua Lipa represents how trend cycles run these days. Namely, that every day we all get the chance to choose a different persona. It’s something I catch myself doing; bouncing between different reference points and inspirations, never really committing to one look—why limit myself?

And yet, despite endless sartorial choices, snake print somehow always holds its status as an icon of playfulness, luxury, and timeless style—two of those descriptors should be mutually exclusive; it’s a testament to the endless styling possibilities of the print that snakeskin can call to mind both Carrie Bradshaw and Kim Kardashian.

And despite being part of Alexander McQueen’s seminal Spring Summer 2010 collection (and being a staple of Versace shows since the nineties, to give just one more example), the print has never felt like it belonged to any one designer.

Whether you’re drawn to its ancient origins, its contemporary reinventions, or its role as a symbol of power and elegance, snake offers a level of versatility and style that few other prints can match.

Looking for inspiration to add snake print to your wardrobe? Scroll on for our editor’s picks.

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I don’t know about you but I am not finding the transition into autumn winter fashion particularly easy right now. In part down to the changeable UK weather and, as a sunshine lover, my steadfast resistance to embrace all things cosy until I absolutely must, I’m still pretty much living in my spring summer styles. That’s not to say I’m not excited to dive into the autumn winter trends (chic indigo denim is practically calling my name) but just that, for now, I’d rather look for ways I can dip my toe into them without taking the full on autumn winter plunge.

Thankfully, the latest must-have item I’ve seen taking over my feed does just that. You see, right now, everyone is carrying animal print bags and it’s the perfect way to incorporate the animal print trend that’s set to take over this season seamlessly into your current wardrobe.

While on the catwalks it was leopard print that was leading the way, when it comes to this seasons must-have animal print bags there’s no leading species. I’ve spotted everything from snake print shoulder bags to leopard print totes and even cow print making an appearance.

And, while traditional neutral colour ways are the most popular, there really are no rules. Jimmy Choo’s rose toned cow print style twists convention on its head while & Other Stories bright green snake print style is anything but subtle.

And, it’s not just the animal print trend that these styles tap into. Pairing perfectly with the boho resurgence we’re currently having as well as the utilitarian aesthetic that’s set to take hold, these styles promise so much wear into the new season as well as working perfectly with your transitional wardrobe now.

So, if like me you’re looking for an easy way to introduce the new season into your wardrobe now (without the need for snuggly knitwear) then keep scrolling for my edit of the best animal print bags to shop now…

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