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Animal Print Is a Modern Neutral: 5 Wearable Options to Try This Fall

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Animal Print Is a Modern Neutral: 5 Wearable Options to Try This Fall

By

Nicolette Baker

Byrdie writer Nicolette Baker headshot with colorful makeup, wavy hair, and silver nose ringByrdie writer Nicolette Baker headshot with colorful makeup, wavy hair, and silver nose ring
Nicolette Baker
Nicolette Baker is a contributor for Byrdie. A writer covering style, beauty, and beverage content, her work is also published across the likes of Food & Wine, Flourish, VinePair, and Mind + Body.
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Published on September 27, 2025 07:00AM
A person wearing a long fur coat and holding a cow print bag poses against a concrete wallA person wearing a long fur coat and holding a cow print bag poses against a concrete wall

@brandonblackwood / Instagram

In This Article


Leopard Print

Zebra Print

Crocodile Effect

Snakeskin

Cow Print

Key Takeaways

  • Animal print is experiencing a major trend revival, with pieces featuring leopard, zebra, and snakeskin patterns taking over the runways, street style, and accessible brand offerings.
  • Fresh takes on these prints (and their characteristic neutral tones) make them easier than ever to incorporate into your everyday style, whether paired with subdued basics or set off by a pop of color.

Gone are the days when animal print was relegated to reruns of The Nanny and Jersey Shore: Today’s it-girls are styling those wild patterns anywhere and everywhere, from the office to after-hours happy hour. Animal print, famous for its attention-commanding glamour, has embarked on a sleeker journey, making the case for itself as an inspired neutral that you can turn to for almost any situation. As Virginia-based plus-size style coach and personal stylist, Salifya Akers, paints it, this sudden uptick in literally fierce looks could stand as yet another iteration of the reigning Y2K-inspired trend cycle. However, this year’s styling is far more approachable than ever before.

Ready to work a hint of playful edge into your ensembles? Ahead, we break down wearable ways to style five of the most popular animal prints, complete with product picks you’ll turn to again and again.

01of 05

Leopard Print

person wearing a black top, black maxi skirt, and leopard jacket with sweater on shouldersperson wearing a black top, black maxi skirt, and leopard jacket with sweater on shoulders

Getty Images

Leopard print crept back onto the scene with velvety paws when it quietly took over the fall 2024 collections of designers like Isabel Marant and Saint Laurent. (Likewise in Sézane’s outerwear designs and Brandon Blackwood’s iconic trunk bag.) Now, we’re seeing the full market saturation of this tortoiseshell-adjacent animal print with peak versatility. As Akers argues, leopard firmly qualifies as a neutral because “it’s composed of neutral colors like white, black, browns, and other colors”—so don’t be afraid to pair it with countless ensembles this fall.

Product Picks

  • Good American leopard print mini skirtGood American leopard print mini skirt

    Good American

  • leopard square-neck Abercrombie & Fitch topleopard square-neck Abercrombie & Fitch top

    Abercrombie & Fitch

  • sheer Intimissimi long sleeved topsheer Intimissimi long sleeved top

    Intimissimi

02of 05

Zebra Print

Izzi wearing an aqua top, dark red skirt, thong heels, and a zebra toteIzzi wearing an aqua top, dark red skirt, thong heels, and a zebra tote

@izzipoopi / Instagram

This year’s sumptuous chocolate brown obsession has taken a wild turn as part of the zebra stripes revival. Akers recommends grounding a neutral-toned print with a handful of other neutrals, creating a cohesive (yet not quite monochromatic) look that’s a touch more special than typical office ensembles. Combine chocolate and cream zebra stripes with a mocha midi skirt, or toss on a black and white zebra tote with a beige blazer ensemble. On the flip side, some style icons (like Izzi, above) have found success in mixing and matching with a pop of neon.

Product Picks

  • Reformation Dusk Knit Top in brown and white zebra print on modelReformation Dusk Knit Top in brown and white zebra print on model

    Reformation

  • thin Dolce Vita zebra print handbagthin Dolce Vita zebra print handbag

    Dolce Vita

  • model wearing a maxi superdown skirtmodel wearing a maxi superdown skirt

    Superdown

03of 05

Crocodile Effect

Jenna Ortega wears a crocodile blazer with Coach bagJenna Ortega wears a crocodile blazer with Coach bag

Getty Images

Crocodile textures are an undercover yet ultra-cool way to test out the animal print trend. (The look also adds a textural element to leather staples, like internet-loved Pistola Denim’s straight pants.) Here, Jenna Ortega styles a croc-style blazer with a sleek Coach tote and coordinating sunglasses, making for an excellent going-out look that subverts the traditional LBD.

Product Picks

  • dark brown Pistola Denim crocodile pantsdark brown Pistola Denim crocodile pants

    Pistola Denim

  • dark red Strathberry bagdark red Strathberry bag

    Strathberry

  • dark green Whistles crocodile skirtdark green Whistles crocodile skirt

    Whistles

04of 05

Snakeskin

Abisola Omole wears a polo, skirt, flats, and a snakeskin bagAbisola Omole wears a polo, skirt, flats, and a snakeskin bag

@abimarvel / Instagram

Still feeling intimidated by animal print? Akers says to start small. Consider investing in a snakeskin handbag or an asymmetrical dress that naturally flows with your existing wardrobe. The slouchy Jacquemus mini bag pictured above is effortless enough to combine with a sporty polo and tennis skirt.

Product Picks

  • kitten heel Sam Edelman snakeskin slingbackskitten heel Sam Edelman snakeskin slingbacks

    Sam Edelman

  • asymmetric snakeskin Theophilio dressasymmetric snakeskin Theophilio dress

    Theophilio

  • round Staud snakeskin baground Staud snakeskin bag

    Staud

05of 05

Cow Print

model wearing a beige coat with a cow print Brandon Blackwood bagmodel wearing a beige coat with a cow print Brandon Blackwood bag

@brandonblackwood / Instagram

The Western trend is digging in its heels. Fresh off the wave of cowboy boots and flared jeans this summer, many of autumn’s best accessories have a subtly agricultural twist. This fall’s cow print iterations are also brilliantly wearable: refined and natural in shape, blending washes of soft gray, brown, black, taupe, and beige all over.

Product Picks

  • tall Steve Madden cow print bootstall Steve Madden cow print boots

    Steve Madden

  • cow print Brandon Blackwood shoulder bagcow print Brandon Blackwood shoulder bag

    Brandon Blackwood

  • Aureum Collective No.14 Belt in cow ponyhairAureum Collective No.14 Belt in cow ponyhair

    Aureum Collective

Read more:
  • Style
  • Fashion Trends

Source URL: https://www.byrdie.com/animal-print-neutral-fashion-trend-11812529

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