Leopard has cycled through fashion so many times, stylists now often call it a ‘neutral’. It works with almost anything, much like black or denim. It regularly reappears on runways (Saint Laurent, Dolce & Gabbana and others return to it often) and remains a wardrobe staple in everything from coats to accessories.
What’s interesting is how its meaning has shifted while the pattern stayed recognisable. Originally, real skins signalled literal dominance over a predator. Printed patterns represented glamour, then rebellion, then confidence. Leopard print has been remarkably good at absorbing whatever cultural meaning a given era wants to project onto it.