If you've followed along, you'll know animal prints have shed their former reputation as a risqué trend, instead emerging as a versatile neutral that pairs back to virtually anything in your closet. Look back at the Fall 2024 fashion week circuit, and you’ll discover a varied mix of wildlife-inspired outerwear. Alaïa showcased a faux fur coat covered in fuzzy leopard print fabric, and Marni embraced the pattern in untamed hats and through textured, billowing puffer jacket silhouettes. Michael Kors took a ladylike approach with his collection, designing a tailored animal print coat styled in typical Jackie O. fashion alongside a charming designer handbag and dainty kitten heels.
This trend—if you can even call it that—isn’t slowing down anytime soon. Even celebrities have co-signed animal print outerwear as fall winds down and winter calls for coats, incorporating the print into their coveted cold-weather capsule wardrobes. Hailey Bieber recently leaned into the look with Toteme’s Pony Hair Leopard-Print Coat, styled with a laid-back T-shirt, dark-wash baggy jeans, and her beloved cherry red Adidas Sambas sneakers. Jennifer Lopez also championed the mob wife-adjacent style in a feline-inspired jacket adorned with leather trim and embellished buttons while slipping into a signature J.Lo pair of matching knee-high boots.
While initially bold, an animal print coat quickly proves as versatile and reliable as your go-to black or beige staples. Better yet, you don’t need to break the bank to experiment with the style—ahead are some of the best affordable options for every budget.
The Tailored Coat
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If temperatures aren't too chilly, pair your animal print jacket with a mini skirt and knee-high boots for extra coverage.
A smartly tailored silhouette will be your wardrobe MVP for the colder months ahead. Button details, strategically placed pockets, and broad lapels infuse character into an otherwise restrained silhouette.
The Trench Coat
You can easily count on a sharp trench coat to instantly pull together any look.
Don't wait for a rainy day. Parade a leopard-spotted or zebra-print trench coat to the office on crisp winter weekdays and out to dinner, thrown over your favorite little black dress.
The Faux Fur Coat
Embrace your inner mob wife with a faux fur coat that practically sweeps the floor.
With most designers opting for more ethically sourced synthetic fur materials, there's no shortage of options for faux fur coats. Choose a midi silhouette that hits at the calf or a posh shrunken version that crops at the waist.
The Puffer Coat
Go full on maximalist by styling a billowing puffer jacket with matching bottoms.
Here's a wild idea: swap your basic puffers for a statement-making animal print that will make winter a little less drab. You'll stand out from the herd on mountain slopes and city streets.
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