Leopard print is one of the most controversial topics in the fashion industry, but it has always been a “must-have item for fashionable women” regardless of the consequences.
Girls are often taught by various fashion media that we must have an elegant little black dress, a pair of high heels that lengthen the legs, and a pair of perfectly tailored jeans. However, in daily life, it is difficult for us to put leopard print items on women’s shopping lists. No matter how many years it has been popular and how much the fashion industry loves it, everyone is very wary and rational to avoid this trend. Especially Asians always think that leopard print is rude, inappropriate, and cheap.
So why does leopard print still have such a strong influence today?
Although leopard print is indeed dangerous, everyone is resisting it, afraid of it, and worried that it will ruin your gentle and ladylike image. After all, it is not something that any sweet girl can handle. But it is indeed powerful and can add some fashion sense to your overall look at any time.
Follow me to review its history of fashion change and you will find that its background is so strong that no matter how much you hate it, it has always been and will always be a darling that the fashion circle will not abandon.
1920s Leopard print coat, leopard print dress
People have always followed what celebrities wear, even in the 1920s, when actress Joan Crawford wore a silk leopard print dress, which made leopard print a popular trend.
In addition to leopard print dresses, leopard print coats were also popular in the 1920s. Until now, leopard print coats are still one of the favorite items of supermodels. In 2004, Kate Moss wore a light yellow dress with a leopard print coat to celebrate her 30th birthday.
1930s Leopard print fur coat, leopard print swimsuit
Since the 1930s, people have started to use leopard prints on long coats, which has made the image of women, which has always been relatively weak, more authoritative.
Leopard print swimsuits first appeared in the French Riviera in the 1930s. This is exactly the same as the one-piece swimsuit that French blogger Jeanne Damas recently posted on Instagram, and the design has not changed much.
1940s～1950s Leopard print jumpsuit, leopard print evening dress
By the 1940s, leopard print became bolder and more extreme. It began to be designed into evening gowns, becoming the latest red carpet fashion at the time, showing the elegant and noble style of leopard print. In addition, because the image of Ava Gardner sitting on a leopard-printed staircase in a leopard-print jumpsuit and fishnet stockings was deeply rooted in people’s hearts, leopard print has since been regarded as a very sexually provocative item.
Ava Gardner
It was also from this time that leopard print became a favorite of idle rich wives and mistresses of wealthy men. Prostitutes also started to wear leopard print because they wanted to show their noble image. This is why people who hate leopard print still think that leopard print = frivolous and bad taste, leopard print = rich but brainless rich wives, and leopard print = prostitutes.
Jennifer Lopez is also a big fan of leopard print. She wore a Michael Kors leopard print evening gown at the 2013 Met Gala, which was a classic tribute to the fashion of the last century.
1960s Leopard print hat, leopard print handbag
In the 1960s, the elegant Elizabeth Taylor also began to follow the leopard print trend and wore leopard print clothes. She was deeply sought after by fans, especially leopard print hats became popular, and leopard print instantly became an indispensable element in women’s accessories.
In the late 1960s, people used leopard print elements more creatively, developing leopard print accessories from hats to compact handbags. To this day, leopard print bags can still be seen on the catwalks of major brands, and are a representative item of exquisiteness and wealth.
1970s Leopard print and rock
Ever since rock queen, Debbie Harry wore leopard print, leopard print has luckily and rightfully entered the rock circle. This is a huge change, after all, before this, leopard print has always been design for high-end fashion and wealthy people, and at this time it began to move towards different classes.
Nowadays, almost every rock star has a leopard fur or leopard jacket. At the very least, they have to have a leopard tights to look rock and roll enough!
1980s ～ 1990s Leopard print suit, leopard print tight skirt
The 1980s was a time of wild boldness, glittering extravagance, and leopard print was at its best. In this age of indulgence, no one could resist it. Yves Saint Laurent also loved leopard print at the time, and he shot a leopard print suit photo, creating a classic image of leopard print in this golden age. From then on, it represented luxury, splendor, and freedom.
In the 1990s, Isabella Rossellini wore an exquisite leopard print tight skirt at the Betsey Johnson Fall 1995 fashion show, which once again enhanced the wild beauty and high-end feel of leopard print. As a result, leopard print suits and tight skirts are still common elements in major fashion magazines. Because they can’t be stop from always standing out in magazines. It is hard for people not to notice the flamboyant pattern of leopard print.
2000s Leopard print wide-leg pants, leopard print business suit
In addition to YSL, Christian Dior and Armani also love leopard print. In the first decade of the 21st century, Christian Dior’s business suits and Armani’s leopard print wide-leg pants brought leopard print into daily work clothes. The lighter and simpler design is more suitable for wearing in the nine-to-five workplace.
It is said that leopard print has a mysterious refreshing function. Which can relieve fatigue and is particularly suitable for the workplace. Leopard print also represents confidence. Women who want to gain more power love to wear leopard print to give themselves courage. It helps women show confidence that they can handle anything.
2010s Leopard print remains popular and has a variety of styles
Today, leopard print is still love by fashion people from all walks of life, and the styles are very diverse, ranging from elegant, wild, retro, street, to luxury. But people’s ideas have not changed much, and they still regard wearing leopard print as a relatively bold behavior. In the fashion circle, it is a symbol of fashion and trend, and also a symbol of female status. Just like the color of lipstick, even a small leopard print scarf can awaken your most unique side.
