Poor old Bet Lynch. It is 60 years in May since the Coronation Street character, played so inimitably by Julie Goodyear, made her debut on the cobbles. Yet she is still held up in fashion history as the poster woman for bad (likely flammable) leopard print.
The leopard print jacket is back in style this spring, and there isn’t a hint of Cruella de Vil about it. The newest variations on this all-time fashion classic feel polished, in streamlined cuts and grown-up brown tones rather than overly yellowy, cheap-looking saturations.
Tacky? Brash? Loud? Leopard print can be all of those things. It can also be bold and beautiful – even a harmonious neutral in the right outfit.
Here are five ways to wear it now.
The big cat mac
In an elongating coat silhouette, wearing a lot of leopard print can still look elegant. Black or white wide-leg trousers and simple ballet flats complete the look – the intended vibe is sleek, like Carolyn Bessette Kennedy in the 1990s, rather than fierce and fluffy à la Kat Slater in the Queen Vic.
Bohemian leopard coat, £485, Rixo; Hetta ballet flats, £89, Dune; Wide-leg trousers, £40; Marks & Spencer; Cashmere roll neck, £69, John Lewis
The Nineties skirt
The slip skirt is a piece that can be worn with a relaxed knit and boots by day, or paired with an equally slinky silk top for evening. “I’ve completely fallen for our ‘faded leopard’ this season,” says Chrysoline de Gastines, the founder of Balzac Paris. “The tones are perfectly balanced, offering a fresh alternative to traditional golden hues. I’d pair this skirt with a masculine striped shirt for that quintessential Parisienne ‘dégaine’.”
Celia skirt, £160, Balzac Paris; Cotton poplin shirt, £15, H&M; Ingrid mules, £175, Sézane; Baya earrings, £98, Missoma
The cropped jacket
The spotting of Harry Styles wearing a fresh-of-the-catwalk jacket from Chanel’s Métiers d’Art show has made leopard print a talking point once more. You can’t beat a piece like this Ganni denim style for instantly overhauling a standard white T-shirt and jeans-based outfit.
Jacket, £360, Ganni; Nessa jeans, £90, Hush; Silk T-shirt, £140, Reiss; Pumps, £500, Toteme
The statement shoes
With any plain outfit, adding a leopard print shoe can bring personality. But paired with gold or silver brocade, it looks particularly strong.
Carla leopard pumps, £510, Aeyde; Shoulder bag, £440, Tory Burch; Jacquard coat, £67, & Other Stories; Wide-leg trousers, £45, Whistles
The body con dress
Leopard print is a busy material, so choosing a deliberately unfussy dress shape keeps it elegant. Ro & Zo’s design features strategically placed ruching and clever dark contouring to make it all the more figure-flattering.
Dress, £89, Ro & Zo; Suede bag, £75, Phase Eight; Suede mules, £285, Staud at Net-a-Porter; Beaded earrings, £195, Simone Rocha