Sorry, Leopard—Zebra Is the Only Animal Print We're Buying Now

by Remy Farrell

It's fair to say that leopard print has long been a staple in many an It girl's wardrobe. (If you've seen any of Kate Moss's recent appearances, you'll know what we mean). But lately, an entire safari of animal prints has been explored, and one has risen to prominence this autumn: the striking zebra print.

Okay, zebra print in fashion is not necessarily new, but in the last year, we've had a number of strong stripe references that make us think that leopard print is being relegated to second place this season. Before you're quick to defend the big cat and rule out the zebra entirely, let's discuss the A/W 22 runways. Not only did Dries Van Noten feature six zebra looks in one collection and make a hero of the zebra dress in the process, but Stine Goya, Vivienne Westwood and Roberto Cavalli also showed the versatility of zebra print in different colours. And looking ahead to S/S 23, Stella McCartney, Vetements and Alaïa have already assured us that the print will be sticking around well into the next year, making now a good time to invest in that zebra-print coat.

Photo:

Casper Sejersen/Dries Van Noten Women AW22 Collection

Animal prints make a comeback every few years, but right now is almost certainly zebra's time to shine. Just look at the success of the Realisation Par Gia dress, the one you've seen all over your feed. The influencer favourite kicked off a whole host of copycats and made us realise just how chic animal prints can be. Once you're aware of this, you'll start noticing that this pattern is currently taking over everything—clothing, accessories, shoes and even jewellery. So even if a head-to-toe look feels a little wild, you can nod to the trend with a subtle bag or shoe (as subtle as monochromatic stripes can be, at least). Keep scrolling for our favourite zebra-print picks and how the most stylish influencers are wearing theirs.

Photo:

@sabinasocol

Style Notes: Proving that a zebra shirt can work for every season, Sabina wears hers with swimwear in the summer. But just add jeans and a leather boot for autumn.

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@camillecharriere

Style Notes: Swap black wide-leg trousers for zebra print. They're the perfect accompaniment to the white tank top.

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@fiahamelijnck

Style Notes: The easiest way to wear the trend if you're a print sceptic is a column dress, and this Realisation Par dress is the style that launched 1000 copies.