Does Interior Design Bleed Onto the Runway?
From living rooms to lecture halls, animal print has quietly become fashion’s newest neutral.
“Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!” Whether you find it timeless, trendy, or tacky, there’s no denying that animal prints are dominating the fashion scene.
As I walk through Upper Campus on a cold January morning, I spot three girls wearing the same uniform. Mid wash jeans, a cozy sweater, and an animal print accessory. Whether it’s a hat, belt, or trench, animal print has moved beyond being a statement piece and into everyday rotation. For centuries animal print has symbolized status and style, appearing everywhere from royal robes to Hollywood glamour in the early 1900s. In interior spaces, it truly took off in the mid century, making its way back as the ultimate “bold but classy” statement piece. A leopard rug or accent chair added texture without overpowering a room. Today, that same sensibility has reshaped how we get dressed.
Interior designer Madeleine Castaing was among the first to pioneer leopard print as a neutral in high-end, classic interiors, pairing it with solid woods, muted palettes, and traditional silhouettes. Fashion and interior design maintain a symbiotic, two-way relationship where trends in color, patterns, and textures bounce between homes and clothing. This translates to legend Christian Dior being the first designer to include leopard print in a debut show spotlighting the “New Look” in 1947.
The reason animal prints read like neutrals is because they literally are. All animal prints can be found in nature, explaining how they blend seamlessly with solids, woods, and metals.
How to Wear Animal Print on Campus
So how are students actually wearing it?
Spotted in Speedcat Doelette Pony Hair Trainers from PUMA, sophomore Phoebe Swartz says that adding animal print pieces into her everyday wardrobe has become as “chic as jewelry stacking.”
And she’s right. Animal print is the new version of the stack. Here are some other ways to add flair to your life while maintaining effortless elegance:
The Trench
H&M Twill Car Coat
The easiest point of entry is the trench. Simple and understated, yet completes any look with confidence. Anyone can add a trench coat to jeans and a top or a sweat set and the outfit is elevated instantly.
The Hat
Zara Animal Print Knit Beanie
In the spirit of braving the winter storms, a beanie is always a classic way to add an extra ounce of flavor to an outfit while staying warm.
The Flat
Tony Bianco Bayley Flat
Nothing about this flat is boring, it’s the perfect combination between whimsical and practical to enhance a monochromatic winter white fit!
Animal print didn’t suddenly become wearable… it became livable. And once something feels at home, it’s only a matter of time before it shows up everywhere else.