Why the Leopard Print Coat Is the Ultimate Millennial Comeback Trend

Fashion’s inter-generational warfare will give you whiplash. Take the demise of skinny jeans—it so deeply triggered the millennial cohort that “you’ll have to pry these from my cold, dead fingers” responses became a comment section meme. But just a few years later, we’re apparently so back? If 2024 headlines and #FashionTok videos are to be believed, the controversial style’s return is imminent—much to the bewilderment of anyone who finally invested in a pair of straight legs this year.

But skinny jeans aren’t the only comeback style to re-emerge. According to Google Trends, searches for “going out tops” are at record highs. Similarly, the “off the shoulder” shirts and “lace tops” of yore are spiking. Late-aughts favorites like Longchamp and Frye are also back on everyone’s mind, as Gen Y staples like the Le Pliage Bag and Moto Boot return to the fashion forefront. Love it or hate it—if you identify as a millennial, the clothes you wore in high school are probably being displayed on mall-brand mannequins at this very moment.

However, there’s one rebound trend that’s so classic, so timeless that you can’t help but welcome its return: the leopard statement coat. According to Google Trends, searches for “leopard print” are the highest they’ve been since 2012. While a spotted loafer or animal print cardigan holds some appeal, it’s undeniable that this trend finds its fullest expression in coat form. Don’t just take it from me—fashion icons throughout history have all sported their own version of the Leopard Statement Coat. Perhaps it’s time you invest in your own?

From mid-century modern to Indie Sleaze, you will find the outerwear staple on the backs of all the greats, confirming its staying power. Jackie Kennedy and Sophia Loren were both fans—their leopard outerwear is the blueprint for ’60s glamour—as was ’90s minimalist icon Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, whose own leopard coat will be sold at auction this December through Sotheby’s.

Bessette-Kennedy’s take on the print—a bold double-breasted coat edged in PU leather, a synthetic version of the classic textile—was a vintage find back when she purchased it in London during the ’90s, according to Sotheby’s fashion specialist, Lucy Bishop. “It was a fashionable choice during the late 1960s-early 1970s,” she explains. “During these years, London was still swinging, and rock-n-roll British cool heavily influenced fashion trends internationally. Whilst ladies of the older generation still favored their formal minks, younger women flocked to boutiques such as Biba, whose hugely popular designs (which often featured fun faux-fur prints) influenced an entire generation.”

After Bessette-Kennedy was photographed with John F. Kennedy Jr. wearing the piece, fashion houses like Calvin Klein, where the fashion icon worked as a publicist, took notice, showing leopard in spades for their ready-to-wear collections and ushering in a second golden age for the bold coat. “The print is incredibly versatile,” says Bishop, adding that it’s “an easy and effective way to make a fashion statement, as Carolyn definitely proved when she casually threw it on over jeans.” Whether it’s Naomi Campbell vamping in a Givenchy jacket on the runway or Mary J. Blige wearing a leopard hood to the VMAs, the mid-90s brought the mid-century print fully into the modern era.

The Indie Sleaze years of the late 2000s and early 2010s saw a second revival of the leopard coat, with fashion darlings like Kate Moss, Alexa Chung, and the Olsen Twins pairing their statement outerwear with beat-up Hermès Kelly bags and rock star boyfriends. The style saw a runway renaissance, too, as the print found a home at Pheobe Philo’s Old Celine, where she showed several leopard coats throughout her 10-year tenure.

In short, it’s about time this style came back in fashion—I mean, did it ever really leave? Designers and It girls are embracing the big leopard coat with newfound zeal this year. Hailey Bieber made a case for investing in a demure version, wearing a pony-hair coat by Toteme. Alessandro Michele’s first collection for Valentino features several leopard looks to choose from (this ladylike wool coat being a personal favorite), and supermodel Amber Valletta wore one for her return to the runway with Michael Kors. And let’s not forget last winter’s Mob Wife TikTok aesthetic—microtrend or not, it put animal print back on the map.

Whatever your vibe, there is a leopard coat for you. If you live for drama, may I suggest a floor-length version? Perhaps this shearling coat by Yves Soloman or this number from Simon Miller? If a trench is more your style, The Gap and Theory have got you covered. Vintage girlies will find stellar options on The Real Real—but act fast! These pre-loved versions from Sandy Liang, Sézanne, and Alice + Olivia are almost too good to be true. Last but not least, if you have a cool $20,000 burning a hole in your pocket, you can bid on CBK’s actual vintage coat through Sotheby’s (bidding is live until December 17).

The best part of this fashion trend is that the coat does the work for you. Even Bessette-Kennedy isn’t above a statement layer despite her generally paired-down ’90s style. “Her minimalist wardrobe consisted mainly of neutral tones, making this leopard-print coat a spectacular stand-out piece,” explains Bishop. It’s true—the leopard print outerwear trend can transform even the most boring look into something special.

Sometimes, the coat really is the outfit.