What's With All the Animal Print? How to Wear Leopard, Zebra and Croc for Holiday 2026
Leopard never really left. This season it just brought friends: zebra, python, croc, and the occasional leopard head with rhinestone eyes. Fall 2026 runways and street style pushed animal print past the one-coat cliché and into gloves, hats, bags and jewelry. Here is how to wear it to every holiday invite between now and New Year's without looking like a costume.
The quick answer
- Easiest way in: leopard knit CHALET Gloves ($25) with a black coat.
- One-piece party look: the leopard jacquard JOLIE Dress ($198) with black tights.
- Zebra under $40: the strapless ZEBRA ILLUSION Mini Dress (from $35).
- Print as jewelry: the leopard-head PROWL Collar Necklace ($30).
Why animal print is everywhere right now
The short version: designers stopped treating leopard as the only option. Zebra stripes, snakeskin and croc textures showed up across fall 2026 collections, and the accessory is where most people are wearing them. A print glove or bag reads deliberate. A head-to-toe print reads like a dare. Both are fine. Just choose on purpose.
Start small: gloves, hats and cuffs
One print accessory against solid black or camel is the no-fail version.
CHALET Gloves
$25
Fuzzy knit leopard gloves with a longer cuff that tucks under a coat sleeve. The cream version against a black wool coat is the whole look.
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MONACO Gloves
$124
Sheepskin leather driving gloves with an open cut-out back and wrist snap. Take the Zebra pair to Thanksgiving with a solid knit and let your hands do the talking.
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COLETTE Beret
$75
Wool felt painter beret with a structured flat crown, in leopard. Wear it with a camel coat and dark sunglasses for very polished, very chic.
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BRIGITTE Cuff
$48
A wide gold-tone cuff with a keyhole cut-out, wrapped in Leopard Plush. Push it over a black turtleneck sleeve.
Shop nowThe dress does the work
For holiday parties, let one printed dress carry the night and keep everything else black.
JOLIE Dress
$198
Inky leopard jacquard with a ribbed mock neck, cap sleeves and a full swing skirt. Black tights and pointed heels for the office party, bare legs for the cocktail invite.
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ZEBRA ILLUSION Mini Dress
From $35
Strapless zebra mini with contour lines that mimic corset paneling. Throw a black blazer over it and you are dressed for any after-dark plan.
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SAVANNA Dress
$65
A mid-calf zebra pencil dress with an empire waist and hollow-out neckline. Gold hoops, slicked hair, done.
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FRINGE Belt
$50
Black faux leather fringe that buckles low on the hips. Over a print dress it adds movement and a solid anchor at the same time.
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Python and croc: the grown-up animal print
Reptile texture is the quieter cousin. It works at the office and at dinner.
Wear the animal, literally
When the print becomes the creature itself, it is jewelry, not pattern.
PROWL Collar Necklace
$30
A rigid torque of two leopard heads meeting at the throat, with black enamel spots and rhinestones. In gold or silver, over a black strapless dress.
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PANTHERA Leopard Cocktail Ring
$50
A rhinestone leopard head with green zircon eyes in 18k gold-plated copper. One ring, plenty of conversation.
Shop nowGo all in: print plus texture
For the woman who wants the whole entrance.
STEPPE Fur Leather Jacket
$650
Leopard-print sheepskin leather, cropped, with natural sheep fur at the collar and cuffs in black or pink. Over a black slip dress for New Year's Eve. Nothing else needed.
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ALTA Faux Fur Bucket Hat
$50
Oversized high-pile faux fur bucket hat with a wide brim. In black, it is the solid that lets a leopard coat or zebra dress breathe.
Shop nowFrequently asked questions
Is animal print still in style for 2026?
Yes. Leopard is still the anchor, but fall 2026 widened the field to zebra, snakeskin and croc. Accessories like the CHALET Gloves ($25) or the VIPER Bag ($89) are the easiest way to wear it now.
Can you mix leopard and zebra?
Yes, if one is the clear lead. Let a zebra dress like the SAVANNA Dress ($65) dominate and add one small leopard piece, like the BRIGITTE Cuff ($48). Keep shoes and coat solid.
What color goes best with leopard print?
Black is the safest, camel looks expensive, and red is the fun option. The JOLIE Dress ($198) with black tights is a reliable holiday party formula.
What is a good animal print gift under $50?
The CHALET Gloves ($25), the PROWL Collar Necklace ($30) and the PANTHERA Leopard Cocktail Ring ($50) are all easy to give and easy to wear.
How do I wear animal print to Thanksgiving without overdoing it?
One piece. A COLETTE Beret ($75) or Zebra MONACO Gloves ($124) with a solid sweater and trousers keeps it dinner-appropriate.