Why do I see leopards everywhere?

Something strange is happening in the office. The big cats are back, don’t see anything alarming, just leopard outfits are increasingly invading the open spaces, turning the start of the school year into a mood. corporate a bit wild. It started at the end of a slow holiday season when a longtime co-worker friend, generally “very reserved” in character, arrived in a spotted animal print dress. I even thought I heard a little roar as we sealed our reunion. “You look very ‘Khujan woman’,” I told her, a little taken aback, as I was more used to seeing her in overalls. work clothes a little worn. “Woman of the crowd”. she asked, not really understanding my intervention (she doesn’t work in fashion and doesn’t care about TikTok 2024 trends).

Yes, the “mob wife”, that is, the mobster’s wife, I had to explain to her that one of the most popular aesthetics of 2024, Selena Gomez’s mix. Emilia Perez Michelle Pfeiffer in Scar face and Sofia Vergara in the series Griselda. A femme fatale, daring, adventurous, who likes to flirt with danger, in short, and who, when it comes to looks, swears by the leopard. “I’ve been seeing them everywhere this summer, on the streets, on the beaches, at school openings,” counters my new “wild” friend, and it’s totally stopped me.” As a result, she tells me, she recently bought the wildest dress of her life at a local market on Ile de Re.

On the tips of your nails

One observation: the leopard is everywhere. I don’t walk a step in our offices anymore without encountering girls of all generations wearing leopard jackets, skirts or jackets, some even going so far as to sport animal prints on their shoes, bags or manicures. The same on the Parisian asphalt or during the aperitif on the still slightly sunny September terraces. You could almost imagine yourself on a Kenyan safari.

From Catherine Deneuve to Kate Moss

Cat mania is insane. #leopard has 14.6 billion views on TikTok. Arguably, the motif is not new, it has been associated over time with all kinds of supposedly super-feminine women, from those in the world’s oldest profession to the princesses of the elite (thanks Grace Kelly or Jackie Kennedy) who walk through the area. southern cagols. Some played on her rebellious spirit, like Kate Moss, the leopard woman, some, for example, her arrogant beauty, like Catherine Deneuve, which made her ” statementA staple of London’s posh neighborhoods and punk sidewalks since the 1960s, the leotard has never stopped showing its snout in fashion, especially since Christian Dior paraded its legendary Jungle Dress in 1947.

But why is it returning with such ferocity to school wardrobes? Although it invaded the autumn-winter catwalks (Alexander McQueen, Alaia, Raban, Dior, Balenciaga, Celine, Versace…), the leopard also knew how to pass mainstream:. Quit the femme fatale diva or ultraglam bimbo, welcome to all the other girls who want to rock it without snarling. And especially with more basic models than the timeless (faux) fur jacket or fur coat slip dress from party girl. Pieces can be found in the Ile de Ré markets as well as more affordable labels (Balzac, Mango, Ganni, Sézanne, My Lemonade, Rouje…) and cheaper brands.

Take out your claws

The season’s winners are a midi skirt (with a white T-shirt), a denim jacket, trousers or, more daringly, a trouser suit (also seen on a very fashionable partner), a trench, cardigan, trousers, a tank top or a ballerina with straps. Accessories like a slim belt, a cravat, an oversized cape, or sunglasses can help you pull off the move. So if you too want to turn up the volume a bit this season, don’t hesitate any longer and get your claws out! And don’t be afraid, the sleeping tiger in you will always reappear somewhere…