The History of Leopard Print in Retro Fashion (2024)

FAQs

The History of Leopard Print in Retro Fashion? ›

By the 1970s and 1980s, leopard print was considered tacky - worn by drag queens, prostitutes, and those who had not updated their style since the 1950s. Punk rock style seized on the transgressive idea of celebrating tackiness, as well as the association of leopard with strong sexuality.

Christian Dior was the first designer to put leopard print (not fur) on the catwalks in 1947, proclaiming of the print “If you're fair and sweet, don't wear it!”.

Leopard print has been a staple in the fashion world for decades, so it doesn't feel right calling it a trend. From signalling wealth and sophistication in the early 20^th century to turning trashy and being worn by rock stars in the 70s, leopard print has made its way into just about everyone's wardrobe.

Leopard print is one of the most iconic and versatile patterns in fashion and culture. It has a long and rich history, dating back to ancient times when people wore animal skins for protection and prestige. Leopard print has been associated with glamour, exoticism, and sensuality, as well as power and prestige.

Leopard skin coats and other clothing and accessory items became especially popular in the 1920s after movie stars like Joan Crawford strutted through Hollywood movies in the skin. One fashion designer of the time, Christian Dior, kept the trend going for the more sophisticated woman.

Leopard print is sometimes intentionally deployed for trashy effect, most strikingly in the punk fashion of the seventies, but it is much more frequently used to denote style and sophistication.

Not only was leopard print used as a print of protest among Punks and Rockers as a visual representation of their rejection of conformity to a conservative mainstream society, it is also an important political aesthetic in Drag culture.

Animal prints were all the rage in the 80s and are all the rage right now! From leopard print to zebra print, there are a variety of animal prints that are trendy and stylish. Animal Print is also a trend that almost every celebrity has been sporting right now.

Leopard print started to become a statement piece for every woman and the, “signature of a very well-off woman”. 1960's: During the hippie movement, animal print took on a more exotic look. During the late 1960's, animal print was condemned for animal cruelty reasons.

Occasionally, real leopard fur would still be worn, most famously in 1962 by Jackie Kennedy. The popularity of her leopard-skin coat led to the death of as many as 250,000 leopards (according to the guilt-wrecked designer of the coat, Oleg Cassini).

What does it mean when a woman wears leopard print spiritually? ›

Leopard Symbolism & Spiritual Meanings Of Leopards

Leopards are symbols of power, strength and confidence, stealth, perception, bravery, and cunning. But leopards also symbolize survival, shapeshifting, authenticity, agility, and self-reliance.

The most common difference between these two animals is the patterns on their coat. At first glance, it may look like they both have spots, but in actual fact, a leopard has rosettes which are rose-like markings, and cheetahs have a solid round or oval spot shape.

Widely regarded as the animal counterpart of the ruler, the leopard is valued for its clever hunting skills, its beautiful spotted fur and its dangerous claws and fangs. Leopard skins form part of leader's regalia and dance costumes and may serve as seats at a ruler's installation ceremony.

The leopard print is associated with royal lineage & healing gifts. The colour indicates the type of spiritual gift or calling. This includes herbal medicine. Leopard people like lion folk need to go to the mountains & the forest to connect to their ancestors & spirit guides.

Fossil evidence supports an African origin, and suggests that leopards were already present in Eurasia during the Early Pleistocene. Analysis of DNA sequences however, suggests a more recent, Middle Pleistocene shared ancestry of Asian and African leopards.

The leopard skin was a ritual garment in Ancient Egypt. It has been documented with certainty since the Early Dynastic period (around 3000 BC). The mythological roots go back to the pre-dynastic period.

Jackie Kennedy wore a coat made of real leopard pelts designed by Oleg Cassini to an official engagement in 1962 with her husband, President John F. Kennedy. The style icon wielded such influence, real leopard coats sales soared, resulting in some reported 250,000 leopards being killed in the following years.