Animal Prints Are Back for 2026: How Women Over 60 Can Wear the Trend
Animal Prints Are Back for 2026—And I’m Here for It
Because some trends never really go away. They just take a little vacation.
There are certain fashion trends that come and go so often that I have stopped calling them trends.
Animal print is one of them.
Leopard, zebra, tiger, cheetah, snakeskin… somehow, they always find their way back into our closets. And in 2026, animal prints are officially having another moment.
And honestly? I’m not mad about it.
Fashion editors are embracing animal prints again for fall, with leopard making a particularly strong showing. But this season, it isn’t just about leopard. Zebra, tiger, deer, cheetah and other animal-inspired patterns are joining the party.
The best part? You don’t have to go full-on jungle to participate.
Animal Print Is a Neutral. Yes, Really.
I know that statement might make some of you stop reading.
But hear me out.
Leopard has always worked surprisingly well with other colors because of its neutral combination of browns, blacks, and creams. In fact, fashion stylists are increasingly treating leopard as a neutral rather than a novelty print.
Think about it.
A leopard-print shoe with black pants.
Wearing:
- Women’s Melton Long-Sleeve Belted Jacket in Carmine Red
- Women’s Animal Print Touch of Cool Layering Tee in Cream
- Women’s Chico’s Originals Beaded Coin Bib Necklace
- Women’s Golden Stud Earrings
- Heels are old
A leopard belt with jeans and a white shirt.
A zebra bag with an otherwise simple outfit.
Wearing:
- No Iron™ Stretch Zebra Print Shirt
- Women’s Faux Leather Five Pocket Skinny Pants in Black
- Women’s Chico’s Originals Mixed-Media Bib Necklace
- Zebra Crossbody Bag
- Pointed-Toe Slingback Heels
- Zebra print earrings from last spring
A printed coat over a monochromatic look.
Suddenly, the print isn’t screaming for attention. It’s simply adding personality.
And isn’t that what great accessories are supposed to do?
You Don’t Have to Wear the Whole Animal
This is especially important for women who may have decided that animal print isn’t for them.
You don’t need a leopard-print dress.
Start small.
Try a shoe.
Try a belt.
Try a handbag.
Try a scarf.
Wearing:
- Women’s Melton Long-Sleeve Belted Jacket in Carmine Red
- Women’s Foiled Microfiber Tank in Neutral
- Women’s Goldtone Stretch Bangle Set of Three
- The Paisley Print Scarf is currently available in your Chico’s store, but for some reason it’s not on the website. I’m checking with my connection at Chico’s and will update this post once I hear back from her.
- The pants, earrings, and leopard print belt are no longer available at Chico’s.
- Heels are old.
Or, if you’re feeling a little more adventurous, try a jacket or coat.
One of my favorite ways to wear a bold print is to let it be the star and keep everything else relatively simple. That way, the outfit feels intentional rather than like you got dressed in the dark at the zoo.
And this season, animal-print accessories are particularly easy to incorporate. Current fall fashion coverage is highlighting everything from zebra totes to deer-print shoes, proving that the trend has moved well beyond traditional leopard.
Leopard Isn’t the Only Animal in Town
If you’ve always thought leopard was a little too predictable, 2026 gives you options.
Zebra is having a moment and offers a graphic black-and-white alternative that feels modern and chic.
Tiger is back, too. Vogue noted its return in 2026, with celebrities including Kendall Jenner and Rihanna embracing the bolder stripe.
And then there’s deer print, which is a softer, more unexpected interpretation of the trend. Think brown-and-cream spots rather than traditional leopard. It’s a little more understated and has a distinctly vintage feeling.
And if you love a little drama, animal-print coats are definitely worth considering. Designers are showing oversized leopard and other animal prints in outerwear, proving that this trend can be sophisticated rather than costume-y.
How I Would Wear Animal Print in My 60s
Here’s where I think women our age have an advantage.
We’ve had enough years of fashion mistakes to know what actually works for us.
We don’t have to wear a trend simply because someone tells us it’s fashionable.
We can take the part we like and make it our own.
For me, that might mean pairing an animal-print piece with something very classic—a great pair of trousers, a tailored jacket, denim, or a simple black dress.
Or I might add a little red.
Wearing:
- Women’s Melton Long-Sleeve Belted Jacket in Carmine Red
- Women’s Faux Leather Five Pocket Skinny Pants in Black
- No Iron™ Stretch Zebra Print Shirt
- Women’s Chico’s Originals Mixed-Media Bib Necklace
- Pointed-Toe Slingback Heels
- Zebra Crossbody Bag
Because if there is one thing I have learned about getting dressed at this stage of life, it’s that confidence is the best accessory you own.
And sometimes a little leopard doesn’t hurt either.
The Rule I Live By: Don’t Let Your Clothes Wear You
Wearing:
- Women’s Knit Leather-Trim Tee in Black
- Women’s Zebra Double Cab Drop Earrings in Neutral
- Zebra Cab Animal Pendant Necklace
- Women’s Goldtone Stretch Bangle Set of Three
- Women’s Animal Print Coated Girlfriend Slim Ankle Jeans
- Zebra Crossbody Bag
- Heels are old
Animal print can be bold. That’s the point.
But bold doesn’t have to mean loud.
If you’re wearing an animal-print coat, keep the rest of the outfit streamlined.
If you’re wearing animal-print pants, pair them with a simple sweater or crisp white shirt.
If you’re wearing a statement animal-print bag, let it do the talking.
And if you want to mix prints? Go for it—but choose prints that have something in common, such as color or scale.
There are no longer strict rules about what women “should” wear at a certain age.
There are only clothes that make us feel good—and clothes that don’t.
I’ll take the first category every time.
So, Is Animal Print Really Back?
Yes.
But here’s my slightly controversial opinion:
Animal print has been part of fashion for decades. What changes is how we style it.
One year it’s glamorous.
Another year it’s edgy.
Then it’s minimalist.
Now, for fall 2026, we’re seeing it become more sophisticated, more wearable, and surprisingly versatile. Even fashion coverage is describing animal print as a neutral and showing it styled in more understated ways.
And that’s exactly how I like my trends.
Give me something familiar, but let me wear it my way.
Because at 69, I’m not interested in dressing to look younger.
I’m interested in dressing to look like me.
And if that includes a little leopard, a little zebra, or even a little tiger?
Well…
Let the wild woman out.
Shop my looks
Until next time!
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