As a minimalist dresser, animal print isn’t a trend I would have readily ventured into. At least not if you’d have asked me a couple of years ago. Yet I am finding myself more and more tempted. Zebra print in particular, I cannot get enough of. Skirts, dresses, bags, shoes- if it comes in zebra print, I want it. At first I wondered if it was merely my style maturing – away from my comfort zone of neutral colour palettes and minimalistic pieces towards a ‘more is more’ philosophy. Then, I realised animal print is the perfect segue between the two, because it too is neutral.
I know referring to bold, unapologetic prints as a neutral sounds crazy and that styling animal prints can understandably seem daunting at first. But it’s actually one of the most wearable prints on the market. Whether leopard, zebra, tiger, cow, deer, or snake, the muted-toned hues mean that it can actually be considered a neutral. With brown, black, white, and tan all pairing really well with almost any other shade or pattern. And for anyone who argues animal print will never fit with minimalists, just look to ‘90s Kate Moss, whose style perfectly embodies the decades minimalist and rebellious aesthetic. She would often flip between loud leopard print and quiet casual attire – and often mixed the two.
Now there’s no denying that animal print is one of the biggest trends of 2026. Seen in the fall/winter 2026 collections of most major designers, including Chanel, Givenchy, Balmain, Bottega Veneta, and Carolina Herrera. So, if you’re like me and want to dip your toe into the trend without leaving your minimalistic roots, then here are twelve ways you can style animal print as you would any other neutral.
How To Style Animal Print With Other Neutrals`
Perhaps the easiest way to style animal print is with other neutrals. It makes the print the focal point of the outfit, yet still feels less intimidating as the tones help to balance each other out for an elegant look.
How To Style Animal Print With Colour
For a powerful approach to styling animal print, add a pop of colour. Rich, solid colours help to elevate the print, with shades of blue, red, pink, and purple working particularly well. And you can always just add an accent of colour through accessories to ease in.