Though our year-round tropical climate fails as an indicator, it’s no secret that some countries, as well as the fashion world, have entered a good few weeks into autumn—the season which calls for a more prominent use of animal prints in clothing and accessories. As temperature cools, fashion often turns to luxurious and tactile fabrics like faux fur and leather goods. Not only do they make the cut in keeping its wearer warm, but these primarily neutral tones tie in perfectly with the quintessential colour palette of fall.
Drawing inspiration from wildlife for sartorial intentions is nothing revolutionary. On the contrary, the early days of humanity relied on animal pelts for utilitarian purposes, whether to keep frostbites at bay or convey one’s social status. It wasn’t until the 1940s—when Christian Dior gave animal prints a high-fashion spin in the “New Look” collection—that it entered the fashion radar.
One particular animal print that comes to mind when talking about modern-day attire belongs to the leopard. These irregular, ring-shaped clusters in black against a golden-tan base have long been a statement supplement to the fall moodboard. Although, according to runway shows of late, we are seeing a more reptilian approach to dressing for the cooler seasons, with patterns like embossed crocodile and snakeskin creeping back into the limelight—and the celebrated designers behind this are even shedding the idea that they only belong to the cooler temperatures.
Amidst the F/W26 collections, several iterations of croc-embossed leather showed up in Matthieu Blazy’s debut at Chanel, amongst a long list including Prada, Alaia, Gucci and Elie Saab. From the same season, Bottega Veneta’s predominantly dark colour palette was a medley of texture featuring the traditional peacoat and an adorable cube bag in matte and glossy crocodile leather.
The influence of this symbiosis between reptiles and fashion also bleeds beyond the runway. For instance: Swiss sports brand On’s latest campaign with Zendaya and Law Roach, which rolled out a python print-focused collection of 15 pieces. These unique motifs evidently offer eye-catching geometry upon otherwise plain-looking leather, while not being too bombastic as they are natural, timeless patterns that we have seen on animals.
Another way of recognising the approach of a new fashion trend is always to steal a glimpse at celebrities’ wardrobes. At the Screen Actors Guild Awards this March, Demi Moore stunned in a custom Schiaparelli number that had a crocodile tail motif running down the front, while Tyla took it to the next level and stepped out in a snakeskin temporary tattoo top designed by Simon Carle, who was inspired by the way a snake sheds its skin.
There’s no hard and fast rule to incorporating reptiles into your outfit. If you asked us, we’d say all you need is confidence. For those bundling up against the cold, relying on accessories to let your personal style shine through is the way to go; that’s when a statement croc-embossed handbag or belt will do the trick. But if you’re feeling bold, take a page out of Thai actor Bright Vachirawit’s book, who showed up at Burberry’s Fall/Winter 2026 show in a full snakeskin trench coat.
Scroll on for some styling tips proving that it can never get too wild when it comes to slithering some scales into your outfit.
READ MORE