Snake print has taken over leopard as this season’s must-have trend

There’s a new king of the jungle

Sarah Jones
Thursday 08 November 2018 09:56 EST
Comments
Oversized Snakeskin Print Shirt, £25.99, Zara
Oversized Snakeskin Print Shirt, £25.99, Zara

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Leopard print has been a clear front-runner in the fashion world of late, most notably thanks to Victoria Beckham’s autumn/winter 2018 coat and Realisation Par’s sell-out skirt.

In fact, it’s proved so popular that everyone from influencers to editors have been sporting big cat style in some form.

But, before you rush out to invest in dotty garb, let us introduce you to the new king of the jungle.

A natural evolution from fashion’s fixation with leopard print, snakeskin – faux, of course – has reared its reptilian head to become this season’s statement-making favourite.

On the autumn/winter 2018 runways, Marni presented python print on everything from two-tone belted trench coats to midi skirts, while Zimmerman and Rochas accessorised girlish dresses with corset belts and knee-high boots in a variety of shades.

From classic brown to autumnal maroon, white, green and even yellow, designers were out to prove that snakeskin is by no means confined to earthy hues this season.

The serpentine trend extends far beyond the catwalk though. One quick sweep of Instagram and you’ll be hard pressed to come across a #OOTD that doesn’t employ the print somehow.

Hurricane High Ankle Boots, £89, Topshop
Hurricane High Ankle Boots, £89, Topshop

In fact, hashtags like #snakeprint and #snakeskin are dominating the photo sharing platform right now. While the former currently has more than 111,093 posts, the latter holds an impressive 474,197.

The high street is listening too. Almost every store, from Zara to Topshop, New Look and & Other Stories, is making tapping into the trend all the easier with a consistent drop of pieces covered in the print.

Large Leather Crossbody Bag, £159, & Other Stories
Large Leather Crossbody Bag, £159, & Other Stories

So, what is the best way to wear it?

Well, like most trends it comes down to personal preference and how much of a statement you’re willing to make.

Snake Printed Pleat Midi Skirt, £25, Pretty Little Thing
Snake Printed Pleat Midi Skirt, £25, Pretty Little Thing

If your style is already pretty bold then don’t be afraid to invest in pieces like a oversized snake print shirt or a midi skirt.

For the less daring, an ankle boot will give even the most lacklustre ensemble a punchy python finish, while those who fall in the overly cautious camp should look to finer details like belts and bags.

Snakeskin Print Top, £19.99, Zara
Snakeskin Print Top, £19.99, Zara
Snakeskin-Effect Leather Belt, £19.99, Zara
Snakeskin-Effect Leather Belt, £19.99, Zara

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in