Dua Lipa and designers bring back animal print
TOI GLOBAL DESK | TOI GLOBAL | Jan 29, 2026, 22:03 IST
Animal print became a dominant trend throughout Paris and New York because celebrities and designers adopted an energetic fashion style that combined elements from 1980s fashion with modern design.
TL;DR
Back on runways, animal patterns appear reimagined through vivid tones. Alongside textured fabrics, fresh silhouettes carry subtle shifts in societal expression. Where once familiar forms ruled, now variation leads, driven by creator choices and public figures alike.
A ripple through runways marked the return of animal motifs, seen widely during recent style gatherings in key cities worldwide. Instead of fading, these bold textures reappeared, worn by figures such as Demi Moore, Dua Lipa, and Kendall Jenner, at elite presentations held in Paris and New York. Though once tied to 1980s extravagance, their presence now suggests a quiet transformation underway within design preferences. The observers explain that current fashion shows which present flashy designs now enable people to discover authentic fashion trends which exist beyond their visible appearance.
Demi Moore appeared at Schiaparelli's haute couture show in Paris on Monday which began the event. A cheetah-patterned catsuit formed the core of her look, accompanied by a coordinated coat shaped by Daniel Roseberry, the brand’s creative lead. Attention followed, drawn less by fame than by precision in design and timing. Animal themes have long threaded through the label’s work, reappearing now with renewed focus. Earlier ventures included bold forms, a lion-headed dress once seen on Kylie Jenner stood out across seasons. Shape, rather than fabric alone, carries meaning here. Wild references emerge not as prints but structures that suggest movement beneath stillness.
A new trend became more visible on Tuesday when singer Dua Lipa arrived at Chanel’s presentation wearing a structured skirt suit. The fabric of the ensemble displayed yellow and red and black swirling patterns which created abstract representations of wild animal markings. The ensemble traveled alongside the brand’s iconic 2.55 flap bag, drawing attention amid the audience. Images moved swiftly through online platforms after the event concluded. Observers pointed out parallels between the aesthetic and that of TV persona Fran Fine, vibrant, assertive, though undeniably updated. What emerged was less revival, more quiet reinvention.
Midweek, images emerged from Manhattan showing Kendall Jenner in a hand-embroidered dress patterned with tigers. Though separate moments, her look traced back to the same source: Chanel’s Métiers d’Art 2026 line unveiled months earlier. December hosted that presentation, held before Blazy stepped into his role shaping the brand’s direction. His arrival marked a shift, quiet but clear, in how legacy codes were reinterpreted season after season. Design choices since then carry subtle departures, threaded through craftsmanship long honored by the atelier.
Now shaping what once seemed rigid, Blazy reshapes Chanel’s heritage, tweed, pearls, coats, with lines that move differently. Rather than sparkle or shine, his versions of animal motifs gain freshness through restraint. Without ornate grooming, gilded trinkets, or exaggerated poses, both Lipa and Jenner wore the pattern quietly. Familiar codes appear again, though less fixed. Critics note a shift: recognition remains, yet nothing feels repeated. Where boldness once ruled, subtlety now takes place.
A steady rise in standard leopard print search volume appears alongside growing purchase numbers, noted trend observer @databutmakeitfashion. Fashion commentators now point to a stylistic turn, calling it the “Boom Boom” phase, as hints emerge of bolder aesthetics returning. Instead of subtlety, energy drives choices: think layered patterns, rich textures, oversized forms. Fur once again surfaces; contrasted pairings dominate where harmony was once preferred. The 1980s serve as reference, yet reinterpretation, not replication, shapes what unfolds today. Visual intensity gains favor slowly, mirrored by market behavior across key retail channels.
Uncertainty in society tends to bring bold clothing choices, observers point out. Visual distraction emerges through intense hues, unusual surfaces, fabric trials, courtesy of designer response. This comeback leans not on longing for past styles but on reshaping them, analysts suggest. Animal patterns provide stability, an anchor, for fresh design play.
With fashion shows unfolding ahead, attention turns to how lasting buyer interest might be in such striking styles. Whether these dramatic looks gain steady traction remains uncertain. Observation by creators and sellers grows sharper as presentations proceed. Momentum may shift slowly, if at all. Repeated exposure could influence choices made far beyond the catwalk. For now, response patterns stay unclear. What follows depends on more than initial reaction.
Back on runways, animal patterns appear reimagined through vivid tones. Alongside textured fabrics, fresh silhouettes carry subtle shifts in societal expression. Where once familiar forms ruled, now variation leads, driven by creator choices and public figures alike.
A ripple through runways marked the return of animal motifs, seen widely during recent style gatherings in key cities worldwide. Instead of fading, these bold textures reappeared, worn by figures such as Demi Moore, Dua Lipa, and Kendall Jenner, at elite presentations held in Paris and New York. Though once tied to 1980s extravagance, their presence now suggests a quiet transformation underway within design preferences. The observers explain that current fashion shows which present flashy designs now enable people to discover authentic fashion trends which exist beyond their visible appearance.
Demi Moore appeared at Schiaparelli's haute couture show in Paris on Monday which began the event. A cheetah-patterned catsuit formed the core of her look, accompanied by a coordinated coat shaped by Daniel Roseberry, the brand’s creative lead. Attention followed, drawn less by fame than by precision in design and timing. Animal themes have long threaded through the label’s work, reappearing now with renewed focus. Earlier ventures included bold forms, a lion-headed dress once seen on Kylie Jenner stood out across seasons. Shape, rather than fabric alone, carries meaning here. Wild references emerge not as prints but structures that suggest movement beneath stillness.
A new trend became more visible on Tuesday when singer Dua Lipa arrived at Chanel’s presentation wearing a structured skirt suit. The fabric of the ensemble displayed yellow and red and black swirling patterns which created abstract representations of wild animal markings. The ensemble traveled alongside the brand’s iconic 2.55 flap bag, drawing attention amid the audience. Images moved swiftly through online platforms after the event concluded. Observers pointed out parallels between the aesthetic and that of TV persona Fran Fine, vibrant, assertive, though undeniably updated. What emerged was less revival, more quiet reinvention.
Midweek, images emerged from Manhattan showing Kendall Jenner in a hand-embroidered dress patterned with tigers. Though separate moments, her look traced back to the same source: Chanel’s Métiers d’Art 2026 line unveiled months earlier. December hosted that presentation, held before Blazy stepped into his role shaping the brand’s direction. His arrival marked a shift, quiet but clear, in how legacy codes were reinterpreted season after season. Design choices since then carry subtle departures, threaded through craftsmanship long honored by the atelier.
Now shaping what once seemed rigid, Blazy reshapes Chanel’s heritage, tweed, pearls, coats, with lines that move differently. Rather than sparkle or shine, his versions of animal motifs gain freshness through restraint. Without ornate grooming, gilded trinkets, or exaggerated poses, both Lipa and Jenner wore the pattern quietly. Familiar codes appear again, though less fixed. Critics note a shift: recognition remains, yet nothing feels repeated. Where boldness once ruled, subtlety now takes place.
A steady rise in standard leopard print search volume appears alongside growing purchase numbers, noted trend observer @databutmakeitfashion. Fashion commentators now point to a stylistic turn, calling it the “Boom Boom” phase, as hints emerge of bolder aesthetics returning. Instead of subtlety, energy drives choices: think layered patterns, rich textures, oversized forms. Fur once again surfaces; contrasted pairings dominate where harmony was once preferred. The 1980s serve as reference, yet reinterpretation, not replication, shapes what unfolds today. Visual intensity gains favor slowly, mirrored by market behavior across key retail channels.
Uncertainty in society tends to bring bold clothing choices, observers point out. Visual distraction emerges through intense hues, unusual surfaces, fabric trials, courtesy of designer response. This comeback leans not on longing for past styles but on reshaping them, analysts suggest. Animal patterns provide stability, an anchor, for fresh design play.
With fashion shows unfolding ahead, attention turns to how lasting buyer interest might be in such striking styles. Whether these dramatic looks gain steady traction remains uncertain. Observation by creators and sellers grows sharper as presentations proceed. Momentum may shift slowly, if at all. Repeated exposure could influence choices made far beyond the catwalk. For now, response patterns stay unclear. What follows depends on more than initial reaction.