How to style leopard print jeans in 2025

Leopard print to me, has always felt a little like a neutral in disguise. Yes, it’s a bit loud, but when styled the right way, can feel as safe a bet as denim or stripes. Plus, if you’re someone who leans heavily on paired back, minimal pieces, it’s a simple choice to add personality to an outfit without overthinking it.

Because the print does the heavy lifting, you can keep the rest of the outfit more dialled down. A great way to maximise the impact of your printed piece.

So here are some ways that you can style leopard jeans for 2025, and some notes on why each pairing just works.

1 | With a Neutral Knit & Relaxed Trench

When in doubt, lean on your closet heroes. This is a good starting point to build from, because the items you know best are the ones that are the easiest to style. For this outfit combo, I’ve used a styling tool I often recommend to styling clients – to draw on colours present in the print to create a sense of cohesion without feeling too matchy-matchy.

There’s a lot of relaxed pieces in this look, so tucking the knit helps to create that waist definition and add a sense of shape. Using “classic” staples brings in a more chill energy which helps to tone down the impact of the denim to soften the look.

Wearing Quince sweater, Petal & Pup leopard jeans (20% off with JAMIE20), Sezane trench, Sezane flats, Manuel Dreesman woven bag

2 | With Texture & Rich Hues

For when you want to feel a little more styled. Low key one of my favourite combinations right now is burgundy and leopard. There’s something about the pairing of deep, rich tones that plays really well with animal print. It feels intentional, and adds a touch of intensity to the look.

Bringing in a sense of texture adds more dimension and also helps to draw focus from the denim. Again, using something muted that draws in on the underlying creamy base of the jeans. And we all know that texture is a shortcut to visual interest.

For me this works as burgundy feels bold but grounded, and extremely wearable when styled with soft cream hues.

Wearing Marle cardigan, Petal & Pup leopard jeans (20% off with JAMIE20), Bared boots, Reh Studios bag

3 | With an Oversized Shirt

It’s giving “I just threw this on”, but in that way where you knew exactly what you were doing. This is a more exaggerated approach when playing with relaxed, oversized proportions. And it highlights why details matter. For a start, the sleeves need to be rolled to expose part of the arm. Otherwise it looks like you’ve swathed yourself in fabric, in that way that the clothes are wearing you, rather than the other way around.

Again leaning in on neutrals, but this time a pale blue shirt, which is a great “no-colour” colour. It works well with lighter neutral pieces for a low contrast look, while also feeling unexpected next to the leopard jeans. In part, this has to do with the idea of tension; shirts we associate with a sense of formality and workwear, whereas a leopard jean has a cool essence but reads more casual. Mixing the two feels like a wild card combo, but it really works.

Draping a neutral knit over the shoulders keeps the colour palette soft and layered without feeling fussy.

For a louder take on this silhouette, swap the blue shirt for a bright coloured one. Personally, I’m quite partial to red as again, it pairs so well with leopard. Striking and bold, it feels layered with personality.

Wearing CO. blue shirt (old) & AERE Label red oversized shirt, Petal & Pup leopard jeans (20% off with code JAMIE20), Quince cream knit, Black ballerinas, Quince crossbody bag

Quick Styling Notes (aka what makes these outfit combinations work):

• Lean in on your neutrals. You still get that great visual impact from the jeans, but it helps to dial things down for a softer look.
• Contrast is king. A great way to create a look that feels unique, and has an effortless sense of balance. You can create contrasts with soft/structured pieces, light/dark colours, or opposing styling elements.
• Pull colours from the print. This helps to make them easier to mix and match as you’re drawing on tones that are already present in your outfit.
• And if the subtle look isn’t your thing, go the opposite direction. Add a second (or third) statement piece. Clash a bit, and lean into the drama. Sometimes that’s the whole point!

You might end up loving them more than you thought.