Animal print has never been just a fashion statement- it’s a cinematic signature. A calling card for women who dare. Since the golden age of Hollywood, costume designers have turned to leopard print, cheetah print, and snakeskin textures to instantly communicate sensuality, confidence, elegance, and just the right amount of edge. Think femme fatales draped in cheetah print, old Hollywood icons sipping cocktails in leopard print, and modern muses stomping into frame in animal print boots. When a character walks on screen in animal print clothing, you know she’s not here to fade into the background. She’s bold, magnetic, and often just a little bit dangerous, in the best way.

From old Hollywood wardrobe staples like Elizabeth Taylor’s scandalous leopard coat to modern television icons like Taraji P. Henson’s character Cookie Lyon from Empire, animal print has long been the visual shorthand for characters who captivate. These prints seduce without saying a word, flirt with power, and serve glamour with bite. They whisper high fashion but roar with attitude.

Whether it’s a sweeping cheetah print dress, a tight snakeskin bodysuit, or leopard print stilettos seductively making their way across the screen, animal print captures attention- and holds it. It’s why the fiercest femme fatales, the most stylish sitcom divas, and the queens of drama all reach for it. It’s why every costume designer from the dawn of the silver screen to today- incorporates this bold and timeless pattern in their wardrobe arsenals. Through every decade, animal print has remained the ultimate fashion weapon in film and TV. 

And by the time you finish reading, don’t be surprised if you find yourself needing a leopard print coat of your own. You won’t just admire the bold women who wore them, you’ll be ready to channel the style yourself. To bring animal print into your everyday life is to embody their legacy. It’s to dress like you mean it. And why shouldn’t you? And don’t let me stop you, at SpiritHoods we have some of the best and most luxurious leopard faux fur coats around. And for all my readers of the male persuasion, check out these gorgeous faux fur coats.  

Marilyn Monroe in Cheetah print

Animal print clothing is old Hollywood glamour with an edge, a seductive wink wrapped in silk and power. It whispers luxury and screams confidence. Whether it’s a body-hugging animal print dress, a sharp animal print blazer, or barely-there animal print nails, these patterns have shaped style through every era. 

Animal print’s iconic status in fashion owes a lot to Hollywood. From the 1930s through today, movie stars have turned leopard coats, cheetah dresses, and tiger accessories into lasting symbols of glamour, seduction, and rebellion. These legendary actresses wore animal prints with the kind of effortless confidence that made audiences swoon and designers take notes.

Animal prints have proven themselves timeless- from the Golden Age of Hollywood to today’s most talked-about films, they continue to roar louder with every era.

Here is a list of some of the most memorable animal print clothing in film (In Chronological Order) worn by some of the world's greatest movie stars in history:

• Maureen O'Sullivan as Jane in Tarzan the Ape Man (1932): Jungle-inspired costumes helped spark early animal print fashion.

• Veronica Lake as Ellen Graham in This Gun for Hire (1942) and as Susan Cleaver in Saigon (1947): Frequently paired with Alan Ladd, Lake stunned in luxurious leopard print coats that elevated her noir femme fatale image-turning animal print into a visual cue for danger, desire, and irresistible allure.

• Jane Russell as Mary 'Mame' Carson in The French Line (1953): Famously wore a leopard bikini that became a 1950s sex symbol staple.

• Jeanne Crain and Jane Russel as in Connie Jones and Bonnie Jones in Gentlemen Marry Brunettes (1955): Wore matching form fitting leopard print dresses.

• Marilyn Monroe as Lorelei Lee in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953): Wore a plush leopard-trimmed scarf and muff and wore animal print clothing in promotional photos, cementing her bombshell status.

• Bettie Page as herself in The Girl in the Leopard Print Bikini (2004) and Teaserama (1955): Leopard and cheetah print lingerie became a pin-up classic.

Bettie Page in Cheetah print

• Doris Day as Jan Morrow in Pillow Talk (1959): Brought charm and humor to animal print accessories, particularly a leopard print muff and hat.

• Sophia Loren as Yasmin Azir in Arabesque (1966): Served high-fashion espionage in a sheer zebra print gown trimmed with feathers and a leopard print coat and hat by Christian Dior- cementing her status as a global style icon and queen of cinematic animal print.

• Jayne Mansfield as Jerri Jordan in The Girl Can't Help It (1956): Rocked bold animal print styling, like a leopard print coat, that matched her playful, bombshell persona.

• Kim Novak as Gillian Holroyd in Bell, Book and Candle (1958): Wrapped in a stunning leopard print cloak, she embodied seductive mystique and mid-century glamour, making animal print feel utterly spellbinding.

Kim Novak in a Leopard print cloak

• Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra in Cleopatra (1963): Leopard print coat = scandalous luxury.

• Audrey Hepburn as Regina Lampert in Charade (1963): She channels her Parisian elegance with a leopard print hat.

Audrey Hepburn in a Leopard print hat

• Anne Bancroft as Mrs. Robinson in The Graduate (1967): Defined the sophisticated, sultry side of leopard print.

Anne Bancroft in a Leopard print coat

• Barbra Streisand as Fanny Brice in Funny Girl (1968): Dazzled in an opulent leopard print coat and matching hat during one of the film’s most iconic numbers, blending theatrical glamour with show-stopping sophistication.

• Brigitte Bardot as Linda Larue in Boulevard du Rhum (1971): Stunned in a sultry leopard print bikini, cementing her status as the ultimate French sex symbol and proving that animal print could be both wild and effortlessly chic.

Brigitte Bardot in a Leopard print bikini ensemble

• Edie Sedgwick in Ciao! Manhattan (1972): Wore leopard outerwear that echoed her free-spirited, bohemian style.

Edie Sedgwick in a leopard print coat

• Diana Ross as Tracy Chambers in Mahogany (1975): Stunned in high-fashion animal print gowns that matched her character’s bold rise.

• Michelle Pfeiffer as Angela de Marco in Married to the Mob (1988): Rocked vibrant, flashy animal print outfits that perfectly captured her transformation from mob wife to independent woman- with leopard print flair leading the rebellion.

• Joan Cusack as Cyn in Working Girl (1988): Wore bold animal print jackets and accessories that matched her big hair and even bigger personality- serving Staten Island glam with unapologetic flair.

Joan Cusack in a Leopard print blazer

• Nicolas Cage as Sailor in Wild at Heart (1990): Wore his signature snakeskin jacket like a second skin- bold, rebellious, and symbolic of his "individuality and belief in personal freedom," turning animal print into a defiant personal creed.

Nicolas Cage in a Snakeskin jacket

• Susan Sarandon as Louise in Thelma & Louise (1991): Hints of animal print captured the raw freedom of a woman on the run.

• Angela Bassett as Tina Turner in What’s Love Got to Do with It (1993): Used animal prints to visually mark moments of transformation and strength.

• Patricia Arquette as Alabama Whitman in True Romance (1993): Cheetah mini dress + heart-shaped sunglasses = chaos glam perfection. And let’s not forget her purple leopard print leggings- a standout look that still inspires streetwear today. You can steal this exact vibe by grabbing a similar pair from SpiritHoods, perfect for making a bold, throwback statement.

Patricia Arquette in purple leopard print leggings

Spirithoods women's leopard print leggings

• Sharon Stone as Ginger McKenna in Casino (1995): Maximalist leopard coats and fierce femininity.

• Nicole Kidman as Suzanne Stone in To Die For (1995): Wore a leopard print mini dress that perfectly captured her character's manipulative charm and media-obsessed style.

Nicole Kidman in a Leopard print mini dress

• Glenn Close as Cruella DeVil in 101 Dalmatians (1996): Served villainous high fashion in bold black-and-white animal print ensembles, proving that no one commands a room- or a runway- quite like Cruella in full faux-fur fantasy mode.

• Chris Tucker as Ruby Rhod in The Fifth Element (1997): Lit up the screen in leopard print, bringing futuristic flamboyance and fearless fashion to a whole new galaxy of camp and couture.

• Gwyneth Paltrow as Marge Sherwood in The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999): Exuded 1950s elegance in a lavish leopard-print coat, pillbox hat, and a classic red lip-capturing the era’s upper-crust glamour with a touch of seductive mystery.

Gwyneth Paltrow in an Ocelot print coat and hat

• Liv Tyler as Jewel in One Night at McCool’s (2001): Sizzled in a leopard print dress, using animal print as her weapon of seduction in a role that oozed manipulative charm and irresistible allure.

• Jennifer Coolidge as Paulette Parcelle in Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde (2003): Made a lasting impression in a neon green leopard print sweater, blending over-the-top charm with bold Y2K flair- and reminding us that animal print has no rules when worn with confidence.

• Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada (2006): Radiated sexy authority in a sheer leopard blouse and a zebra print long coat proving that animal print, when done right, can command the room with quiet power and couture-level elegance.

Meryl Streep in a sheer Leopard print blouse

• Margot Robbie as Naomi Lapaglia in The Wolf of Wall Street (2013): Turned heads in over-the-top animal print glamour that matched her character’s bombshell bravado.

• Scarlett Johansson as Lucy in Lucy (2014): Clashed leopard and snakeskin prints with effortless edge, using bold animal print combos to mirror her character’s transformation from street-smart survivor to unstoppable superhuman.

• Lady Gaga as Patrizia Reggiani in House of Gucci (2021): Delivered head-to-toe drama in animal print turning into a symbol of seduction, ambition, and unapologetic power in true Italian fashion.

The big screen isn’t the only place where animal print has made its mark. Television has also given us some of the most unforgettable animal print moments in fashion history. Costume designers have long used leopard, cheetah, and snakeskin prints to instantly define a character- whether she’s a glamorous sitcom star, a power-hungry matriarch, or a rebellious fashionista. Animal print on TV isn't just wardrobe; it's identity. It tells us who’s in charge, who owns the room, and who’s not afraid to take up space. From the over-the-top elegance of Alexis Carrington to the delightfully unfiltered heiress Tanya McQuoid, these characters didn’t just wear animal print- they became it.

Here is a list of some of the most memorable animal print clothing in television (In Chronological Order) worn by some of the world's greatest tv stars in history:

• Julie Goodyear as Bet Lynch in Coronation Street (1966–2003): Practically synonymous with leopard print, Bet’s bold coats, curve-hugging dresses, and towering beehive turned her into a British TV fashion legend-glamorous, loud, and impossible to ignore.

Julie Goodyear is a Leopard print coat

• Joan Collins as Alexis Carrington in Dynasty (1981–1989): The queen of shoulder pads and leopard print power suits.

• Rue McClanahan as Blanche Devereaux in The Golden Girls (1985–1992): Proved that animal print could be sexy at any age, with robes and blouses that screamed Southern charm and boldness.

• Katey Sagal as Peggy Bundy in Married with Children (1987–1997): Leopard print leggings and unapologetic glam as the ultimate sitcom rebel mom.

Katey Sagal in a tight Leopard print top

• Karyn Parsons as Hilary Banks in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990–1996): Brought luxury and sass to every animal print jacket and dress she wore.

• Jennifer Saunders as Edina Monsoon in Absolutely Fabulous (1992-2012): Best known for her outrageous style, wild animal print ensembles, and over-the-top obsession with fame, fashion, and staying “young and fabulous”- even if it’s all a glorious, chaotic mess.

Jennifer Saunders in a Cheetah print coat

• Fran Drescher as Fran Fine in The Nanny (1993–1999): Bold animal print coats, dresses, and matching accessories that defined loud-and-proud glamour.

• Jennifer Aniston as Rachel Green in Friends (1994–2004): Rocked animal print shirts, skirts, and jackets that made '90s fashion history, blending sultry sophistication with '90s cool-girl energy. Her fitted leopard print slip dress became one of her more daring fashion statements and is still referenced in Y2K fashion revivals today.

• Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City (1998–2004): Turned Manhattan sidewalks into her personal runway in leopard print coats, giraffe print dresses, cheetah heels, and snakeskin boots- proving that animal print was the ultimate accessory for fearless fashion and fabulous storytelling.

Sarah Jessica Parker in a Giraffe print dress

• Kim Cattrall as Samantha in Jones Sex and the City (1998–2004): Wore leopard print like a power suit- sensual, fearless, and fabulous.

• Edie Falco as Carmela Soprano in The Sopranos (1999–2007): Animal print coats that exuded power and suburban wealth.

• Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater in Ugly Betty (2006–2010): Commanded the fashion world with sleek leopard print pencil skirts, coats, and luxe accessories- always fierce, always in charge.

• Tracee Ellis Ross as Rainbow Johnson in Black-ish (2014–2022): Balanced mom-next-door warmth with chic, modern animal print pieces that made everyday fashion feel fresh and fierce.

• Taraji P. Henson as Cookie Lyon in Empire (2015–2020): Embodied high-drama fashion with tiger, snake, and leopard print looks.

Taraji P. Henson in a Leopard print dress, Zebra print dress, and an Ocelot print dress

• Catherine O’Hara as Moira Rose in Schitt’s Creek (2015–2020): Avant-garde animal print pieces with theatrical flair that made every entrance unforgettable.

• Jennifer Coolidge as Tanya McQuoid in The White Lotus (2021-Present): Staggered into luxury and existential crisis wrapped in a clinging leopard print dress- channeling fragile glam and proving that animal print can still slay even when you're spiraling.

Jennifer Coolidge in a Jaguar print top

And if you can't get enough of fashion throughout the history of film and television (or you just can't get enough of my writing...wink...wink) then check out my blog on the most stylish bathrobes and luxury robes throughout tv and film.  

Animal print dresses, bodysuits, and boots have become must-have wardrobe staples thanks to their iconic screen moments. When Fran Fine strutted in an animal print blazer and matching skirt, or Lady Gaga dripped in head-to-toe snakeskin and leopard print shoes in House of Gucci, it reminded the world how bold and expressive these prints can be. From animal print tops worn by sitcom icons to animal print jeans paired with heels in street-style scenes, these wardrobe choices influenced millions. And it’s not just the clothes- animal print nails have shown up in fashion-forward films and music videos, adding flair down to the fingertips. Think animal print leggings in 90s sitcoms, cheetah animal print cardigans layered over camisoles, or dramatic animal print blouses cinched with belts on red carpets, making Y2K fashion live on forever. 

In essence, animal print clothes serve as a visual shorthand for confidence and allure. Whether it’s a leopard print skirt in a power scene or animal print sandals worn poolside in a coming-of-age montage, these looks linger in pop culture memory because they help define the character wearing them. This enduring visual legacy has kept everything from animal print pants to animal print cardigans rotating through closets for generations.

Animal print continues to captivate audiences because it walks the line between wild and refined. It can scream glamour, danger, rebellion, sensuality, or power- sometimes all at once. Whether worn by a mob wife, a fashion heiress, a punk rock queen, or a sitcom icon, animal print is timeless, versatile, and unforgettable.

While they’re often used interchangeably, leopard print and cheetah print are distinct- and each has its own cinematic personality. 

Leopard print features rosette-like clusters, spaced out and dramatic, making it the go-to for bold glamour and high fashion moments. You’ll see leopard print coats and dresses on screen when a character needs to exude confidence, sensuality, or status.

Cheetah print, on the other hand, is made up of smaller, evenly spaced black dots on a warm tan background. It’s subtler and often used in more casual, youthful looks or street-style inspired outfits in modern film and TV.

Now, not to completely confuse you, but there are a couple more animal prints that people often get confused. They are Jaguar print and Ocelot print.

Jaguar print is the bolder, more dramatic cousin in the animal print family. While it’s often mistaken for leopard, jaguar spots are larger and more complex-featuring dark rosettes with a distinctive dot in the center, almost like tiny inkblots on a golden or orangey backdrop. The effect is fierce, powerful, and a little untamed- perfect for those moments when you want to channel strength with style. If leopard is seductive and cheetah is sleek, jaguar is unapologetically wild. It’s the pattern of choice for commanding attention, making an entrance, and owning every room you walk into.

Ocelot print features elongated, stretched-out oval or flame-shaped markings that are often closer together and more fluid in appearance. It has a more exotic, mysterious edge- think jungle-luxe sophistication with a vintage twist. Knowing the difference lets you choose a print that speaks to your personal style- whether it’s bold elegance, casual cool, or untamed allure.

Leopard, Cheetah, and Jaguar animal print

Whether you're rocking a cheetah print bodysuit, leopard print leggings, an ocelot print coat, or a jaguar blouse, each pattern tells a different style story.

Ocelot animal print

Bringing the drama and elegance of an old Hollywood wardrobe into your everyday life is easier than you think. Start with a signature piece- a fitted animal print dress, a pair of statement animal print boots, or even an animal print cardigan you can throw over your basics. The secret is to balance the bold with the classic, just like the stars of the past. Want to channel true old Hollywood glamour? Pair a leopard print coat with a simple black gown and red lipstick. Wondering what kind of woman wears leopard print? The kind who isn’t afraid to be seen.

Looking to modernize it? Try an animal print blouse tucked into animal print jeans, or mix a cheetah animal print bodysuit with leather trousers. Don’t forget the details- animal print nails, animal print sandals, or a silky animal print top can tie the whole look together. 

And if you’re wondering:

The answer is almost anything: black, white, red, camel, even hot pink or turquoise if you're feeling bold. The key is confidence. No matter your style, animal print clothes are a forever statement. Make them your own, remix them your way, and carry the legacy forward-fiercely.

Every woman who wore animal print on screen- whether she was a mob wife in stilettos or a sitcom queen in a bodycon dress- wasn’t just getting dressed. She was stepping into a role. So why not write your own? Wearing animal print isn’t about chasing trends- it’s about choosing power. It’s a visual declaration that you're here to be seen, heard, and remembered.

Channel your favorite screen sirens with a sultry animal print blouse tucked into high-waisted silk trousers. Toss a leopard coat over your shoulders like you’re stepping onto a soundstage. Pair snakeskin heels with your coffee run or cheetah print leggings with an oversized blazer for a casual-yet-commanding vibe. You don’t need permission to be the main character- you just need the look that makes you feel like one.

It’s your story. Own it in animal print.

Marlene Dietrich in a Cheetah print gown with matching heels

Final Roar: The Timeless Appeal of Animal Print on Screen From vintage bombshells to modern muses, animal print has cemented its place in the pop culture hall of fame. It’s not just about the clothes- it’s about the message. Every leopard coat, cheetah bodysuit, or snakeskin heel tells a story. So next time you slip on your favorite print, know you’re channeling decades of fierce cinematic legacy. Stay wild.