The Leopard Print and Bows are Too Much

…well, sort of. Animal print and hair bows are arguably timeless classics, with fur pelts being worn for centuries and a staple in ancient culture after culture, whilst bows have been a thing for as long as ribbons, I don't think we'll be entirely getting rid of either anytime soon. Don't get me wrong though, bow graphics and leopard print jeans are the epitome of tacky, I don't care how much your favourite celebrity loves them.

Maybe that was a little harsh, I'm sure everyone looks spectacular in the clothes they choose to wear. But bows belong in your hair. The accessory has had an exponential resurgence in the past few years, likely due to the 'coquette' (hyper feminine) aesthetic where everything is cute and dainty. As another contributing factor to the comeback, I would present to you Gracie Abrams. Whilst other artists have also laid claim to the bow, it's been the leading accessory at her concerts even before it properly took off again.

So hair bows are classic and never really left, but it's the bow print everything I have an issue with. It feels like the second anything with the graphic is released, people in their hundreds flock to the shops to get their hands on it, just for the sake of an emblem? It feels like every high street retailer has released some version of bow jeans, and a bow jumper, and a bow blanket, and a bow mug, and the list goes on. Capitalising on trends is of course key for stores to 'keep up with the times', but it's mind-bening how they put out all these new designs so quickly. Ultra fast fashion brands like Primark and PLT are obviously the worst offenders, but it's interesting to see how LoveShackFancy has strayed slightly away from the floral print to focus more on the bows. Another more expensive brand that has an interesting trend relationship is Ganni and leopard print.

The most iconic era of leopard print was certainly the 2000s, the way it's worn now just doesn't have the same authenticity to it, it feels forced rather than how it was so effortlessly intertwined with y2k fashion. Leopard print in 2024 feels the same as how we look back on cow print in 2020, it just doesn't work. I think this is due to what it's paired with. In 2024 the emphasis is on neutrals and basics, leopard print works well with the colourful chaos of 2000s fashion, not 2024 business casual. Drifting back to the Ganni website, the way the leopard print is styled, wholly supports this theory. It's paired with basics and neutrals, there's no personality and flair like there used to be, it's just not giving anything.

Largely, if not entirely, due to fast fashion companies and their miniature price tags, both bows and leopard print are hugely accessible for the majority of people. This massive influx of everyone wearing the same thing is the sole reason why a trend dies, everyone gets bored and moves onto the next thing. The transactions are so small that nobody pays them any thought, they just swipe and move on. When looking at these huge Shein hauls on Tiktok, it's interesting to note just how many of the pieces are bow print, or leopard print, or just generally awful.

One might hope that after this trend cycle, people develop some individuality and begin to think for themselves, but with the fast paced nature of social media it's almost inevitable that the second leopard print and bows begin to fade, something equally as awful will ultimately take their place.