15 leopard print bottoms to shop for the belladonna 'mob wife' look

WORDS Karen Leong PHOTOGRAPHY via Instagra PUBLISHED Wed, 10 Apr 2024 - 10:10 am

Let's face it: there's nothing quite like leopard print for teasing out your very own inner minx. Originating in the 70s as a cult signifier of youth and power, the cult of leopard print has stuck around – and we think it's for good.

The iconic blend of animal print and brownish-gold oozes royalty and sultriness without compromising any avant-garde elements that comprise any good signature design. Leopard print has stuck around for a multitude of reasons, and all of them have steered us towards the sensually femme.

I first fell in love with animal print at 17, when I unearthed a ratty faux-fur cheetah shrug from a flea market in Mong Kok, Hong Kong. The shrug became a second skin. It travelled with me to rooftop parties, weddings, and anything in between whenever I sought clearance from the wide-eyed-girl-isms I was desperate to shed. It was a piece that was so gauche that it became so right: after abandoning my animal print post for the years leading up to 2019, I've returned as a devotee.

Its relevance today is supported by Dior Fall Winter 2024 and the internet's obsession with the 'mob wife' aesthetic, which has been dominating our fashion feeds. Leopard print, oxblood lips, a trusty fitted pair of denims and a carafe of red wine all summon images of the sartorial mob wife. In the fashion stratosphere we've blipped over minimalism and come right back to faux-tacky. Think: Michelle Visage, Sofia Vergara and Monica Belluci if you're scouting some RUSSH-approved inspo.

As we enter our periodic, yet necessary, culls of our wardrobe, leopard print bottoms are a staple that have been a mainstay. We know the significance of a punchy pant. We also know how necessary a good basic is to come by these days. While the weather continues to drop in tandem with our own hemlines, we've pieced together an edit of leopard and denim bottoms for every occasion.