Leopard print blew up bigger than any other trend last year (hell, we even did an entire cover dedicated to it). And, as predicted with the rise of one animal print, the rest of Noah’s Ark followed (please note no animals were hurt in the making of this article, nor the making of our wardrobes).

Snake print replaced leopard print, then zebra print replaced snake, and, finally, cow print took over at the beginning of this year as the animal print du jour. 

But, while we have dipped our toes into all print pools, and firmly embraced the inevitable confidence boost that wearing a head-to-toe animal print will bring, leopard will forever remain our one true love. 

It all began with the Realisation Par leopard print midi skirt ‘The Naomi’ last year, a skirt so beloved by industry insiders and influencers that it was harder to get your hands on than Glastonbury tickets. 

Lucky for us, though, the high street caught on fast that every woman nailing summer style had one common denominator: a leopard print midi slip skirt.

And, as ever, they decided to give us a helping hand. 

If you were the 2% of the population that didn’t buy into this trend (see tweet below for confirmation), let us explain why you need one. 

1. The neutrality of leopard print means it’s actually surprisingly easy to wear. The muted tones of browns and blacks will fit right into your wardrobe and work well with classic and contemporary pieces. 

2. The leopard print midi works for every occasion. Keep it casual with a tucked in white tee, a leather jacket and trainers (or stomper boots for the fashion forward). Keep it light for workwear by pairing it with a knotted silk blouse and barely-there sandals. 

Last minute party? Easy, throw it on with a puff-sleeve top that comes up slightly cropped, and finish with backless mules or a beaten-in cowboy boot. (For those needing a hangover brunch look: just add a hoody and slides). 

3. You will come back to this skirt time and time again. The bias-cut shape is universally flattering (every single person in my entire friendship group, which ranges from an extra-small to and extra-large, owns one) and leopard print makes you feel ‘done’ in one fail-safe swoop. 

Convinced? Then shop our edit of the best leopard print midi skirts now. 

Images: Getty / Instagram