Ask Any Fashion Person—Leopard-Print Heels Are the Shoe of Autumn 2024

As a fashion editor, you won’t be surprised to hear that the bi-annual Fashion months are my favourite times of the year. With weeks of fashion inspiration on tap, it’s a pleasure to see my own city light up with excitement, but even more affirming to see the event manifest itself differently in each fashion capital.

Ever energised by the fizz of fashion month, I can’t help but dive into street style and runway shots the moment I get a chance. And, having already sorted through countless images from this month’s events, I noticed a specific shoe trend permeating fashion circles across the world. A fresh find for autumn 2024, the leopard-print heel was the shoe of choice for showgoers in New York, London, Milan and Copenhagen this September, and at this rate, I think we can expect to see it all over Paris too.

In stark contrast to the black Mary Janes and ballet flats that have dominated street style scenes since last September, this season’s It shoe explores a flirtier side of fashion, almost always featuring a sleek, skinny heel and of course, the bold print. Fashion people will know that the A/W 24 runways were rife with the feline print, and with brands backing the motif in a big way, it makes sense that those most in tune with the latest trends have rushed to add leopard-print heels to their looks this season.

Of all the leopard-print heels trotting down streets right now, it’s slingback styles that are really taking off; Who What Wear UK deputy editor Maxine Eggenberger wore a sleek kitten-heel pair with a suede trench coat and a crisp white button-down for a day of shows at LFW last weekend.

Also Cropping up in Copenhagen, New York and Milan, the animal-print shoe has crept into cities with decidedly different styles, transcending fashion parameters and proving the trend has universal appeal. This being said, it won’t shock you to learn that the high street has already taken to the new-season print in a big way. Stocking kitten-heel slingbacks and elegant court-shoe options, brands such as Zara and H&M have compelling iterations, but I can’t stop thinking about Mint Velvet’s kitten-heel pair—the very pair Maxine wore, pictured above.

Leopard print is often described by fashion people as a neutral, owing to its hugely versatile colour palette, so you’ll probably find leopard-print pieces easier to style than you may have initially thought. As fashion crowds have demonstrated, a leopard heel pairs well with cream, white or beige trousers, but I know for a fact that it also looks very chic with baggy jeans and pencil skirts.

To shop the trend with unanimous fashion-person approval, read on to discover our edit of the best leopard-print heels.