How to Wear Leopard Print Shoes

If you’re looking for an easy way to spice up any ensemble, animal print shoes is the way to go. And while snake, cow, giraffe, tiger, cheetah, and zebra print all hold a special place in the world of fashion, leopard is at the forefront. Leopard print has been a fashion staple for decades, and it may never go out of style. If you’ve ever wondered how to wear leopard booties, you’ve come to the right place.

With that said, leopard footwear is one of our favorite ways to implement this fierce yet sophisticated style into an outfit. If you’re on board with this animal print fashion trend but aren’t sure how to wear leopard print shoes, the footwear fanatics at Vionic are here to help. Keep reading for guidance on styling different types of leopard footwear, including ballet flats, heels, ankle boots, and sneakers.

 

How to Style Leopard Print Shoes

Successfully pulling off animal prints can be tricky, but you might be surprised how effortless it can be with footwear. A leopard shoe can instantly make an outfit look pulled together while adding an energizing aesthetic. Plus, the timeless—but never outdated—look is flattering on women of every age and body type.

Are you ready to take a walk on the wild side? Here’s what you should know about how to style leopard print shoes.

Your Footwear Is the Focal Point

With many ensembles, the shoes tie a look together by complementing the other pieces—and yet with animal print footwear, it’s the opposite. Leopard print shoes are fundamentally fabulous. That’s why we often recommend that they be the focal point of an outfit.

This doesn’t mean you have to wear completely plain clothes with leopard shoes, but we do recommend that the shoes be the only statement piece. Outside of accessories, multiple statement pieces can make an outfit look busy. Whether you’re sporting jeans, a skirt, a dress, shorts, or a jumpsuit, try to stick with relatively basic styles when wearing leopard print shoes. The same rule of thumb rings true for really any animal print footwear such as cheetah print shoes. And don’t worry—your leopard shoe footwear will have plenty of personality to carry the entire ensemble.

Colors to Wear with Leopard Print Shoes

When it comes to fashion, the long-standing advice has been to avoid wearing black and brown together. But since leopard print features both brown and black, you’re free to wear either—or both! Having said that, these are the best colors to wear with leopard shoes.

Black

Black clothing is a leopard print shoe’s best friend. While you can wear a couple of black pieces with other neutral tones, we love the look of an all-black ensemble. This type of outfit is slimming, elegant, and always in vogue.

You can wear a black dress or jumpsuit to a formal event. For casual occasions, you might want to throw on black skinny jeans and a black knit top or black leggings with a long black tunic. A leopard sneaker will add a perfect dash of character.

Warm Tan

Warm tan is technically a medium shade of brown—some might call it camel, caramel, or dark khaki. In any case, it’s the toasty golden-brown hue seen in leopard print. A solid tan dress, pleated trousers, jacket, or shirt are excellent picks to wear with leopard shoes. Warm tan is a common shade for leather goods, like belts, watches, and handbags. Another option is to accent your ensemble with golden-brown leather pieces. Spice up the outfit with a pair of leopard pumps to tie it all together.

Light Neutrals

Light neutral colors are also known to complement leopard. We’re talking taupe, beige, blush pink, off-white, cream, white, pale gray, and pewter. These colors can be worn on their own or with black, brown, or tan pieces.

Deep Neutrals

Aside from brown and tan, there are a number of other earth tones that go with leopard. This includes auburn, rust, burgundy, maroon, olive, and forest green. These deep neutrals are subtle but not boring, which makes them a great alternative (or supplement) to brown and black.

One thing to keep in mind when asking how to wear leopard print shoes is that while blue is often considered a neutral color, it’s not the best hue to wear with leopard. The exception to this rule is denim, which is neutral in and of itself. So, feel free to wear jeans or a denim jacket with leopard print shoes.

Bold Hues

Although you want to be careful about wearing too many bold colors and prints in one outfit, some brighter hues can work. Red, pink, and yellow are eye-catching colors, but they usually don’t clash with leopard.

For instance, a cherry-red dress with leopard print shoes is a striking evening look that won’t be too over the top. A vibrant pink crop top, tank, or blouse can be worn with black pants or jeans and leopard footwear. The same goes for canary or marigold yellow. And of course, you can always accessorize with brighter shades.

Ultimately, it’s OK to add a splash of color to an outfit with leopard shoes. As long as these bold hues aren’t printed or worn with other flashy pieces, your outfit shouldn’t look too over-the-top. Sometimes with these bold colors, it can be beneficial to select a more casual shoe so a leopard sneaker might be the way to go.

 

How to Wear Leopard Flats

Leopard flats might be the most versatile type of leopard shoes. This includes ballet flats, loafers, mules, and pointed-toe flats, all of which can be dressed up or down and worn on a broad range of occasions.

For a casual, polished vibe, opt for a pair of dark blue or black jeans with leopard ballet flats. Wear a simple black or white knit shirt on top. Finish the look with a leather jacket, some simple gold jewelry, and a leather cross-body bag.

If you’re dressing for a job interview, business meeting, or another professional occasion, go for a pair of leopard print loafers with black or tan pleated trousers. Wear a blouse or fitted knit shirt in a neutral color, and round off the outfit with a blazer or trench coat, depending on the season.

How to Wear Leopard Kitten Heels

Leopard kitten heels are elegant, flirty, and glamorous with the perfect amount of height. At Vionic, we love kitten heels because they can be worn to the office, weddings, job interviews, dates, happy hour—you name it. Also, they go with several styles of pants, skirts, and dresses.

One of our favorite looks that works great if you’re looking for comfortable work outfits is leopard print heels, slim-fit, slightly cropped black pants, and a stark white blouse. You don’t need much else to finish this striking ensemble, except maybe outerwear and a bold lipstick color.

For a more feminine outfit, consider a maroon or burgundy midi dress. Both tailored and flowy fits will work. If it’s cold outside, you might want to wear nude or black tights and some time of overcoat. If not, just slip into a pair of leopard kitten heels, put on a couple pieces of jewelry, grab a sleek handbag, and you’re good to go.

How to Wear Leopard Booties

If you’re wondering how to wear leopard booties for women, styling them is much easier than you may think. Outfits with leopard booties are a great way to make a statement without being over the top. Start with your favorite pair of skinny jeans—black, deep indigo, white, or even an earthy tone will work. For a subtle accent, wear a tan or black leather belt. On top, wear a plain cropped tee or simple tank in white, black, or nude. Then throw on a long cardigan in a neutral shade. Finish the look with a pendant necklace and a slouchy handbag.

How to Wear Leopard Sneakers

Sneakers are inherently casual, but when you upgrade them with a leopard print, they become snazzy and posh. Leopard sneakers can be worn with just about any casual apparel. This includes jeans, shorts, jumpsuits, rompers, leggings, and even dresses.

The athleisure trend is one of our best-loved sporty chic styles, and a leopard print sneaker can really tie the look together. Start with a couple of activewear pieces, like running tights and a performance zip-up. Basic colors like black and white work best for this outfit idea, and they’re usually easiest to find in athletic styles. Both lace-leather and slip on sneakers are excellent choices. Complete the look with a denim or leather jacket and your favorite jewelry.

 

Leopard Print Shoes from Vionic

We believe leopard footwear has a place in every woman’s wardrobe. Now that you know how to wear leopard print shoes, you’re ready to leap into this animal print fashion trend. To get started, check out our list of the best leopard print shoes from Vionic.

We carry orthotic leopard ballet flats, mules, loafers, pointed-toe flats, kitten heels, ankle boots, and sneakers, all of which are wildly comfortable. But that’s not all—we also offer plush, supportive slippers in the leopard pattern and a whole slew of other animal print footwear.

Shop our leopard print shoes and see what fierce styles catch your eye.