There’s a type of look that, once seen in a photograph, immediately reveals the time period during which it was popular. Bold red combined with a leopard print will probably be that one unmistakable sign of the decade. It started with burgundy leather goods making a shy comeback after the lockdown, before the red ballerina flats came in loud and unapologetic. Then animal prints were on the rise after seemingly being forgotten for a while.
Something about the bright red unleashes the power of the leopard and it has us in a chokehold. With refreshingly versatile pairings, red goes from footwear all the way up to bags and caps. Leopard prints expand beyond the usual garments and appear on unique shoes and accessories. The red-leo combo got it covered from head to toe, proving itself resilient throughout 2024 and it surely isn’t going anywhere in 2025.
The micro trend perhaps reached its peak during the pandemic year. Ironically, it familiarized us with the images of sweatshops, landfills and the 92 million tons of textile waste that end up there each year. Worthy of mentioning, 11.3 million tons are estimated to come from the US alone. The good news is that young individuals are taking notice. The online discourse about fast fashion is taking less serious, and more comprehensible forms, making it more prevalent. The “micro trend final boss” meme and clowning the habit of overconsumption are all signs we’re going in the right direction.
Mostly worn by Gen-Z, this particular look sparks conversations about the short life span of the trend cycle. The continuous overturn of clothes, in complete disregard to the fact that these garments are technically imperishable, heavily burdens the planet with waste. Generally, there’s a sense of agreement that the cycle needs to slow down. Instead of switching to a new “core” every few months, many attempts are being made to stick to our guns this season. Whether through upcycling or coming up with new ways to style the same garments, or even just wearing them over and over again (as we were originally supposed to.) Do not give up your reds and leopards just yet.
by Ella 