Animal print is having another moment. For Fall 2026, leopard is back in full force, joined by zebra, snake, tiger, and, unexpectedly, the softer spotted coat of the fawn. Bambi print has even emerged as one of the season’s more unexpected fashion obsessions.
But before we start putting deer spots on everything, it’s worth remembering that Arab women have never exactly been afraid of a little animal print.
Long before it became a “trend” to style leopard as a neutral, actresses and style icons were already wearing it with the kind of commitment that made the print feel less like a seasonal statement and more like a personality trait.
Laila Eloui
There’s something wonderfully unapologetic about Laila Eloui’s take on leopard print. In this look, she goes all in with a fitted, short-sleeved leopard-print dress, letting the pattern cover practically every inch of the silhouette.
The styling keeps it distinctly of its time, too: layered gold necklaces, a cinched waist and softly blown-out hair that gives the whole look that glamorous, slightly over-the-top energy of the era.
And honestly? That’s the appeal. There’s no attempt to make the leopard subtle. It’s leopard, and it knows it’s leopard.
Donia Samir Ghanem
Then there’s Donia Samir Ghanem, giving us a completely different take on the same instinct.
Her leopard-print look is layered with a black corset-like piece, creating a little contrast against the busy print underneath. The result feels playful but polished, with the leopard doing most of the talking while the darker layers break it up.
It’s a reminder that animal print doesn’t necessarily need to mean going full jungle. Sometimes, one strong printed piece and a little black is enough to make the whole look work.
Haifa Wehbe
Haifa Wehbe has never been one to shy away from a bold print, and this look is a perfect example. She wears a fitted, floor-length dress with a mix of leopard-like patterns in warm brown and beige, sheer panels, and cascading ruffles that add plenty of movement to the skirt. A statement pendant necklace and her signature voluminous dark hair complete the look. It’s the kind of unapologetically glamorous animal-print moment that feels right at home in the early-2000s fashion era.
Najwa Karam
Before we go full Bambi this fall, let’s take a little trip back to the women who already knew how to make animal print feel glamorous. In this look, Najwa Karam goes all in on zebra, wearing a black-and-white striped dress with a fitted bodice, halter neckline and flowing skirt. The bold print, dramatic hair and defined makeup give the whole look that unapologetically glamorous energy of the era. And honestly, the giant glittering sphere beside her only makes the maximalism better. She wasn’t treating animal print like a tiny accent—she was letting the stripes be the whole moment.
Elissa
Elissa’s early-2000s tiger-print look is a perfect example of how boldly animal print was worn back then. And it’s an iconic outfit as she wore it for her performance in 2002 in Dubai in front of then US President Bill Clinton. The fitted skirt features those distinctive black-and-tan tiger stripes, while the matching cropped top adds sheer panels, fringe and lace-up detailing for extra texture. The low-rise silhouette and exposed midriff give the outfit that unmistakable Y2K feel, while statement earrings, smoky eyes and tousled hair complete the sultry, stage-ready look. It’s a little wild, a little glamorous, and very much of its time—in the best way.
And perhaps that’s why animal print keeps coming back. Fashion can rename it, remix it and give it a new animal every few years, but the basic appeal remains the same: it makes an outfit feel instantly more alive.
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