The Right Stripes
Am I talking about animal print again? Oops.
I’m not suggesting, for one second, that leopard print, my beloved pattern, is on the way out. Let’s make that clear.
The same applies to snake, cow, and even Bambi prints. The full jungle will always have a place in my wardrobe, that’s for sure. And, luckily for me, the 2026 catwalks were literally extolling the virtues of all those prints, and the high street has taken note.
But among all the animal motifs, striped graphic styles like zebra and tiger are attracting more attention.
And I’m here for it, the same animal energy, but just that sharper.
I’ve been a zebra devotee for a while now; the monochromatic nature of it makes it easy to incorporate into any wardrobe, and the stark stripes add a cool factor.
It works best when treated like a stripe. Ok, a little more graphic and less classic, but who wants to look too safe when wearing animal print?
Zebra is perfect for anyone who leans minimalist and may be an animal-print phobe. It’s an entry point to animal print and once you start, you might just get hooked.
The key to incorporating the print into your wardrobe when you want to go subtle is to keep the rest of your outfit pared back - think black tailoring, neutral knits, or denim.
A zebra coat over a winter white dress, a structured longline coat with leather, or an accessory mixed in with other neutrals like cream or grey.
But if you’re feeling a little more adventurous with your zebra print, the monochrome palette and stripes make it a fresh canvas for adding interesting textures and colours.
Any colour will work, but you could try blush pink, red, or buttermilk yellow.
Or even chocolate. Obsessed with this look below and the mix of suede, zebra, and bitter shade.
Then there’s tiger - the slightly wilder sister of leopard. If your wardrobe already has plenty of leopard, then tiger stripes will slot in seamlessly. Ideal.
Its warmer tones work well in outerwear, accessories, and dresses.
And, again, like a zebra print, it adores colour and colour pairings. You can do more splashes or hints to keep it chic. I love the olive green or zesty yellow combo with the camel and black stripe.
The ultimate cool-girl brand, Khaite, has sprinkled striped animal prints throughout its Resort 2026 collection - and if they’re doing it, it’s gonna be everywhere. In typical Khaite fashion, it’s restrained rather than literal and I love how they’ve teamed it denim, florals, silks, and then just added a pop.
Want to pack a little more personality into your look for 2026? Then add a little zebra or tiger to your look, and I’ve rounded up my favourite pieces below!
So glad that zebra is making its way in this year!