It's True—Leopard-Print Sneakers Will Be a Huge 2025 Trend

published 7 November 2024

It might be the season of boots, but this year has absolutely belonged to sneakers. Of course, sneakers have always been around, but never before have they been so in demand or coveted in fashion circles as they have in 2024. From Adidas Sambas to Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66s, some pairs have been harder to get your hands on than The Row's Margaux bag at times, which is one of the most sought-after items of the past 12 months in its own right. If my 14 years in the industry have taught me anything, it's that brands will keep serving us tempting sneaker iterations into 2025 as long as we keep shopping them.

It might still be a couple of months away, but I can already guess what the biggest sneaker trend of 2025 will be. It combines the style set's love of sneaks and one of the most noteworthy looks of the last few months. Suddenly, wherever I look, I'm seeing leopard-print sneakers.

Influencer @maggie_mccormack wears a pair of leopard print trainers with blue jeans and a black leather jacket while drinking coffee on steps.

My initial interest in leopard-print sneakers piqued at the beginning of the year when Adidas and cool British fashion brand Wales Bonner unveiled their latest collaboration, in which they included a pair of textured leopard-print sneakers. The pair sold out at record speed, and those lucky enough to get their hands on a set proudly showed off their new wares on social media. It wasn't long, however, before summer kicked in, and sandals became the priority in place of closed-toe shoes.

Influencer @sofiamcoelho wears a pair of leopard print trainers with denim shorts, a denim jacket, and red accessories while standing on the pavement.

It wasn't until the colder months began to roll around that fashion people started dusting off their Adidas x Wales Bonner kicks again. At the same time, the appetite for leopard print was insatiable, too, having dominated the fall/winter 2024 runway collections, which were now landing in stores. Looking back, the takeover of leopard-print sneakers was inevitable, but it's only now—witnessing the sheer volume of them on the market—that I see just how huge this trend is.

A woman wears a gray blazer, white maxi skirt, and leopard-print sneakers while standing in front of a red building.

Now, they're cropping up everywhere from Zara to Golden Goose and even Chloé as well as my FYP, and it seems that stylish types are opting for leopard-print sneakers when they're not wearing boots. Thinking you may share the same inclination, I've rounded up the best leopard-print sneakers on the market right now, including any available pairs of the OG Adidas x Wales Bonner leopard sneakers I can find.

SHOP LEOPARD-PRINT SNEAKERS

ZARA

Animal Print Heel Running Shoes

The flash of leopard breaks up the neutral colorway.

Sézane

Maël Trainers

French brand Sézane has also jumped on the leopard-print sneaker trend.

CHLOÉ

Nama Leopard Print Sneakers

An icon.

Massimo Dutti

Animal Print Sneakers

These look way more expensive than they are.

adidas x Wales Bonner

Samba Sneakers

You'll be hard-pressed to find these in stock.

Nike

Waffle Debut Sneakers

Leopard-print kicks can be sporty too!

Dolce Vita

Notice Stitch Sneakers

Obsessed with these.

GOLDEN GOOSE

Superstar Distressed Leopard-Print Calf Hair Sneakers

Golden Goose sneakers come pre-scuffed for instant cool factor.

J.Crew

Field Sneakers in Calf Hair

Now, these are leopard-print sneakers!

Jeffrey Campbell

Avia Sneakers

These will enliven any jeans outfit.

Matisse

Quincy Sneakers

Another affordable pair that looks much more premium.

Vince

Oasis Sneakers

These really give off a retro vibe.

This post originally appeared on Who What Wear UK.

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Maxine Eggenberger is Who What Wear UK’s deputy editor and has over thirteen years of experience in fashion journalism. She been creating engaging and elevated style content specifically for Who What Wear UK since 2018, covering runway reports, emerging trends, long-form features, self-styled shopping stories and columns, including her edit of the best new-in buys. She ensures the highest editorial standards are met across the site, leads the editorial team in their SEO strategy and keyword planning, works closely with the beauty team on content initiatives, represents the brand at industry events, and regularly contributes to social media, including her own Who What Wear UK TikTok franchise, French Style Fridays. Previously, Maxine appeared on ITV's This Morning in her own fashion segment and has interviewed countless celebrities—everyone from Victoria Beckham to Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o.

Prior to Who What Wear UK, Maxine’s career began when, after completing her first-ever internship at Look magazine, she was offered a position on the brand's fashion desk. She accepted, leaving university a year early in the process. Her passion and natural talent for writing and styling meant she swiftly rose through the ranks to become the title's fashion news and commercial content editor, with a stint as InStyle.co.uk’s fashion and beauty writer along the way. She later served as Look’s acting Editor in Chief, overseeing both print and digital, before embarking on a successful freelance career, working with Grazia, The Pool, and Marie Claire amongst others.

Maxine is based remotely from her countryside home near Edinburgh where she spends her downtime renovating her house, walking her dogs, hosting friends and trying to master the art of making Old Fashioned cocktails.