A statement coat is the key to looking chic during the colder months, as Maya Hawke recently demonstrated while promoting the latest season of Stranger Things in New York City. The actress turned heads in a floor-sweeping leopard print coat, proving that the fashion world’s obsession with animal print is coming with us into 2026. Hawke paired her bold outerwear with simple, classic pieces, including a cranberry red sweater, a knee-length white skirt, and black pointed-toe heels. Her daring-yet-polished look is proof that a leopard print coat can be surprisingly easy to style—as long as you let it be the star of the show and stick to understated staples for the rest of your outfit.
In fact, the instantly-recognizable print is often considered a neutral by fashion people for its deceptive wearability. Jennifer Lawrence is a prime example of how to dress down a long leopard print coat, stepping out earlier this year in a fuzzy style worn over a navy long-sleeve tee, jeans, and Chelsea boots. She completed her cozy-cute winter look with a beanie and a slouchy black tote bag. She also wore a different leopard print coat this fall with pleated black trousers, clogs, and a bright red scarf. (Notice how red is a tried-and-true color pairing with the print—you don’t have to limit yourself to blacks, browns, and grays.)  

The magic of a leopard print coat is that it becomes your outfit, so you don’t have to stress over what to wear underneath it. In other words, it’s the missing piece from your winter wardrobe that makes dressing for the cold way easier. Below, shop leopard print outerwear that will help you channel main character energy in 2026.