There are people who consider black, beige and navy to be neutrals, and then there are those of us who know that leopard print performs precisely the same job while having considerably more fun.
Its spots work beautifully with black lingerie, brown accessories, red lipstick and almost every colour you might reasonably find in a vintage wardrobe. Leopard can be the main attraction or simply peep out beneath an otherwise restrained outfit, which is why it has remained such an enduring favourite rather than disappearing with any one particular fashion moment.
How Leopard Became a 1950s Favourite
Before printed versions became widely available, leopard was associated with real fur, wealth and exclusivity. That began to change during the middle of the twentieth century as designers and Hollywood helped turn the pattern into fashion rather than merely a display of status.
Christian Dior included leopard print in his first collection in 1947, inspired by his muse Mitzah Bricard, who was famously devoted to the motif. During the 1950s, glamorous women including Marilyn Monroe and Ava Gardner wore animal prints, helping the pattern move into swimsuits, dresses, coats, accessories and lingerie.
Leopard became a wonderfully contradictory print: luxurious but playful, sophisticated yet slightly rebellious. It could look every inch the polished Hollywood starlet or add a flash of naughtiness to a pin-up wardrobe, which rather explains why we still love it.
Our leopard lingerie is made in our family-owned factory in Nottingham, England, and includes three different ways to hold up your stockings. Although they coordinate beautifully, each one gives a different level of coverage and shaping.
The Leopard Suspender Belt
A suspender belt is the simplest and lightest of the three options. It sits at the waist, with straps extending down to clip onto your stockings, but it doesn’t cover or shape the hips and bottom.
This makes it a lovely choice if you want the traditional stocking look without the fuller coverage of a girdle. It works particularly well beneath dresses with flowing or full skirts, and its lighter construction can be more comfortable in warmer weather.
Our natural brown leopard print version brings rather more personality to proceedings than a plain everyday belt, while its black details make it easy to combine with black stockings and other pieces already lurking in your lingerie drawer.
Choose the suspender belt if: you want minimal coverage, no shaping and an easy introduction to wearing stockings.
The Leopard Roll-On
The roll-on sits neatly at the waist and extends over the hips and bottom, creating a smoother, more streamlined line beneath clothing. There is no front fastening, so it is pulled on in much the same way as a pair of firm-fitting knickers before the stockings are attached.
Its shorter cut makes it an excellent middle ground. You get more coverage and smoothing than you would from a suspender belt, without committing to the fuller construction of a traditional girdle.
The stretch fabric allows it to move with the body, while the suspender straps keep stockings securely in place. Small bow details add just enough sweetness to balance those decidedly untamed spots.
Choose the roll-on if: you want gentle smoothing, straightforward pull-on dressing and a neat 1950s silhouette.
The Leopard Vintage Girdle
For a more traditional pin-up shape, the vintage girdle offers additional coverage and structure through the hips and bottom. Unlike many old-fashioned girdles, which can require a small wrestling match before breakfast, ours has a hook-and-eye fastening at the front to make getting dressed rather easier.
Stretchy black powermesh panels provide comfortable support, while the lace insert softens the look and the attached suspender straps keep stockings where they should be. It delivers the shapely effect associated with mid-century foundation garments while remaining practical enough for modern wear.
Choose the vintage girdle if: you prefer fuller coverage, more structured support and the convenience of a front fastening.
Complete the Leopard Look
Whichever stocking style you choose, it can be paired with our natural leopard print bra. Lightly padded cone cups create a distinctively 1950s profile, while the stretch black powernet back adds flexibility and comfort.
The beige, brown and black colouring makes the bra particularly easy to mix with plain black lingerie. You can wear the complete matching set when you feel like embracing your inner starlet, or allow one spotted piece to do all the prowling.
A suspender belt, roll-on and vintage girdle may share the same purpose, but they feel quite different to wear. The best choice simply depends on whether you prefer minimal coverage, a little smoothing or the full vintage silhouette—and, of course, how much leopard you fancy letting loose.