Eva Mendes's Daring Fall Dress Made Me Do a 180

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It's not for the faint of heart.

You know how you sometimes write off something when you’re younger—or, in my case, a few weeks ago—but then you try, see, or hear said thing once more, and your mind totally changes. That just happened to me when I saw Eva Mendes’s latest outfit, which featured the daring, bold, wild (insert extreme adjective) fall 2024 trend that’s blowing up right now. I didn’t think I would want to wear it, but now, my mind has done a complete 180, and I guess that’s just the way of life.

Mendes was snapped out and about in New York City, and frankly, she was hard to miss in her in-your-face ensemble that’s not for the faint of heart. The star of the show (err, outfit) was her full-length leopard-print dress with a ruffled upper and asymmetrical hem. The sultry number proved that leopard print, which is basically a neutral now, is showing zero signs of fading. It also proved that I was wrong in being so quick to write off the pattern.

I’m a neutral girl though and through, with a penchant for all-things black and white, but I think it’s time I step on the wild side, literally, and invest in leopard-print pieces for the season ahead. After all, some of my favorite A-listers, like Katie Holmes and Hailey Bieber, have also taken the pattern out for a spin—the former in the form of a button-down and the latter with a cute accessory—showing the various ways to incorporate said print into your wardrobe. There are subtle ways, and there are bold ways, and as is the case with most fashion trends, you can pick your level of daring. Mendes’s take was, however, pretty darn daring.

Afrm Shailene Turtleneck Long-Sleeve Lace Dress

$118 at Nordstrom

Farm Rio Animal Print Long-Sleeve Dress

$230 at Nordstrom

The actress paired her leopard-print maxi with a cobalt-blue maxi coat that she slung over her shoulders for a nonchalant look—and probably because it was slightly too warm to fully wear the topper. The contrasting hue looked so good with the pattern, I’m now also convinced to invest in a blue jacket for the season ahead. Last but certainly not least, Mendes slipped into a pair of black, skin-tight, knee-high booties that had a subtle dominatrix-vibe to them, like the style Amal Clooney has worn, too. Talk about a daring look when paired with that leopard-print dress.

Regardless of your feelings about the wild pattern, I’m here to say that it’s worth a try. If I, a print-adverse person, is willing to incorporate said piece into my wardrobe, I think you should, too, especially in dress form because, well, just look at Mendes. Below, shop leopard-print dress inspired by the actress’s out-there look.

Get the Look:

Reformation Emerick Dress
Shop now: $198; thereformation.com

Meshki Chiffon Cowl Maxi Dress
Shop now: $145; meshki.us

Quince 100% Washable Silk Slip Dress
Shop now: $80; quince.com

Conditions Apply Elva Slip Midi Dress
Shop now: $128; anthropologie.com

Veronica Beard Kura Leopard-Print Column Dress
Shop now: $209 (Originally $698); veronicabeard.com

Mango Leopard Print One-Shoulder Dress
Shop now: $100; nordstrom.com

Reformation Felda Dress
Shop now: $278; thereformation.com

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