THE FELINE IN FASHION

From taxidermied cat head hats of the 1800s to Jared Leto dressing up in a legitimate furry cat suit at the 2023 Met Gala, the fashionable cat motif has been with us for a long time. The most commonly seen examples of the feline in fashion come in the form of animal prints – think cheetah spots and tiger stripes – or cute little cat faces scattered about like polka dots, another popular fashion pattern.

Today, we’re going to explore a few of the formidable feline elements that have made their mark in the fashion realm.

Cat Head Hats

So, right off the bat, let’s start with one of the weirdest historical trends involving cats – kitten-head hats. Back in the 1880s, milliners, or hat-makers, decided it would be a good idea to use taxidermied kitten heads on fashionable women’s hats – talk about mad hatters, am I right? This morbid trend only occurred in Paris – one of the fashion capitals of the world – and never made it across the English Channel or the Atlantic, which may be why most haven’t heard of this slightly horrific accessory.

Image courtesy of Sarah Hartwell.

These wild hat-makers would also use squirrels, birds, and bird wings and tails in their creations, which is strange as well, but something about a tiny furry face poking out from a woman’s headgear is just a bit stomach-turning. However, the demand for kitten-head hats was so great, milliners even put ads in the newspapers asking for people’s kittens because the city had a surplus of felines roaming the neighborhoods and streets.

All in all, it’s a bizarre trend that didn’t have legs – literally, they didn’t use any of the legs – but it’s one of the earliest fashion statements made utilizing the cat itself, not just its likeness as we’ll see moving forward.

(Big) Cat Patterns

Far more palatable is the use of big cat patterns. Obviously, ancient cultures and royalty used the actual animal pelt and fur for clothing statements regarding status and achievements, but in modern times, big cat patterns have been slinking in and out of fashion for decades.

2022 may have been the year of the tiger, but animal patterns, specifically those of cheetahs and tigers, first really caught the public’s eye after Hollywood’s cinematic release of Tarzan the Apeman in 1932. Then after being used by some 1940s pin-up models, the animal motif took a cat nap until the 1970s and 1980s when big and bold looks came back into the spotlight, particularly leopard print. Right now, we even have a couple of big cat print items – a fun and flirty two-piece set and an airy long-sleeve dress. It’s time to channel your inner power and royal self with a touch of fashionable feline in your closet.

The Catsuit

Not the furry and literal Jared Leto catsuit, but something a bit more svelte. The ever-sexy catsuit has been a staple in media and cinema ever since Cat Woman debuted the skin-tight one-piece in the 1940s Batman comics – she is the item’s namesake too. Julie Newmar rocked the catsuit during her time on the 1960s series Batman, and since then, renditions of the character – from the animated Selena Kyle to Michelle Pfeiffer’s live-action take – have donned the garment.

Then, the catsuit morphed into a more mainstream, everyday piece for aerobics and dancing in the 1970s and ‘80s. Now, in the new millennium, celebrities like Beyonce, Kim Kardashian, Lady Gaga, and J-Lo rock catsuits on the regular, channeling their inner feminine feline.

Cat Ear Headbands & 2011/12

Cat ear headbands were once only used to dress up for Halloween, but since 2011/12, pop stars, fashion houses, and your everyday tween and teen have been popularizing the animal attribute for regular use. Ariana Grande repped perky ears on the red carpet, designers like Anna Sui and Givenchy gave their models ears for runway shows, and high schools were filled with faux furries wearing cutesy kitten-inspired headbands – a much more acceptable statement than kitten-head hats of centuries ago.

Image courtesy of PageSix.

Still a perfectly acceptable costume detail, the daily presence and sighting of cat ears has lessened in recent years, but to delve a bit deeper into the year of the cat, let us just share that just over a decade ago, just about everything fashion-related was also cat-related. High-heeled pumps looked like paws; the cat-eye eyeliner trend was at its revamped zenith; cats were knitted into sweaters; felines were magazine photoshoot props and amply used in fashion campaigns – needless to say, 2011/12 was the unofficial year of the cat.

Recent Fashion Cats

Just this year, some controversial cat – dare we say – faux paws occurred in the high fashion world. The Spring 2023 couture shows in Paris saw Schiaparelli’s faux animal fur outfits that included handmade snow leopard and other big cat heads – what is it with cat heads in fashion?? Other animals were featured, but we’ll digress here. Suffice it to say that animal rights orgs and individuals were at odds with the show’s message. Did it promote big game hunting, the beauty of nature, anti-trophy hunting, or being anti-rich? Schiaparelli claimed his inspo came from Dante’s Inferno and the vices, which is what we should go with, him being the designer and visionary, after all.

Then, a few months later, the 2023 Met Gala took center stage with the theme of “in honor of Karl” Lagerfeld, which had a sub-cat-centric theme in honor of Karl’s cat BFF, Choupette. Of course, there were many black and white Chanel-inspired looks, but show-stoppers included the now thrice-mentioned Jared Leto furry white catsuit and Doja Cat’s feline prosthetics and claws. Several other attendees referenced cats through purses and abstract concepts, making the event as much about Choupette as Karl.

Photo credit: JAMIE MCCARTHY//GETTY IMAGES

And for Summer 2023, animal prints, nature themes, and wildlife motifs are making impactful statements in boutiques, chain stores, and fashion magazines alike – so, from the 1880s to now, the cat has reigned king, using its nine lives to remain relevant and fashion-forward.

So, there you have it – a brief history of cats in fashion.

Keep the feline fashion feisty, friends.

Written by Alex Dailey
Edited by Alona Kelly