The Tonight Show had a dress code on Monday night: wear black, bring glamour, and pick your fighter from the animal kingdom.
Becky G and Salma Hayek Pinault both stopped by Jimmy Fallon's late-night show on 14 September, and their respective black midi dresses were clearly ready for staying up past curfew. Becky G arrived wrapped in edgy glossy crocodile-effect leather, while Hayek let the jaguar out of the bag in a dark animal-print midi.
Consider this further evidence that animal kingdom patterns are reigning again. Leopard may have spent years guarding fashion's spotted throne, but crocodiles and jaguars now have a claim to the title too.
Becky G Chooses Crocodile
Becky G's take was the more overtly femme fatale of the two.
The 29-year-old singer stepped onto the Tonight Show stage in a fitted black leather midi dress by The Mannei, styled by Morgan Pinney. Its glossy crocodile-effect texture was the main event, while delicate spaghetti straps, a streamlined silhouette, and a hem falling below the calf kept the shape relatively simple.
Practically, why pile on embellishments when your entire dress already has scales?
She finished the monochrome look with black Christian Louboutin Miss Z 120 pumps, their pointed toes and towering heels extending the sleek line of the dress. Long glossy waves and defined neutral makeup completed the look without competing with all that reptilian texture.
Becky G had business beyond serving crocodile chic, of course. She joined Fallon to discuss her new album, BARAJA BENDITA, giving the late-night appearance a musical reason for existing beyond reminding everyone that an LBD can apparently bite. And hers certainly had teeth.
Salma Hayek Goes Hunting for Jaguar Print
Sitting on another branch of fashion's increasingly crowded family tree was Hayek.
The 60-year-old actress chose a long-sleeved black jaguar-print midi dress for her own Tonight Show appearance. Unlike the armour-like texture of Becky's look, Hayek's tonal pattern almost disappeared into the noir fabric until the studio lights caught it.
Call it stealth mode for animal print.
Hayek added more sparkle to her side of the jungle, accessorising with a Boucheron Serpent Bohème choker, coordinating diamond bracelets, small hoop earrings, and silver patent-leather platform sandals.
The jewellery introduced yet another creature into proceedings. From the crocodile and jaguar to Boucheron's famous serpent, Fallon's studio was rapidly approaching luxury zoo territory.
Hayek was there promoting Without Blood, the Angelina Jolie-directed drama in which she stars. The appearance came during a particularly fashionable New York run for the actress, who later attended the film's premiere in a vivid vermillion gown.
Apparently, the softer take on the formidable jaguar was only her daytime camouflage.
Animal Kingdom Patterns Are Reigning Again
Animal print has never exactly gone extinct, but fashion has been widening its wildlife preserve.
Leopard remains the perennial celebrity favourite, while snakeskin, zebra, cow print, and crocodile-effect finishes regularly cycle through wardrobes. Becky G and Hayek demonstrated two particularly easy ways to make the trend feel more like eveningwear: reduce the colour palette and let texture do the prowling.
Becky's glossy leather made crocodile embossing the centrepiece of an otherwise streamlined outfit. Hayek took the opposite route, allowing a tonal jaguar motif to emerge subtly from an almost entirely black dress.
Same kingdom. Different species. Essentially, the little black dress has gone midi and a little wild.
