Karoline Leavitt Ruined Her Animal Print Outfit With The Absolute Wrong Shoe Choice

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Karoline Leavitt has found herself in the media numerous times for various controversies as the first Gen-Z White House Press Secretary. And it looks like not even her wardrobe has not been safe from the criticism. Since 2024, Leavitt has worn multiple outfits that have been dubbed fashion fails, leaving many to wonder how someone that young has missed the memo on what looks good. However, as evidenced during an appearance at a CPAC event in February 2025, it's not that Leavitt struggles with picking good pieces, it's that she doesn't know how to style them. For this event, the rising political star wore a long leopard print dress — which would be considered fun and trendy — but opted for thigh-high, leather boots that completely ruined her outfit. 

Though black leather heels are usually a great choice with leopard print, in this case, they were a distraction. The boots were visually chunky compared to her sleeveless, flowy and mid-length dress, which created an imbalance that draws your attention toward and interrupted the silhouette. There was also a seasonal clash as the sleeveless dress appeared to be made of an airy, lightweight fabric that would be more appropriate for spring and summer, while her tall black boots seem better suited for fall and winter.

There are plenty of shoe options that can provide endless outfit versatility, but we have some suggestions on what could have worked better for Leavitt's leopard ensemble. Pointed-toe pumps in a camel or nude shade, such as The Calvin Klein Brady Pump, would have offered a sleeker silhouette and elongated her legs without competing with the dress' bold pattern. She also could have worn metallic gold heels, like QIY Ankle Strap Heels, for a touch of glamour, or tan or brown ankle boots, which would have provided a more casual look.

Though we could go on and on about some of Karoline Leavitt's many questionable style choices, we have decided to give credit where it is due. After sifting through her Instagram, we stumbled on a photo of Leavitt wearing a midi white and green zebra print dress by Bobbles & Lace while on a trip to West Palm Beach, Florida in March 2023. Whether you love or hate the dress, you have to admit, she did a much better job picking the right shoe for this look, as opposed to the aforementioned leopard print one.

The nude pointed-toe pumps did not compete with the vivid, attention-grabbing print, and instead offered a clean, streamlined look that allowed the dress to be the star of the show. The neutral shoes also made it so the loud print didn't seem so flashy. We have to admit, compared to 2025, Leavitt looks way more put together in this photo. When it comes to making better wardrobe choices, Press Secretary Leavitt may need to take a leaf out of non-Press Secretary Leavitt's book because a stylish professional woman is in there somewhere!