After leopard and fox, it was probably only a matter of time before the fashion world’s thoughts turned elsewhere in the animal kingdom. Indeed, the skin of this autumn/winter season has a distinctly more ... reptilian feel.

According to Colleen Sherin, senior fashion director at Saks Fifth Avenue, “From Gucci to Prada, snakeskin has been used in ready-to-wear, bags, accessories and outerwear – everywhere.” Scaly skins include python, alligator, crocodile and even starfish. There are black bodycon dresses appliquéd in purple snakeskin motifs at Versace; floor-sweeping patchwork python coats at Missoni; Prada’s brightly coloured python macs with fur lapels and trompe l’oeil python knee-high boots; and Gucci’s 1970s-inspired jewel-tone python tailored blazers and amber python jackets with orange fur trim collars. Hannah MacGibbon’s collection for Chloé is a tribute to exotic serpentine glamour with an explosion of snakeskin and snake print, from macs to crewnecks and day dresses.

Jeffrey Kalinsky, owner of hip luxury emporium Jeffrey New York, says: “We’ve bought python and a lot of watersnake wherever we saw it and loved it.” Sherin adds: “Customers perceive these pieces as having intrinsic value and longevity. They wear well – some get better with age. It’s not throwaway fashion.”