Everybody’s Wearing Leather – Here’s How To Style It For FW23
From skirts to jackets, tailored pants to fitted tops, leather is a wardrobe essential this season. Embrace its day-to-night appeal with these easy style tips
Leather skirt
Whether you prefer mini, midi or maxi lengths, the leather skirt is a must-have for new-season styling. Enter Citizens of Humanity’s ‘Aria’ leather midi – a day-to-night piece that’s equal parts sophisticated and sexy. Style yours as seen on the London label’s FW23 runway: with a top and boots in the same chocolate shade. Cefinn’s bestselling ‘Sierra’ skirt, on the other hand, is cut from red leather panels in a refined midi silhouette and is a gorgeous way to bring some color into your work and weekend wardrobes. Wear yours with a gray turtleneck and knee-high boots.
Leather coat
For FW23, brands such as Versace are solidifying the leather coat’s must-have status for ultra-modern outerwear. Its sleek ‘Icons’ style is fastened with the house’s iconic Medusa-encrusted gold-tone buttons, and features a streamlined silhouette to ensure it layers effortlessly over dresses and sweaters alike. Meanwhile, 16Arlington’s ‘Dvina’ coat, which is exclusive to NET-A-PORTER, comes with an exaggerated shearling collar in a tonal brown – throw it over one of the label’s cult sequin dresses for the ultimate London aesthetic.
Leather top
A leather top might sound like a daunting concept, but get it right and the look treads a pleasing balance between sophisticated and subversive. Altuzarra’s ‘Corinth’ off-the-shoulder wrap top, for example, oozes polish; its neckline sits just off the shoulders to frame the décolletage – style with flared jeans and strappy sandals to let your top half do the talking. Tucked into tailored pants, Dries Van Noten’s glossy burgundy leather turtleneck makes for a lively alternative to silk or shirting, or style with a languid silk maxi skirt for an evening look that packs a punch. For those avoiding animal products, sustainable-style stalwart Stella McCartney offers an evening top made from black vegetarian leather. It has a draped scarf neckline and is buttery soft to the touch – just add denim, heeled pumps and sparkly drop earrings.
Leather dress
When it comes to trans-seasonal dressing, the leather dress is a wardrobe hero for its insulating fabric and instantly dressed-up feel. On days when there’s a chill in the air, Cefinn’s ‘Ronnie’ midi dress looks great layered over a turtleneck – just add knee-high boots for day or mules come evening. For pieces with black-tie appeal, look to Altuzarra’s off-the-shoulder ‘Corfu’ dress, which comes in a rich grape tone that looks divine with gold heels and chunky gold jewelry. Alternatively, try Vince’s square-necked midi dress, which can be worn with pointy courts or ballet flats and a cropped cardigan, depending on the dress code.
Leather jacket
Every capsule wardrobe for fall is ameliorated by the addition of a great leather jacket. While biker styles, such as Isabel Marant’s distressed ‘Barbara’, continue to be cult classics, some of the season’s slickest leather jackets are covetable iterations. Yves Salomon, for example, combines the cool edge of a biker silhouette with the coziness of a brown shearling trim, while Toteme’s hero leather takes its cues from army jackets, offering a boxy shape and an array of cargo pockets. For something more glamorous, try Acne Studios’ cropped style, which is made from panels of distressed leather arranged in a cool patchwork effect. Mirror the brand’s FW23 show styling by slipping yours over a ruffled dress.
Leather pants
Leather pants might conjure up references to skin-tight retro designs, but contemporary rock ’n’ roll cool comes in relaxed fits and fresh hues. Straight-leg styles, such as SPRWMN’s moss-green ‘Baer’ pants or Acne Studios’ crinkled black leather pair, are hard-working wardrobe staples. Wear yours with a crisp shirt and leather flats to the office, or style with a bustier and barely-there heels for dinner and drinks. If you’re looking for a more casual vibe, with vegetarian-leather credentials to boot, try Stella McCartney’s clever riff on cargo pants, which take their cues from popular ’90s styles. Pair them with a white tank top and minimal leather sneakers.
How to care for leather clothing
Here’s how to cherish your pieces for longer, according to Layla Sargent, founder & CEO of repair-and-alterations service The Seam:
“Leather garments should never be placed in a regular wash. Leather is essentially a skin, and so its porous nature must be treated carefully to avoid distorting the texture or cracking the finish. Laundry detergents can remove the finishing from the hide, so, instead, choose natural leather conditioners and apply with a damp cloth or sponge. After cleaning the surface, it's important to add a leather moisturizer or balm to prevent cracking, as the item can dry out.
“Synthetic leathers behave very differently from genuine ones, as they are typically made from plastics or more innovative plant fibers, and sealed with a coating to give them a leather-like surface. These synthetic coatings lack the self-healing properties of true leather, so it’s important to take extra care in avoiding scuffs and snags. Don’t wear sharp jewelry around synthetic-leather clothes, and take care to store away from jagged zippers or sharp corners. If synthetic-leather items show signs of dirt, attempt to wipe it away with a damp cloth, and turn to a dry-cleaner or specialist when in doubt.”
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