Leather hasn’t always been price-friendly or easy to pull off, but
since its comeback in recent years, we are enjoying it as an integral
wardrobe piece. So, for the autumn/winter 2014 leather trend, look
beyond the biker jacket and consider leather skirts, trousers and
dresses too.
Forget about ‘faux’ leather or ‘pleather’ and go for the real thing;
it will look, feel and fit better and last a lifetime. The softer the
leather the better; butter-soft leather feels sumptuous on and works
much better against our natural curves. If you’re concerned about the
price, don’t be, you can find the real thing in all price brackets.
If you haven’t invested in anything leather other than a jacket
before, then we recommend you try on a few pieces and consider what you
feel is mostly ‘you’ and what flatters your shape best. Here are a few
tips on what to look for in your leather pieces:
Skirts
The A-line skirt and the pencil skirt are good staples and you can
dress them up or down. You will need to work out which style works best
with your body shape. If you invest in a really good one, it will last
you forever. For the pencil skirt, go for the softest leather you can
find so it will feel less restrictive. As with all skirts and dresses,
make sure they are lined and you get the right length – an inch or two
below the knee is the safest buy. A full skirt can look fabulous, but
you really need to be medium to tall in height to carry it off. The
weight and volume of a leather circle skirt will add volume to your
shape so take care.
Dresses
The skirt shape applies to dress shapes too. For dresses, the shift
is the most practical. There are straight shifts for straight figures or
cuts that nip in at the waist for curvier figures. You can layer
underneath with lightweight jerseys so they will see you from late
summer right through winter. If you don’t feel confident enough to wear
too much leather, you might find the wool and leather combinations
easier to pull off. Again, if you invest in a good piece, it will last
forever.
Trousers
Leather trousers are not for the faint-hearted – you need to have the
figure and the personality for these – be realistic! As with skirts and
dresses, you want to make sure they are lined. If you are in any
doubt, just picture the scene from
Friends with Ross sweltering
in his leather trousers. He finally rushes to peel them off in the
bathroom only to find it impossible to get them back on!
Biker jacket
Without a doubt, this season everyone wants a leather biker jacket.
They are great for late summer and autumn and even nights out in winter
when you don’t want to wear a big coat. They can look funky or smart
and are a great way to give an edge to your outfit. You can go true
biker with lots of zips and detail, or keep it plain and classic. You
need to think about detail, cut, neckline and length. If you are bigger
in the bust then avoid lapels and too many zips and pockets. The
straight, box shapes are best suited to straighter figures. Curvier
figures need a soft leather that nips in a bit at the waist. Some
styles will sit on the hips, others will fit lower on the hips, so work
out which is the most flattering length for you – you don’t want it to
sit on the widest part of your middle. Whether it’s to the side or in
the middle, decide if you are better with a statement zip or a hidden
one. Ideally, curvy ladies should choose a hidden zip.
Final tips
Whilst you will find most leather this season is black, don’t be
afraid to try other shades. There is navy, which suits all colourings,
and tan which will flatter both Light and Soft colourings. Burgundy
works for Cools and Deeps. Warm colourings can make the most of the
brown shades. Clears can wear Navy and Black and add contrast if
necessary. If black isn’t the most flattering shade for you, just make
sure you team it with a strong colour in your palette to create a real
WOW outfit like Blake Lively.
Not sure what colours and styles to wear? Check out our website for more info, www.colourmebeautiful.hk and we'll show you!
