We All Wanna be Catwoman
If you ask me, Catwoman was the girl to make leather a sexy trend. The sassy feline burglar known for carrying a whip and getting away with high stakes theft - all while holding the key to Batman’s heart - was the reason for my first leather jacket when I was 15 years old. As if leather wasn’t hot enough, Catwoman took that jumpsuit to another level.
But, if dressing from head to toe in a skintight leather jumpsuit is too intimidating for you, this season presents tons of leather options, so you can incorporate as much or as little as you want. There’s only one rule this fall - no matter what your personal style is, there is no excuse for avoiding leather this season. You can find a piece made just for your wardrobe.
If this is your first plunge into leather, buying a jacket is the best item with the best cost-per-wear ratio. You can pair a casual, fitted leather jacket with leggings, denim, fitted pants and skirts without having to worry about too many fashion rules. Just make sure the jacket is well tailored to your body, and when wearing the jacket with skirts, be sure it is proportional to the hem of the skirt.
If you want to find a leather jacket that fits with the trends of the season, find one with studded embellishments, or a jacket loaded with exposed zippers. Leather biker jackets are also hot for fall. My personal favorite is a soft leather jacket with a ruffled collar – Victoria Secret and BeBe both have this style for a fairly moderate price. Sending mixed messages, the girly ruffles give the edgy leather an unexpected feminine twist.
If you can’t bear the thought of real leather, Forever 21 has some vegan leather jackets for under $100 - with cropped styles, embellishments and even some with multiple zippers - so you can get your leather fix without ever having to touch leather.
Venturing away from the more traditional pieces, a leather mini skirt can be worn over leggings with a white tee shirt, a bright colored cardigan and some ballet flats to give just a dash of vixen, or it could be worn with a silky camisole and gladiator heels for the more adventurous.
Liquid leather leggings are considered a must-have item for fall. The idea of leather and leggings combined into one item may leave you scared, but if you are daring enough to squeeze into a pair, they would look perfect with a belted cashmere sweater and some ankle boot heels. Also, it’s hard to believe, but with the right fit, these skintight leggings can be very forgiving – showing a slim silhouette while sucking you in. (And, don’t go for a bigger size because they will stretch.)
With all the colors, prints, styles and pieces of leather out there – you just can’t say no to leather. And honestly, why would you want to?