It’s hard to encapsulate my inspiration because there are so many different looks, but I think it’s just like, (a) sexy girl you see walking down the street in a cool outfit. A lot of eyelet, a lot of leather, playing with the hard and the soft, the good and bad inside of us all. - Chloe Sevigny
Leather jackets classically bring about visions of tough bikers, The Fonz, lots of metal detail, and more than a little attitude. This is all well and good, except that this puts the leather jacket into a pigeon hole that it simply doesn’t deserve. There are so many incarnations of the leather jacket available now that it can be appropriate for any occasion… unless you live in a warm climate, in which case, grab an umbrella-festooned drink and go hang out at the beach for the rest of this post! But for the rest of you, here are a few things to keep in mind when incorporating a leather jacket into your wardrobe.
TEXTURE
Whether it’s smooth as buttah, embossed with intricate patterns, pebbled, or glassy-smooth, leather comes in a ton of textures. This can be heightened when pairing a leather jacket with other textures, such as velvet, corduroy, jacquard, or denim. Ethereal fabrics, such as chiffon, cotton, silk, and lace work great as a juxtaposition to the leather’s more substantial feel.
CUT
The motorcycle leather jacket, with it’s high neck and fitted sleeves, is fairly flattering and brings a wonderful tough edge to any outfit. Leather trench coats give off a more worldly, mysterious air, as well as being extremely luxurious. Leather blazers look great when combined with office wear. For a more youthful approach with a twist, try a leather bomber jacket paired with a leopard-print satchel.
COLOR
Black, tan, or cognac are tried-and-true options, but don’t be afraid to test the waters with other shades. Mulberry, grey, red, and beige also look beautiful on leather, and will fit right in with the jewel-toned hues of fall. Pair leather of different colors for an unconventional and very modern vibe.
WEIGHT
Leather comes in all types of weights, so you can rest easy if you were avoiding leather because it was too heavy. Yes, it will be thicker than silk or chiffon, but there are some very high-quality pieces available now that use a very thin, broken in leather that is great for warmer fall days. (Don’t forget, you can always casually throw the jacket over your shoulders instead of wearing it if you want the look without the added warmth.)
DETAILS
If you want to jump on the fall 2013 gold trend, go for a black leather jacket with heavy gold detailing. Those who prefer cooler tones can look for leather with silver detailing, perhaps in the form of a beige or grey leather jacket with delicate silver studs and accents. Minimalists will be happy to see that there are also plenty of leather jackets with very simple cuts and limited details. For a more lady-like version of the leather jacket, try looking for one in a classic suit cut with bow trim.
Here is a collection of some of the gorgeous, wearable leather jackets I have been seeing this season.
Click to view slideshow.
Have any of these caught your eye too? What leather looks do you plan on wearing this fall?
