Leather

Spring Fashion

Quick Shop: Sleek and Buttery Soft Leather Pieces For Spring

Leather — faux or for real — is our Winter wardrobe's slick best friend.


Leather — faux or for real — is our Winter wardrobe's slick best friend. Come Spring, it becomes much trickier to wear these tanned pieces for an ultralight feel. Not to worry, just look to the Spring '12 runways for instant gratification. Phillip Lim sent models out in pastel-hued leather moto-inspired vests, while Thakoon opted for bolder solid tones set against structured pleated skirts and cool-girl dresses, and Rag & Bone detailed its sportier pieces with leather trim. For an extra dose of styling motivation, celebs like Nicole Richie, Alexa Chung, and Miranda Kerr have all donned Spring-appropriate leather separates. The key is to juxtapose your edgier staple with lighter fare — a statement dress with an embellished belt, a pair of shorts with a sheer jersey tee, or a biker jacket with a floral pencil skirt. That way, you strike a harmonious balance between the season's softer trends and its more masculine ones. Click the slideshow below to shop your favorite pieces — and let us know how you'll be wearing your Spring leather.

Celebrity Style

Trend Report: Hollywood is Still Obsessed With Black Leather Pants

There are some trends that come and go like the wind; then there are those that come and claim their spot in the fashion arena.

There are some trends that come and go like the wind; then there are those that come and claim their spot in the fashion arena. Black leather pants is one of those trends that came on strong and has been growing even stronger since. Everyone from Heidi Klum to Gisele Bundchen to Nicky Hilton to Kim Kardashian are helping black leather pants stay relevant by rocking them at the hottest events around town. In particular, J Brand has a couple pairs that stars are loving right now. Step inside to see a handful of Hollywood stars wearing black leather pants, then shop the edgy trend for yourself.

Fashion Flash

Red Leather Reigns Supreme on the NYFW Runways

Red leather was one of the hottest looks we saw on the Fall 2012 runways, with designers like Tory Burch, Alexander Wang, and Tommy Hilfiger offering up everything from Peter Pan collared dresses to sleek gloves in this luxe and sexy color.

Red leather was one of the hottest looks we saw on the Fall 2012 runways, with designers like Tory Burch, Alexander Wang, and Tommy Hilfiger offering up everything from Peter Pan collared dresses to sleek gloves in this luxe and sexy color. While red leather may sound intimidating, it's actually looking sophisticated and totally wearable. Watch our trend report now to get the scoop on one of New York Fashion Week's biggest trends. On Allison: top, H&M.

kid gear

Burberry Leather Dress For Toddlers: Ga Ga or Gag?

Slick leather pieces are right in fashion this Fall, and the trend hasn't been lost on kids' clothing designers.

Slick leather pieces are right in fashion this Fall, and the trend hasn't been lost on kids' clothing designers. While 155-year-old Burberry tends to stick with placing its iconic plaid on various clothing items, it's pushing the limits this season with a short-sleeved black leather dress ($695) specifically designed for lil girls. Available in sizes 2T through 6, the structured dress is a mini version of what the fashion magazines, and our own FabSugar editors, have declared one of the season's most coveted items — but should lil girls be wearing it? When a toddler-sized faux leather bikini was introduced last year, LilSugar readers resoundingly sounded off against it. How do you feel about putting lil girls in a leather dress?

Fall Fashion

25 Must-Have Leather Pieces Under $500

From the slick sleeves of our jackets to our new favorite kind of skinny pants, leather is quickly taking over our wardrobe staples.

From the slick sleeves of our jackets to our new favorite kind of skinny pants, leather is quickly taking over our wardrobe staples. This season, the material — whether it be faux or the real deal — is cropping up on our favorite street stylers, celebrities, and runways, from Wang to Tibi. Now we're out to arm our closets with the very best in luxe (or at least, luxe looking) leather finds. Whether you're out for a sleek little leather dress, a great shearling-lined biker jacket, or a hot leather miniskirt to amp up your Fall look, we've got you covered with our 25 must-have pieces — and nothing over $500. Now remember:

  • A great leather jacket is a worthy investment piece that will far outlast this season's trend-driven pieces.
  • A faux leather legging offers a fantastic, seasonal alternative to the skinny jean, and you don't need to spend a fortune to find a pair.
  • Look for leather details on tees and dresses. A leather sleeve, pocket, or lapel on a blazer is another way to cash in on the trend without committing to a solid leather piece.
Elizabeth and James

Max Out Your Fall Investment: These Luxe Leather Leggings Styled 5 Ways

We love the idea of wearing leather leggings in the Fall, not only because they're a great substitute to jeans, but they inject instant cool-girl appeal to just about any ensemble.
How to Wear Leather Pants For Fall

We love the idea of wearing leather leggings in the Fall, not only because they're a great substitute to jeans, but they inject instant cool-girl appeal to just about any ensemble. That's why these Elizabeth and James Diedrick leather leggings ($895), are on the top of our Fall investment purchase list. The dark reddish brown hue is a standout color, yet earthy enough to pair with almost every hue. Secondly, we love the cool silver buttons and luxe textural feel; such attention to detail make this pair shine in the leather pants department. The price tag is no joke, but it's an investment worth making, because they're so versatile. To prove it to you, we styled them five different ways, starting off with this cute office-appropriate look and working to more festive, cocktail-ready ensembles. Just start clicking the slideshow to see (and shop) all of these amazing Fall outfit ideas!

Celebrity

7 Days, 7 Ways: How Celebs Style Up Their Leather Looks

The season to make the most of your leather pieces is upon us — from slick leather pants to cool-girl leather vests, this trend is perfectly suited to cooler, Fall days.
How to Wear Leather For Fall 2011

The season to make the most of your leather pieces is upon us — from slick leather pants to cool-girl leather vests, this trend is perfectly suited to cooler, Fall days. So, we got to thinking — what if we wore leather every day for a week? Well, if we drew our outfit inspiration from these seven celebs, we imagine it would look pretty good. Inside, we've queued up looks from a few of our favorites — Rachel Zoe layering a leather jacket over a flowy maxi, Sienna Miller rocking skinny leather pants, and Olivia Palermo trying bright, berry-hued leather on for size. Click through for a full week's worth of styles to inspire your creativity — and your own covetable leather looks — then shop the key pieces.

Shopping

Style Tip: Make Leather Pants Casual Chic

Katie Holmes went on The Tonight Show last night to discuss her new movie, Don't Be Afraid of the Dark, but we were really just eyeing her pants.

Katie Holmes went on The Tonight Show last night to discuss her new movie, Don't Be Afraid of the Dark, but we were really just eyeing her pants. The normally classic Katie went for a sportier, slightly edgier look in cropped red leather Isabel Marant pants. We love cropped leather pants; they're luxurious without being too serious and are easy to dress up or down. Supermodel Karolina Kurkova also donned leather pants, showing that they can offer a casually sophisticated vibe for evening. Here are the two tips we're taking from these stylish women:

  • Crop it:
    Leather pants feel a bit less dressy and bikery when in a cropped length; it's also a great opportunity to show off cute heels, like Katie did with her Prada Fall 2011 heels.
  • Keep it casual up top:
    Both women chose sportier tops to give the look a more laid-back vibe; Katie layered a Madewell mesh sweater ($98) over a white tank, while Karolina went for a sleeveless silk camp shirt. Both chose the camel color...we love the combination of camel and red for Katie, while Karolina's earthy tones give her look a desert queen appeal.
  • Want to try it out yourself? We found some very cute leather pants to buy right now. Just click on our widget to shop.

    community

    Look of the Day: A Little Leather

    Never underestimate the powerful effect a little leather mini has on your outfit.

    Never underestimate the powerful effect a little leather mini has on your outfit. Even in the warmer months, it packs a punch when you style it up like Fab reader BrittandWhit does with an army-hued blazer and a breezy blouse underneath. And, when you finish it off, don't underestimate the value of a few well-placed jewels, either. We love how her feathery earrings and long, beaded necklace counter the slick leather with their own bohemian vibe.

    Congrats to BrittandWhit!

    Everyone else, submit your looks, and I might just feature you on FabSugar!

    Celebrity

    A Celeb-Inspired Lesson on How to Wear Leather Now

    They may not be synonymous with the season, but we're all about the unexpected appeal of leather looks in the springtime.

    They may not be synonymous with the season, but we're all about the unexpected appeal of leather looks in the springtime. And, with the styling these five celebrities offer up, there's plenty of ways to wear your favorite leather pieces right now. Especially if you're not the floral-wearing type, you'll want to click through — from lighter, denim pairings to sheer toppers — we've got five ways to shop and wear leather now!