FabSugar

Quick Shop: Sleek and Buttery Soft Leather Pieces For Spring

Marisa Tom — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 08:13:48 PDT

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.

Red Leather Reigns Supreme on the NYFW Runways

FabSugar — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 07:16:08 PST

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.

Burberry Leather Dress For Toddlers: Ga Ga or Gag?

Rebecca M Gruber — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 11:15:56 PDT

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?

25 Must-Have Leather Pieces Under $500

Hannah Weil — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 12:00:57 PDT

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.

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

Chi Diem Chau — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 06:20:14 PDT

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!

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

Hannah Weil — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 09:10:19 PDT

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.

Style Tip: Make Leather Pants Casual Chic

Noria Morales — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 09:48:48 PDT

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.

Look of the Day: A Little Leather

FabSugar — Wed, 25 May 2011 03:14:37 PDT

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!

A Celeb-Inspired Lesson on How to Wear Leather Now

Hannah Weil — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 03:34:20 PDT

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!

How to Restore an Antique Leather Chair

Julia Millay Walsh — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 12:00:43 PDT

Last week I bought this antique leather wing chair at an antique shop in San Francisco. I'm kind of obsessed with it! It has so many amazing features like nailhead trim, turned-wood arms, a ladder back, and of course, tufted leather. Its leather cushion is also worn in and a little cracked, which is the well-loved look that I'd been seeking.

When I bought it, the leather was a little worse for the wear, the nailhead was dusty, and the wooden legs were scratched up. After spending an hour or so sprucing it up, it's looking mighty fine, I must say. If you have a new old leather and wood chair on your hands that could use a pick-me-up, I have some restoration tips for you.
Here's what I did to get my sexy seat into shape:

First, I removed the seat and vacuumed every nook and cranny to get rid of dust and other particles.
Then, I slightly dampened a clean rag and ran it across the surface of the nail head and wooden trim to reach dust the vacuum couldn't. Then I ran a clean, microfiber cloth across the leather to pick up dust on the cushion and tufts.
To restore the wood and conceal scuff marks, I purchased Old English Scratch Cover for Light Wood. To use it, begin by applying the solution on a clean, white rag to the scratches and dents only. When it dries (in only a few minutes), apply the solution to the whole surface of the wood, continuing to add more of the scratch cover to your rag every few swipes. Make sure not to let it touch your rugs, upholstery, or other textiles.
To repair the leather, I picked up Lexol Leather Conditioner, which is revered among furniture refinishers and autobody professionals. It extends the life of the leather by restoring oils and keeping it soft and supple. First, test it in an inconspicuous spot. Then, apply the solution to the entire surface of the leather with a clean cotton rag. Let it be absorbed for about 20 minutes. Then, buff off the solution with another clean rag, and voilà: conditioned as a whistle!