Time to fall in love with leather: Just make sure it’s soft, tailored… and not rock chick black
- Animal-friendly faux leather has been on the catwalk at Miu Miu and Hermes
- Emily Jane Johnston explains how this look is now all over the high street
- There is a range of styles from blazers to bombers, cropped to midi and tailored
Rest in peace the black leather biker jacket. Autumn sees a total revamp of this iconic piece.
No longer limited to one colour and shape, it has lost the classic rock chick vibe and is softer and more ageless. Indeed, this season’s hide — and animal-friendly faux leather — seen on the catwalk at Miu Miu, Alexander McQueen and Hermes, is now all over the High Street. The one rule? It should be anything but black — shades include deep reds, mossy greens and warm chestnuts.
Real leather biker, £299, whistles.com; cashmere tank, £88, boden.co.uk; trousers, £47.40, warehouse fashion.com; loafers, £250, meandem.com; ring (throughout), £27.99, pilgrim.net
There is a range of styles from blazers to bombers, cropped to midi, the super-tailored to the over-sized ‘shacket’. We can all find our perfect leather jacket, no matter our size, shape or age.
Being a tall, curvy girl, I never felt the biker jacket cut was for me. It works on a waifish frame but looks out of place on my broader body shape. This season my new go-to style will be a slim-cut brown blazer that will flatter my hourglass curves rather than hide them.
Leather coat, £419, karen millen.com; knit, £27.50, marksandspencer.com; dress, £80, boden.co. uk; boots, £250, duo boots.com
Real leather shacket, £149, and cashmere jumper, £85, marksand spencer. com; jeans, £109, baukjen. com; boots, £75, river island.com
If you’re buying a leather jacket to keep you warm in winter, you will want room at the shoulders and in the sleeves to accommodate a thick sweater. When it comes to styles, stay classic. The shearling-look biker is a toasty winter update and Marks & Spencer’s olive number looks way more expensive than its £75.
Faux leather jacket, £75, and dress, £59, marksand spencer. com; boots, £250, duoboots.com; necklace, £74, hey harper shop.com
Given their cost, if you can’t think of at least five ways to wear a leather jacket, leave it on the rack.
My mistakes in fashion over the years could fill a book. But I’ve rarely made one involving a leather jacket. They just look good. So embrace the trend and, if you can afford it, invest in it too.
Faux leather coat, £119.20, warehousefashioncom; tank, £59, albaray.co.uk; jeans, £39.50, marks and spencer.com; loafers, £250, meandem.com
Faux leather blazer, £71.20, debenhams.com; dress, £89, albaray.co.uk; bag, £115, jasperconran.com; boots, £103.20, karenmillen.com
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