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| Leather Lovers:(from left) Giovanna Battaglia in a leather dress at A/W Paris Fashion Week 2012, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in Elizabeth and James leather leggings, Sophia Vargara in a leather jacket and Gwyneth Paltrow in a Hugo Boss leather dress. |
‘Tis the season for leather. Even in climate-centric zones like L.A., Dallas and Miami, leather will pop its soft little head out of the closet at some point between November and January. Sourcing the skin is easy, but wearing it well, that’s a cow of a different color.Rule #1: Distressed leather only works for black and white Bruce Weber photos. It doesn’t cut it in the real world. No matter how much of a steal it is in that vintage boutique, step away from the rack.Rule #2: Hard to deliver this one but…leather is for thin people. If you have piled on a few pounds, it’s best to go another route. This stands for jackets, tops, dresses, skirts and even boots. A chubby calf or ankle popping out from the top of the coolest leather bootie is never pretty. Opt instead for leather accents like bags and gloves.Rule #3: As your age increases, the weight of your leather should decrease. Also consider a color softer than basic black. A lightweight navy leather jacket is much more flattering than the traditional Brando Biker special.
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| (From left): Russian Vogue, Paris Vogue and UK InStyle: Editors can’t get enough of leather wears. |
Rule #4: One piece of leather at a time, please. Leather gloves, boots and skirt/dress/pants all at once reads dominatrix.
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| Whoopsy: Leather missteps. (left) Kim Kardashian proves too much leather and not enough Quick Trim can lead to sausage casing syndrome. (right) Ann Romney overdoes in head to toe skin. |
Rule #5:Consider layering leather. A fur vest over a leather jacket is ace. A casual blazer under a leather jacket delivers Warhol wow.
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Clockwise from top left: Cedric Charlier blue faux leather top at www.farfetch.com; Haider Ackermann leather biker jacket atwww.net-a-porter.com; Givenchy leather “shark tooth” ankle boot at www.barneys.com; Corlette leather cuff at www.farfetch.com (Clockwise from top left): Leather dress by Maison Martin Margiela at www.net-a-porter.com; gold leather T-shirt by Maje also atwww.net-a-porter.com; elbow length aubergine leather gloves at www.asos.com |
