An Ode to (P)Leather

In my opinion, leather is a timeless material that adds instant polish to any outfit, and it has truly been reinvented over the last few seasons.  Now, I am not one to seek out a lot of leather products because a) they tend to be very expensive if you want decent quality and b) they are not what you’d call eco friendly.  Modern vegan imitation leathers are not the shiny, plastic-like pleathers of the 80s.  Instead, designers are offering chic interpretations of the reworked fabric, which, when paired with appropriate pieces can look entirely acceptable for an office environment.  For the record, all of the"leather" items listed below are not real leather, but are, in fact, vegan, "pleather" options.

The Leather Pant

If you are rolling your eyes right now or groaning aloud, please don’t worry!  A leather pant (so long as it is not a pair of leggings and it actually has a legitimate button and zipper in the front) can look simultaneously edgy and polished when paired with a blouse and tailored blazer.  Simply add a pair of pumps for a modern look.

Blouse, Blazer, Earrings, Pants, Pumps

The Leather Blazer

Blazers are the way to instantly make an outfit work appropriate.  Doing a blazer in a chic vegan leather fabric is one way to transform an otherwise simple outfit.  Pairing this jacket over a floral, a-line dress will look both charming and elegant, and it is an easy way to make your summer dresses work for fall.

Blazer, Dress, Shoes, Earrings

The Leather Skirt

Leather skirts have been everywhere on the runway this season.  Since the pleated skirt is still going strong after last year’s collections, combining these two trends in one skirt will create the perfect look for fall.  Pairing the skirt with a sweet, printed blouse with a peter pan collar counteracts the edginess of the skirt and balances out the look.

Skirt, Blouse, Bracelet, Shoes