Leather Trend: Which Pieces to Invest In to Stay Fashionable?

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Leather is something everyone knows. 

Almost all of us have at least one leather piece in our wardrobe, often represented by a handbag, a belt, or a pair of shoes. However, for some time now, we’ve noticed that leather is gradually shifting onto clothing. 

Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa, Kendall Jenner, and Hailey Bieber swear by leather. Leather trench coats, leather pants, chunky platform boots in leather, leather dresses… These It girls have definitely revamped their wardrobes to make room for a material that was long left in the closet.

Do you also want to play the elegant and sexy card by wearing leather? Then let me introduce you to some pieces of the season that are definitely worth adopting.

Matrix Trend: How is leather making a comeback in fashion?

At the beginning of 2023, we cannot talk about leather in fashion without mentioning gothic style. Straddling the line between the Matrix trend and the goth girl style revived by the blockbuster series Wednesday Adams, the gothic trend aims to be dark yet elegant and pays homage to leather and its variations. 

The 90s, Matrix, the Addams Family—these cultural references have greatly inspired designers and fashionable girls, who have managed over time to reinterpret the stylistic codes borrowed from these significant eras. What we now call the goth trend or goth girl style consists primarily of black silhouettes, grunge references, long and sleek pieces with straight cuts, cold leather or faux leather on jackets, trousers, skirts, dresses, and even coats. Platform boots or high leather boots are also included. Additionally, accessories with fetish accents like chokers, those famous neck straps, studded necklaces, or even long leather gloves.

By giving leather a prominent place, this stylistic movement has allowed this material to reinvent itself. And with this style, it’s more about flexibility than rigidity. You can dare to go for the total leather look, which you can create from leather pants topped with a long leather trench coat, platform leather boots, and a leather handbag. Or you can take a more subtle approach by incorporating one leather piece that you pair with other materials to add texture, breaking up a classic outfit, and giving it a more assertive character.

Wearing leather clothing: which piece to choose?

You’ve understood that the leather trend is particularly in vogue this season. While this way of dressing has conquered the wardrobes of the trendiest girls, it’s still not easy to replicate the styles of our fashion icons. Rest assured, there’s no need to copy looks. Drawing inspiration will be more than enough to then create an outfit that reflects you. To that end, let’s look together at some pieces you can borrow from the leather wardrobe.

The leather trench coat

Everyone knows the trench coat in its cotton or synthetic fabric version, often beige and belted. But there’s a rising trend that made waves last fall, namely: the long leather trench coat. It has been elevated to the ranks of the jacket trends of the season and continues its journey into the wardrobes of fashionable girls.

In its leather version, the trench is dark or colored with gothic inspiration. Classicism gives way to grunge inspiration and particularly trendy gothic influences. It’s a rebellious piece that is definitely sexy while being chic. It also adds value to any outfit, as with this piece you can indulge in layering combinations, for example.

In terms of pairings, the leather trench will go well with a pair of cowboy boots or high-heeled ankle boots as well as with platform babies. In short, it’s the piece that will allow you to switch from a goth day outfit to a bolder night look.

The leather dress

More delicate to wear, it remains a strong piece to have in your wardrobe. A leather dress can definitely give you style as long as you don’t overdo it. Leather on a dress is already a bold choice, so when wearing this type of piece, you stick to essentialism.

The leather dress also offers beautiful varieties in terms of cuts and styles. This allows you to wear it both day and night. 

During the day, you can opt for a straight-cut leather dress, a short and fitted dress paired with chunky platform boots, a wrap dress with mid-height heeled ankle boots, or a long maxi leather dress that we cinch to avoid a block effect. Paired with sneakers, the combo of a leather dress + sneakers will create a lovely casual look.

And in the evening, if you’re daring, you can go for a bold leather dress, preferably short, asymmetrical, or with a lovely neckline that you’ll pair with a pair of high heels. In this case, it’s a sexy and chic look that will surely get you noticed.

Here’s a selection of some pieces available on Modalova.

The leather pants 

To create a leather look, leather pants are a surefire choice that will automatically elevate your outfit. And if you think of leather pants as those ultra-skinny styles that require a size 34 to even get a thigh in, think again—the cuts have changed significantly.

Now, leather pants are worn loose, like boyfriend fit. They come in both dark and colorful shades. And finally, they can be paired with original stylistic combinations like a mohair knit, a turtleneck, a crop top, sneakers, or even heels. In short, these leather pants have become just another piece that’s easy to style.

They also have the advantage of transitioning from one style to another without much difficulty. With leather pants, you can be casual, embrace the goth style, channel Trinity from Matrix, or even walk the red carpet.

Here are some examples of pants to adopt the leather trend:

The shoes

When it comes to leather shoes, one could easily spend hours. But if you want to dare the goth fashion style by putting leather front and center, there are a few little trends that should please you. 

We can already talk about ankle boots. Voluminous, platformed, high-top, grunge—this pretty much describes the style of trendy boots. Also known as Chunky boots, this type of shoe perfectly aligns with a rebellious leather look.

Leather is also trending in the realm of cowboy boots. More western than gothic, this pair of shoes still has more than one trick up its sleeve. To remain in the dark theme, opt for a black pair, perhaps studded, that you can pair with leather pants or even a dress. It’s surprising, but it works. 

Otherwise, platform babies will always pair well with a leather outfit. They will add a very appreciated preppy touch with leather pieces. Match them with a pair of white lace ankle socks, and Wednesday Addams will only have to envy you!

Here’s a selection of pieces:

Outfit ideas with leather clothing: our selection of trendy looks

Now it’s your turn. While we’ve discussed the leather trend in this article through beautiful pieces and looks inspired by the runways, it’s now time to take ownership. To do this, you can perfectly acquire second-hand pieces, thrifted items, or even borrowed from Aunt Jeanne’s closet to create a unique look that reflects your personality. And if you want to upgrade a leather look, there’s nothing better than accessorizing your outfit with a luxury piece.

💡In the same vein, discover another trend that will be at the forefront in 2023, the Y2K style !

Image credit: © Sandra Semburg