{This post contain affiliate links which we may earn a small commission to keep this site going.}
Do you aspire to be decked out in glam rock fashion, but without looking like a biker chick, a punk rocker, a wild child and (gasp) a dominatrix? Here’s the good news. Leather and classiness can and do go well together. You just need to know the limits.
Why Rock?
You see, the reason why leather wear is associated with rock is because that is the staple fashion. Think leather cuffs, leather boots, leather jackets, leather jeans, leather bags etc. Rockers go big about the whole leather thing. Thus, the key to injecting class with leather is to go in the opposite direction – minimizing it.
Have only one leather element in your overall look, such as a single leather cuff, a wide leather belt, leather boots, a dress with leather trimmings or a top with leather sleeves.
Mixing Leather and Class
I bet you get it now.
The more leather elements you have to your look, the more ‘rocker’ vibes you will generate. Unless you have a great fashion sense for matching several leather items and still look classy, sticking to one element is always the safest bet.
All leather pants and skirts tend to be over the top. Not only are they hard to wash and maintain, they will also likely be worn for only a few times before resting in your closet indefinitely. All leather pieces are consider fad items, which give low mileage and go out of style very quickly.
In my opinion, it’s much wiser to invest in a piece of clothing that has a little leather design element on it, which often looks tasteful and stylish at the same time.
Real Or Fake Leather?
Always go for faux leather in clothing! Never go for the real thing because you can’t wash them and real leather tends to be very heavy. This is why real leather are used when making bags, because it is more durable, sturdy and lasts longer.
To give you an idea, here are some fabulous pieces that I will go for:
1) The Corporate Dress
Yes, the classic rule of thumb in image consultancy is never wear leather in corporate if you want to be taken seriously. But you know what, times have changed! In fact, I think women who can wear leather with style and grace, and still look poised are really creative and daring to be different. Qualities of being a successful entrepreneur perhaps?This is so gorgeous and is definitely great for work. Don’t be afraid to mix ‘classy’ accessories like pearls and gold earrings, they will definitely glam up your look.
Whoever said women can’t wear leather to the boardroom?
I’ll say ‘Bring It On’!
2) The Party Dress
Oh la la. This is such a sassy black faux leather wrap dress fit for a party! As an all black piece, you can be creative and bold in your choice of accessories.
To glam this up, go a monochrome look by wearing a long chain of white pearls and white earrings. A stylish white hat and handbag will work too. However, it’s best to stay off white shoes because it will grab attention away from your dress. People usually look from head to toe, not the other way round. If you must wear white shoes, make sure they are not wedges or non-chunky shoes. Go for those thin strappy kinds or pointed heels. You can also match this with a pair of low-cut black boots (but no knee-high boots please, it just screams dominatrix).
To add some ‘coolness’, wear a chunky metal cuff or a big, bold and chunky metal necklace to make it look a little edgier. An all black dress is an excellent canvas and backdrop to showcase your accessories, plus your creativity in matching them!
3) The Little Black Dress
The first thought that comes into my mind – what an elegant dress! Its simple, yet interesting because of the faux leather details. The leather piece strategically located at the waist gives it a belted look and the leather frills hem gives off a feminine vibe.
As you want to emphasis on the detailing on the dress, keep to small classic pieces like diamond or pearl studs if you are wearing jewelry, so that they will complement you and not fight for attention with the main details on the dress.
To accessorize, carry a glam clutch, wear a pair of sexy heels. Play with colors, such as wearing green or red clutch/shoes. Keep to one bright color each time, not two. For example, carrying green clutch and red shoes with this dress will be a clash and make people confused.
Stick to just green shoes with everything else black, or green shoes and green clutch. Another alternative is to have the second item in neutral shades to create visual balance, such as dark brown heels and red clutch, or beige clutch and green heels.
4) The Feminine Skirt
A faux leather skirt can make an outfit standout and look less predictable because of the sheen on the material. The best way to wear this is to match it with a tucked-in crisp white shirt and a pair of leather pumps or strappy heels.
The shirt can be short sleeve, quarter sleeve or long sleeve, doesn’t really matter. A good white shirt never goes out of style and can add lend a touch of class to the leather skirt. This ensemble will make you look smart with a dose of feminism, so don’t be afraid to wear this style for work.
Another way is to play up on the feminine part. Choose a flowy silk or georgette blouse in white or even any of the bright colors like yellow, blue or fuchsia , tuck in the blouse and you are all set. This can even go with floral tops and other stylish prints.
5) Statement Top
It’s never a good idea to buy all leather top because they are mostly made of PVC and can get very warm, since the material is non-breathable. Hence, when you perspire, you will get very uncomfortable.
Always opt for pieces that have some leather details woven into the fabric. If its a top, the leather material should not exceed more than 30% of the entire piece. The blouse don’t even need to be in all black as in this example, and with the leather details added, it can become really unique and stylish.
So what can you wear this with? I think black or white slim-cut pants (long or 3/4 length), brown/maroon pencil skirts and A-line skirts are great choices. For accessories, loud pieces might not be suitable because you don’t want it to compete with the leather details that is already on the blouse, so a classy and simple white diamond/zircon/rhinestone necklace in either gold, rose-gold or silver chains might do the trick.
What Not To Wear…
This one is important. Remember at the beginning I mentioned about looking like a dominatrix? Yes, wearing too much leather or in a wrong way will turn you into one, so you want to take note of these 3 taboos when wearing leather pieces, whether they come in small or large details.
i) Baring your cleavage in a leather top or dress, or wearing a skin tight leather dress that shows off your every curves. Leather is also associated with sexiness, but in a wrong way. You don’t want people to associate you with vampiness or a street walker.
ii) Wearing knee-high black leather boots. Remember Julia Roberts in the movie ‘Pretty Woman’? Enough said.
iii) This one is a no brainer – wearing tight full leather top and pants together!
So when you are shopping for a piece of clothing with leather details, remember, less is usually more!