Leather for Spring? Here’s How to Pull it Off

Leather might seem difficult to pull off in the warmer months. It’s tough and brings up images of biker gangs and rock stars, and can seem heavy for sunny days. But with these tips straight from the runway, you can rock it in the warmer months.

1. Make it girly.

Take a tip from Burberry Prorsum and pair leather pieces, like a jacket, with daintier fabrics, like florals or lace. This will loosen some of the edge while still keeping it cool.

2. Try a new hue.

Throw on a colored leather skirt or short, and lose the dark black. Colorblocked brights are in right now, and this is a fun way to play with the trend. This Jil Sander green skirt looks right at home with pink and purple. And Christopher Kane’s lace printed leather looks very springy.

3. Keep the leather in the details.

Throw on a pair of leather ankle boots, or a glossy handbag. Below, the bright yet tough heels at Versus. Accessories are great for the leather-shy.

4. Embrace your inner rebel. 

Like to look like a rockstar? Make an outfit Balmain-style with shorts or capris and lots of ripped detail.

The New “New Look”

From the 1920s to the 1940s, skirt lengths rose considerably. Women loved the ability to showcase their gams in knee-length hemlines. They relished the freedom it offered them, the progressive ideas of sex represented in the short hems.

But in 1947 Christian Dior had a different silhouette in mind. Instead of following the trend, he went against the grain and designed mid-calf, full skirts, which Harper’s Bazaar christened the “New Look.” Some women picked up on the fashion statement. And others rebelled, angry that their legs were now going to be hidden and their movement restricted.

Longer skirt lengths are making a comeback in the fashion industry, and I like to think of this as a second coming of the “New Look,” since they’re a departure from the knee-length and above-the-knee lengths that fill most modern women’s closets. They were seen on many a spring 2011 runway, from Rag and Bone to DKNY (pictured below. Different from the New Look of before, this longer hemline is streamlined, usually keeping the maxi close to the body. There are also less demure aspects to this trend, with some designers choosing to make skirts in translucent chiffon to still show some leg.

Jil Sander S2011

This trend today is still in its early stages. It’s mostly the early trend setters that are wearing mid calf and floor length silhouettes rather than the oh-so-popular mini and knee-length skirts seen by the masses. There hasn’t been any real retaliation to this trend yet, probably because women are maybe ready for a change. And more mass retailers are picking up on this trend. For instance, on American Apparel’s skirt page, ankle-lengths are featured first. It will be interesting to see how many women adopt this length in the near future.