E.L James' erotic, literary, Trilogy 50 Shades of Grey has been the main & controversial talking point this year for many women (& husbands!) & although I haven't read any of the novels, I know plenty of women who have & I thought I'd do fashion's take on sexuality - So here's presenting The Dominatrix of Garments - Leather! This season leather has been adapted & coloured leather has been reintroduced to the fashion scene!
Leather has always been that staple item that oozes sexuality in Hollywood. The likes of Honor Blackman in The Avengers to Halle Berry & Anne Hathaway as Cat Woman. Leather is a symbol of an independent, sexy, Femme Fatale; & This is why I have chosen it to be
the choice of material to emanate 50 Shades of Grey.
This piece from the
Calvin Klein pre-fall collection 2011 really caught my eye & added structure & chic to the material. It added an air of subtlety to leather & made the fashion industry aware that leather can be worn everyday & adapted for an elegant, stylish, modern woman.
I feel like 2011 was the year fashion starting remoulding leather for the modern woman, in the form of high necked, elegant tops, flared pleather skirts & even fashion harnesses (Fall 2010).
Calvin Klein has combined leather into his Fall 2012 collection with this A line leather dress.
2012 has brought in sharp tailoring in the form of trouser suits & this has given a more professional take on leather garments, making it subtly sexy & effortlessly cool. For example look at these structured blazers from
YSL with leather lapels, cinched silhouettes, paired with leather skirts & leather boots shined to military standards!
Yves Saint Lauren - Fall 2012
Theysken's Theory went all out on the leather suit idea at New York Fashion Week
This fall we see leather take on another form - metallics, colours, fur & a whole new girly take on leather!
Berry tones seem to be big on the catwalk - Derek Lam put together this structured, wine coloured leather ensemble complete with matching patent boots puts a feminine spin on head to toe leather.
Peter Som has also been loving the romantic, winter tones with a Berry coloured, flared sleeve, pencil skirt combination.
The leather jacket knows no bounds has been endlessly reworked along the years and this Fall is no different.
Helmut Lang is doing what he does best, mixing textiles & breaking boundaries, creating aesthetically indulgent pieces with this fur & leather combo. (left) Alexander Wang follows in close succession with his leather trousers & mixed jacket creating a harsh, figure skimming silhouette, whilst tying it in with the shapely leather boots bringing back the femininity & setting it off! (right)
Mr Kurt Geiger has been working the leather jacket into his Fall Campaign & has been rocking the all over leather look with a side order of attitude, with model Anja Rubik! (Who else?)
Wang's collection at New York Fashion Week this Fall was beautiful, combining leather with chiffon, fur & using strong lines to create a beautifully, harsh silhouette.
In my opinion though Jitrois have fully exploited the Asian influence on the catwalk this season incorporating ultra feminine Asian patterns with uber edgy, figure hugging silhouettes, this navy leather jacket with an intricate design (that almost looks like it could be filigree) just screams elegance.
But the whole advertising campaign for Jitrois Fall 2012 is elegantly chic & the introduction on their website is is deliciously melancholy, combining sexuality with subtlety & mystery, making it the perfect concept to expose this sublime collection. Hauntingly beautiful with the gothic colour scheme. I cannot get enough! For peace of mind, look at the collection yourself -
http://www.jitrois.com/category.php?id_category=304#/lookbook/AH2013
The leather
midi skirt seems to be popular among
Dior,
Calvin Klein,
Hermes &
Ralph Lauren, so we know this trend musn't go amiss! With pleats or simplicity like this one from
Dior, an asymmetrical leather top with leather midi skirt; cinched in at the waist! Perfect.
Calvin Klein is working the leather accents with his keen attention to detail as ever which I absolutely love with the slicked hair & neutral make up the wool/leather mix is a beautifully tactile & aesthetic delight!
You too can rock the look with an embellished leather jacket/leather trousers/pleather skirt or throw a leather belt into the mix to tie your whole outfit together. (Suede will compliment leather if worn well) This look is perfected with a slicked back ponytail like we saw at
Calvin Klein or a topknot & for that pop of dark romantic colour go for a plum or blood red lipstick complete with simplistic silver jewellery & an attitude.
My affordable favourite leather piece is this Pleather Skater Skirt -
http://www.sheinside.com/Black-PU-Leather-Pleated-Short-Skirt-p-94401-cat-1732.html
This is another set I created with Polyvore's best picks...
One last thing, these gorgeous boots are currently on sale, and if they had my size I would jump on this opportunity, absolutely goreous! Matiko Al Boots, absolute epitome of the fall leather trend!
