It’s leather weather! How to wear the trend in 2022: Style Notes

If you’ve been seeing a heckuva lot more faux leather during your shopping escapades, well, you’re not alone. The trend has been tracking for a few seasons now, making appearances in celebrity closets and on runways. No, and I’m not talking about the moto jacket — the rugged, black-leather classic first designed by Irving Schott for Harley Davidson back in 1928. I’m talking leather blazers, perfectly tailored pants, button-ups, bombers and even dresses. Nothing distressed, chock-full of zippers or battered. Think: Sleek, modern, polished.

Personally? I love the trend. Render any ol’ wardrobe staple in leather, and it’ll make your get-up look elevated and downright badass. Even better if you can somehow coordinate your look. Last year, for LA Fashion Week, I wore this matching blazer and skirt combo from Tbilisi-based brand, Materiel, and it is single-handedly one of my most asked-about looks. So, I wanted to revisit this tried-and-true fabric and create a look that somehow brings the “rockstar” look to 2022. 

I love the relaxed, retro fit of this bomber jacked by Copenhagen-based Rotate Birger Christensen. It’s quilted, which actually warmed me up pretty nicely on this rainy California day. There’s a bit of a shine to the croc-effect material, and I feel like this is a piece you can easy dress up by throwing it on a sparkly dress. (The leather is quite noisy, though, and it does moan and groan a lot as you move, but that’s a minor inconvenience given its coolness factor.)

This bomber jacket does have its own matching pants, but I wanted to go with something different than an all-black look. I mirrored the leather with these 90’s fit Agolde jeans, a Los Angeles denim brand that, over the last few years, has become a cool-kid go-to. I was smitten by the high-waist, the leather contrast detail and the vintage silhouette. I threw on a pair of black leather boots and finished the look with my favorite accessory of all time — Staud’s moon bag, which I got years ago for a steal and have been carrying around with me on a weekly basis.

So, if you’re willing to imbue your closet with a little more leather and want to recreate my look, here are all the deets!