The Leather Edit: What To Wear This Autumn

Just as we think of seasonality when it comes to the foods we eat – reaching for cosy soups, stews and comfort food as the leaves turn – so too do we instinctively switch up our cottons and linens for more structured and tactile fabrics in our wardrobes. Leather is a great option to invest in as a cornerstone of your autumn wardrobe – the perfect foundation piece that you can pair with contrasting textures like cashmere and silk in tonal shades for an instantly put-together look. If cared for well, leather pieces will improve with age and become your go-to pieces as each autumn rolls around.

Here, we share five tips if you want to add some leather to your wardrobe, plus 12 buys we’ve got on our wish lists.

5 Tips On Adding Leather To Your Wardrobe

One
If black feels too harsh, look for coloured or textured leathers. At this time of year a deep burgundy or forest green can look great paired with cream knits.

Two
Look for unexpected pieces in leather - forget the ubiquitous biker jacket and try a midi skirt, belted trench or boyfriend shirt for a modern twist.

Three
For a luxe silhouette, go oversized. Skin-tight leather is not for the faint-hearted and will always give that rock chick vibe, whereas unexpected volume can feel luxuriously chic.

Four
Leather tanning can be a dirty business – both for the tanners themselves and the environment. Look for chrome-free leather which causes less pollution, cleaner waste streams and improved biodegradability.

Five
Leather will always be an investment buy, so do to make the cost-per-wear makes sense. Look to add pieces to your wardrobe that you will wear year after year, switching your jeans for leather trousers perhaps, or your blazer for a leather upgrade. Leather can be chameleonic, dressed up with tailoring and down with cosy, contrasting knits. It really can become a wardrobe workhorse this autumn if you invest well.

Here are the pieces we’ve got on our lust lists right now.

By Lydia Mansi
October 2023