Leather is back. But what’s the best way to style it?
By Lydia Hurley
December 6, 2021
Leather: a staple of fashion throughout history, being especially popular in the 90s and early 2000s. As we enter a resurgence of some of these trends, fashion designers and trend-setters everywhere are becoming more creative with their leather pieces.
Tom Haverford and Donna Meagle from “Parks and Recreation” said it best, “fine leather goods? Treat yourself.”
Some leather items are definitely worth buying in real leather, as the quality means you can wear them for decades. However, many people tend to reach for pleather, “a synthetic fabric that is designed to look and feel like real leather,” according to CalTrend, whether it’s for ethical, sustainable or financial reasons.
Tom Haverford and Donna Meagle from “Parks and Recreation” said it best, “fine leather goods? Treat yourself.”
Some leather items are definitely worth buying in real leather, as the quality means you can wear them for decades. However, many people tend to reach for pleather, “a synthetic fabric that is designed to look and feel like real leather,” according to CalTrend, whether it’s for ethical, sustainable or financial reasons.
Image Credit: Courtesy of Maeve Maloney
For Maeve Maloney, a sophomore environmental studies and psychology double major at Tulane University, it’s more practical for her lifestyle.
“I’ve been vegan for several years now, so I don’t buy real leather unless it’s thrifted secondhand,” Maloney said.
Maloney pairs her jacket from Blank NYC with a white crop top, wide-leg jeans, a white belt and boots to achieve a simple, yet polished style.
A light, unzipped leather jacket works well with the New Orleans climate. “It’s leather jacket season (don’t worry guys, it’s vegan),” Maloney said in the caption of an Instagram post.
“I’ve been vegan for several years now, so I don’t buy real leather unless it’s thrifted secondhand,” Maloney said.
Maloney pairs her jacket from Blank NYC with a white crop top, wide-leg jeans, a white belt and boots to achieve a simple, yet polished style.
A light, unzipped leather jacket works well with the New Orleans climate. “It’s leather jacket season (don’t worry guys, it’s vegan),” Maloney said in the caption of an Instagram post.
Image Credit: Lydia Hurley for The Campus Trainer
Julie Gage, a senior environmental science and policy major at the University of Maryland, prefers pleather pants because they’re much more comfortable and stretchy. Gage is also a vegetarian and doesn’t wish to buy real leather, she said.
“Pairing these pants with other leather items like the boots make it look more cohesive, but it’s not too much leather,” Gage said. “Plus, it goes nicely with a solid colored shirt.”
Gage pairs her Doc Marten Sinclair platform boots with Missguided pants. Because Gage is 5’1, she gets more lift from the platforms, she said.
“Pairing these pants with other leather items like the boots make it look more cohesive, but it’s not too much leather,” Gage said. “Plus, it goes nicely with a solid colored shirt.”
Gage pairs her Doc Marten Sinclair platform boots with Missguided pants. Because Gage is 5’1, she gets more lift from the platforms, she said.
Image Credit: Lydia Hurley for The Campus Trainer
Also a fan of pairing leather with black, red and white – go Terps!– is sophomore architecture major Michael Makfinsky. His jacket is made of pleather, which is more cost-effective than buying real leather, he said.
Makfinsky paired his leather jacket with a red Adidas hoodie and joggers, as well as some clean white kicks.
Makfinsky paired his leather jacket with a red Adidas hoodie and joggers, as well as some clean white kicks.
Image Credit: Courtesy of Aadhiti Vallatharasu
Aadhiti Vallatharasu, a sophomore government and politics major, likes to dress her leather down with a bit of denim. When she attended a Dayglow concert at the 9:30 club in D.C. in October, she paired her leather jacket with jeans and platform sneakers.
“Denim is always a good choice when it comes to pairing with a leather jacket. I usually wear my jacket with ripped jeans or a denim skirt if it’s warm out,” Vallatharasu said.
“Denim is always a good choice when it comes to pairing with a leather jacket. I usually wear my jacket with ripped jeans or a denim skirt if it’s warm out,” Vallatharasu said.
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Image Credit: Lydia Hurley for The Campus Trainer
Grace Blanco, a sophomore biology major, also went all-out in leather when she attended a Waterparks concert at the Filmore in Silver Spring.
“I like wearing all-black all of the time. Also, I think a leather jacket goes well with anything, especially a graphic tee or a tight corset top goes very well to create more of an edgy look,” Blanco said.
Blanco paired her pleather jacket with pleather pants from Forever21 and Doc Martens. For special occasions or during colder leather, she wears a thicker, real leather jacket.
“This other jacket, which is vintage leather from Andrew Marc, and was given to me secondhand, is heavier, so I usually pair it with a tank top. For bottoms, I wear it with black pants or a skirt,” Blanco said.
There’s truly no wrong way to style leather, since it goes well with so many different clothing styles and trends. Considering that there’s a variety of price points and items to choose from, it’s worth giving leather a shot to amp up your style!
“I like wearing all-black all of the time. Also, I think a leather jacket goes well with anything, especially a graphic tee or a tight corset top goes very well to create more of an edgy look,” Blanco said.
Blanco paired her pleather jacket with pleather pants from Forever21 and Doc Martens. For special occasions or during colder leather, she wears a thicker, real leather jacket.
“This other jacket, which is vintage leather from Andrew Marc, and was given to me secondhand, is heavier, so I usually pair it with a tank top. For bottoms, I wear it with black pants or a skirt,” Blanco said.
There’s truly no wrong way to style leather, since it goes well with so many different clothing styles and trends. Considering that there’s a variety of price points and items to choose from, it’s worth giving leather a shot to amp up your style!
Image Credit: Lydia Hurley for The Campus Trainer