The first time I took note of leather shorts and leather skirts as a fashion statement was back in 1985, when I watched the movie Mask, starring Cher (aka “Rusty”) as a protective mother with a serious wild side. Back then, after seeing Cher and her biker friends wearing leather shorts while riding on the back of Harleys, all I wanted was to be tall, lithe and cool like they were. But as a pre-teen in the suburbs, I was none of these and nowhere near anything faster than a 10-speed. So leather never made it into my back-to-school purchases that year.
Fast-forward 20-plus years, when sweeter-than-sweet Whitney Port of MTV show The City sported leather shorts on the red carpet and Gwyneth Paltrow wore leather biker shorts paired with a ladylike blazer and grey heels to a movie screening. Now that the look had evolved from biker chick to Hollywood chic, could I pull it off this time? This season? All it took was seeing Whitney’s co-star Olivia Palermo looking super sophisticated embracing more than once to send me looking for leather this fall.
Whitney Port at a department store event, Los Angeles, October 2009 (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images for Kohl's Department Stores)
Gwyneth Paltrow at a move screening, New York, February 2009 (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
Olivia Palermo at a launch event, New York, July 2009 (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images)
The key to making leather look trendy rather than trashy (sorry, Cher) is to take a cue from Hollywood and balance the hard look of leather with soft and feminine pieces—a muted top, a classic quilted bag, a menswear blazer and quality suede heels.
My Leather Shopping List
1. First Things First—Start with the Leather
Proenza Schouler Black Leather Zipper Skirt (starting bid, $199.99)
Women's Leather Shorts (buy it now price, $14.98)
2. Add a Quilted Bag. . .
Vintage 80’s Blue Leather Quilted Gold Chain Strap Purse (starting bid, $9.95)
A Chanel-inspired, ladylike quilted back provides a cool contract to edgy leather.
3. A Classic Navy Blazer . . .
American Eagle Navy Blazer (but it now price, $34.99)
The combos of navy/black and preppy/rock are a little street smart plus a little Upper East Side style–just like Gwyneth Paltrow.
4. And a Soft Flirty Top
Elie Tahari Silk Top (starting bid, $69.99)
Tuck in a neutral top in a soft fabric like silk or cotton.
5. Finally, Step Into Some Suede Platform Stilettos
Grey Suede Tribute Too Double Platform Pump Stilettos (starting bid, $.99)
While I long for the originals by Yves Saint Lauren, I may go for a less expensive style to satisfy my need.
A former fashion and beauty news editor at In Touch magazine, New York-based writer Kim Martin has personally interviewed hundreds of celebrities about their style.
