LEATHER weat
They’re not budgetfriendly, but a wellmaintained buttery soft leather skirt will be in your wardrobe for decades to come,
Like a crisp white shirt, a perfectly worn pair of jeans and a fitted-toperfection blazer, leather skirts are classic fashion hero pieces that have earned icon status in wardrobes around the world.
Longwearing, and surprisingly versatile, the piece has been a mainstay in Kate Sylvester’s collections. The designer, who recently announced her intention to close the brand mid next year, says her leather pieces, crafted by a long-standing manufacturer from lambskin, are “the ultimate timeless investment, they are sophisticated but tough and feel incredible to wear”.
Sylvester’s patchwork style Betty skirt from the current season range is an A-line midi style, a chic trending silhouette on offer in many stores this season. Other options range from prim pencil cuts to flirtier flared variations. While still personality filled, the longer lined versions are noticeably more polished than their hard edged rock ‘n’ roll adjacent mini skirt sisters.
In terms of styling, a fail safe approach is to make like Sylvester does – pairing her own leather skirts with a simple T-shirt or knit tucked in. Come the depth of winter the designer extends wearability by layering her skirt under another classic piece, an oversized trench “always accessorised with my signature chain necklace and swipe of lipstick”.
It should be noted that leather skirts are real investment pieces: Their expensive look is matched on their price tags, reflecting both the material cost and craft that goes into their production. That’s even more the case with the shin grazing ¾ length styles that are popular at the moment.
To lessen the financial burden, or if you avoid animal products in your diet and wardrobe, you could consider a ‘vegan’ or synthetic option. Though sometimes marketed as a more sustainable or ethical alternative to ‘real’ leather, pleather is often made from fossil-fuel based plastics, whose production processes have their own environmental impact. Sourcing a secondhand or vintage piece is another option.
Because you’re likely to be outlaying a significant amount you’ll want to keep them looking their best for decades to come, and that means taking care to store them properly. Sylvester advises her customers to store their leather garments in a closet, hung on a good quality coat hanger. “I recommend a gentle spot clean or professionally clean leather garments with drycleaners only.”