Leather and studded clothing may make you think of punk rock bands or biker gangs, but if you’ve been paying attention to the runways, it should make you think of, well, you! Designers have decided these trends are a must-have for fall/winter 2012. That’s right; leather and studs are back in style.
Leather is a major trend for the fall/winter 2012 season. Technically, leather was never out of style. It is the choice material for handbags, jackets and shoes, but this is the first time since the early 2000s that leather pants, skirts and dresses have made a comeback. Designers such as Alice + Olivia and Vivienne Westwood have created entire ensembles out of leather, and now retailers are following suit. Retailers, from H&M to asos.com to JC Penney, now carry this trend. Leather pieces range from a whole garment made of leather to simple incorporations of leather, such as a trim or collar.
The trick to making this trend work is to combine it with another trend. If you’re going to wear a leather dress, try out baroque style by pairing royal blue heels and an emerald necklace. For leather pants, try combining Gothic revival by wearing oxblood-colored pants with a cream sweater and black flats. For leather shorts, create a glam-rock-inspired look by wearing a studded collar blouse and ankle boots. Bottom line: experiment with any other trend, no matter how odd the combination may seem. But if you aren’t comfortable wearing a full leather piece, don’t be afraid to try it out in small doses, like a shirt with leather capped sleeves.
Vegans, believe it or not, but you can join in this trend too! Most “leather” products sold at retailers are actually faux leather, so you don’t have to be afraid of compromising your values. Check the tag of a garment or ask a salesperson to confirm if the piece is fake leather or not. You can also visit www.peta.org to learn more about fake leather materials and trusted vegan designers. From one vegan to another, I would not lead you astray.
Studded clothing has also risen from the fashion grave this season. Studs are still being used as embellishments, varying from a few to many. One unexpected area where we’re seeing studs are on shoes. Studded heels and loafers are the most popular types of shoes, but studded boots and flats are also just as in-season. Designer Steve Madden in particular is all about studded loafers. Studs are also accompanying blouses, skirts, shorts and dresses.
Rocking the stud trend is just as easy as rocking jewelry. If there is minimal studding on a garment, use it to enhance the overall outfit. For instance, studs and leather go great together. The studs help bring more edge to the already edgy leather. If the piece is heavily studded, go simple. When there is too much studding, it acts more as a pattern and less of a decoration, so skip the accessories and only pair it with simple clothing. So if you have a heavily-studded top, wear only dark jeans and neutral-colored shoes. Do not try to mix jewelry or bright colors together; you will only add clutter to a chic outfit.
The same rules can be applied to studded shoes. Heels already make an impression; the studded heel makes a statement. Unless you are going to fully commit to a glam-rock style, keep the rest of the outfit simple. You have more freedom to add color and jewelry, but remember, keep it simple! A red dress with studded heels is hot, but a red dress with a belt, a bracelet and dangle earrings with studded heels is not. Similarly, a gray sweater, jeans, a headband and black studded loafers is classy, but a print sweater, leggings, a scarf, a hair decoration and studded loafers is overkill.