A closet staple that stands the test of time, is always a leather skirt. Whether you choose a mini, pencil length or even a midi length, a leather skirt is such a wardrobe staple. It feels modern, yet classic, sleek but also sexy. A great leather skirt can easily take you into the office to date night, to even a casual weekend. But I think many women underutilize this closet staple because they may be intimidated by the fabric and how to style it. So today, it’s all about leather skirt outfits, how to style them and more.
8 Leather Skirt Outfits
Leather skirts come in so many varying styles from different lengths from mini to maxi, but also fits and textures. You can reach for a fitted mini, or an a-line midi. Maybe a pleated leather skirt that adds volume an texture, to a leather skirt in a color besides classic black. Leather skirts are super adaptable across seasons and even occasions, so understanding proportion, fabric balance, and footwear pairing is truly key to creating great outfits in your leather skirts.
Are Leather Skirts In Style?
Leather skirts are a classic for a reason. They consistently make a resurgence every fall and winter and work well with whatever shoe and jacket pairing is trending at the moment. Leather skirts can be a true closet basic with endless pairing options. Plus, with so many great faux leather skirt options now available, these pieces are more affordable than ever, and there are so many silhouettes to choose from that fit your own personal style.
What To Wear With A Leather Skirt
There are some staple pieces I think always pair well with leather skirts. From year to year, season to season, some of these may change over time. But when I think of a leather skirt, these are the pieces I think are always great to wear with a leather skirt.
Tights
Since leather skirts are often worn in the fall and winter, it is always great to add a nice pair of tights. Choose tights that have a slight sheerness to them, usually a denier 30 is great. I think this combination feels super sexy, but also really classic.
Knee High Boots
When styling a mini or midi leather skirt, a knee high boot is a go-to for a shoe option. Sometimes it can feel overwhelming to pair leather with leather, so choose a suede, or textured leather, to contrast your leather skirt.
Loafers
Another great shoe option to pair with your leather skirts are loafers. I find the more masculine style of a loafer pairs well with the sexiness of a leather skirt.
Sweaters or Turtlenecks
A go-to top to pair with your leather skirts are cozy sweaters or turtlenecks. I especially love a fitted one tucked into a skirt for a really polished look.
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STYLE TIPS
How To Style Mini Skirts For Fall And Winter
Mini skirts, no matter if they’re leather or not, are so easy and versatile to style for fall and winter. They’re a staple in my closet, and these are my best tips on how to wear them for the season.
see the tips
How To Style A Leather Skirt
Choose Footwear Based On Hemlines
I think one of the challenges with styling a skirt in general, is always the shoe choice. I find that if you are going super short in a mini, you can opt for a lot of options. Knee high boots are my preferred combination, but you can always do a combat style boot, a loafer or a ballet flat and even in a fashion sneaker.
For a pencil skirt or midi length, I prefer a shoe that either hits below the knee, or shows off the ankle. Nothing really in-between here or it can cut off your proportions. With pencil skirts, especially more fitted ones, I like a heel or knee high boot.
Balance Your Proportions
Anytime we’re putting outfits together, balancing proportions is key. If you’re doing a fitted mini skirt, which I find are the most common styles, you’ll want to balance the top portion with something a bit more relaxed. This isn’t a steadfast rule though. I find a fitted sleek turtleneck with a leather skirt to be such a classic combination. But if you’re unsure what top to choose, a general rule of thumb is if the bottom is more voluminous, go more fitted and tailored on top, and vice versa.
Define Your Waist
Anytime I wear a skirt of almost any length, I find myself always wanting to define my waist. This can be simply tucking in your shirt, a full tuck, half tuck or yes, even a Millennial front tuck if you don’t have a crazy long tail hanging out the back.
Defining your waist is also not entirely necessary. There are other ways to create shape or tweak an outfit so that you aren’t swimming in fabric. You can very well wear an oversized sweater over a mini skirt, your bare legs almost act as a way to balance the look. Or if you do an oversized button up over a midi skirt, you can easily roll up the sleeves, and wear a heel to create length and structure to the look.
Mix Textures And Fabrics The Right Way
Mixing textures and fabrics with your leather skirt can feel a little intimidating, but trust me, it’s not that big of a deal! Leather skirts can feel more structured and edgy at times, and you can easily balance that with softer more drapey fabrics. But you can also pair your leather pieces with chunky sweaters, ribbed cotton turtlenecks and even graphic tees.
You can easily add texture and contrast too by wearing silk with your leather, or casual cotton, to balance the piece. I would avoid wearing more leather on top esepcially since your shoes will likely be leather too. A mix of fabrics is always a great option for creating balance in your looks.
Leather Skirt Outfit Ideas
Black Leather Skirt Outfit Ideas
A classic black leather skirt outfit in my book is some variation of this combination. A leather mini, with a loafer or knee high boot, a slim fitting top and maybe a third piece like a blazer over top. This combination is so classic and effortless. Depending on the weather, add tights and boots, or go a little longer with the hemline to make it office-appropriate.
Casual Leather Skirt Outfits
When dressing down a leather skirt for a more casual take, it’s all about shoe and top choices. These will balance things out to make things more casual. Try a combat boot, or even a fashion sneaker. A loafer works great here too. And for your top, choose something casual like a tee or sweater.
Leather Pencil Skirt Outfit Ideas
Leather pencil skirts are great for the office, or a statement look. I like to pair these with a high heel or knee high boot to add length. Avoid any ankle booties as they will cut your leg off and visually feel off-balance. For even more balance, be sure to tuck your shirt in to create balance and proportions.
Brown Leather Skirt Outfit Ideas
There’s more to leather skirts than just the classic black options. Try a chocolate brown leather mini or midi for a fun update to this classic closet staple. These are great for early fall and spring too as they feel a little lighter in color palette than a black skirt.
Burgundy Leather Skirt Outfit Ideas
Another great color to try is a burgundy leather skirt. Always the “it” color of the winter season, burgundy is so easy and fun to style. Try pairing it with browns, soft blues, and neutrals.
Patent Leather Skirt Outfit Ideas
Patent leather is another great option for your leather skirt looks. I love the shiny effect this fabric has (and while it’s not technically patent leather, it’s patent leather adjacent). It’s great for a night out, holiday parties and so on. I styled mine with a leopard sweater tucked in all the way around and lots of gold jewelry. A tall stiletto heel is the perfect shoe choice here, too.
Leather skirts are such a great piece to have in your wardrobe for fun, stylish and sexy outfit combinations. You can see here how easy they are to dress up for the office, casual for the weekend, or a fun and bold fashion statement. If you’re investing in a real leather skirt, you’ll want to be sure to condition your leather just like you would a leather jacket. You can check out my tutorial on conditioning a leather jacket here.
And if you’re not much of a skirt person, and maybe shorts are more your thing, these styling tips still apply. Leather shorts are one of my favorite things in my closet. Get inspired with my leather shorts outfits here.
