7 different ways to style a leather jacket

Something even more feminine than the black dress is a flowered dress. It makes an interesting balance between the softness of the pattern and the roughness of the leather. Choose colors that complement the color of the jacket: brown jackets with earthy tones dresses, like the one in the picture and black jackets with light pink and purple dresses.A leather jacket just screams "edgy", and an all black outfit just makes it sexier. But you can tone it down a bit by using the ultimate feminine piece: the little black dress. To play even more with the feminine/masculine, choose man inspired shoes, like the oxfords in the picture (they even have studs!)Remember: a leather jacket is not just for bikers (or aviators). When paired with light, neutral colors, such as the delicate beige dress in the picture, a leather jacket can bring structure to an otherwise flowing dress. An outfit like this can be worn to a lunch meeting or to a date.View the list »
This is the easiest way to style a leather jacket: with a white t-shirt and jeans. You can adapt this combo to your body type (skinny jeans with an oversize t-shirt or flared cut jeans with a fitted t-shirt). The outfit can be totally transformed by the shoes: flat sandals for everyday errands and high heels for a night out.

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Leather is going to be a major trend for Spring 2013, but you don’t need to wait until spring to look trendy and stylish.

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Read on to learn how to get creative with your old leather jacket while it is still winter and collect inspiration for the coming spring.

Plus, you can take advantage of winter sales to snatch up a cheaper leather jacket.

But just because leather is trendy, don’t think leather jackets will come out of style soon.

They have been around since 1900, when pilots and aviators wore brown leather jackets as a part of their uniform.

Their fashion staple status came around the 40’s and 50’s, when Hollywood stars, such as James Stewart and Gary Cooper donned them on and off screen.

Leather is not only stylish, it's also a long lasting material. Since it adds enough warm without any bulk, it's perfect for mild winter days.

The downside is that leather is usually costly and made from animal hides.

But there are less expensive and more vegan options, such as jackets made of pleather, which is artificial leather.

Either way, it’s important to know how to style your jacket in different ways to make the most out of your jacket.

Forget about John Travolta in Grease: leather jackets are not just for the cool kids in motorcycles.

Leather jackets can complement a feminine outfit, take you to work looking professional and pulled together, or give you a rockstar look when you're going out.

Here are 7 different ideas on how to wear your leather jacket – from edgy to classic.

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  • This is the easiest way to style a leather jacket: with a white t-shirt and jeans. You can adapt this combo to your body type (skinny jeans with an oversize t-shirt or flared cut jeans with a fitted t-shirt). The outfit can be totally transformed by the shoes: flat sandals for everyday errands and high heels for a night out.
  • Remember: a leather jacket is not just for bikers (or aviators). When paired with light, neutral colors, such as the delicate beige dress in the picture, a leather jacket can bring structure to an otherwise flowing dress. An outfit like this can be worn to a lunch meeting or to a date.
  • A leather jacket just screams "edgy", and an all black outfit just makes it sexier. But you can tone it down a bit by using the ultimate feminine piece: the little black dress. To play even more with the feminine/masculine, choose man inspired shoes, like the oxfords in the picture (they even have studs!)
  • Something even more feminine than the black dress is a flowered dress. It makes an interesting balance between the softness of the pattern and the roughness of the leather. Choose colors that complement the color of the jacket: brown jackets with earthy tones dresses, like the one in the picture and black jackets with light pink and purple dresses.
  • Who'd have thought that such contrasting fabrics like leather and lace would go well together? It's the perfect mix of edgy with delicate: style your leather jacket with a lace dress, or if you don't want to go all the way, choose a lace blouse and a pair of dark jeans.
  • Don't limit your leather jacket! Make it even more versatile by adding sudden pops of color to it. A patterned top, or a bright skirt (or all the options above like in the picture) make for a trendy approach to the leather jacket. This way you are making your leather jacket work with much more pieces from your closet.
  • Are you stuck in the "leather jacket and jeans" rut? Go for a maxi skirt instead. The long skirt helps fight off the cold in style and adds a feminine touch, while the cropped jacket flatters your figure and balances out the length of the skirt. Plus, the jacket makes the skirt even more modern (no Little House on the Prairie outfits here!)
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, Richmond Style Examiner

Paula Peters is a free lance writer living in Richmond. She loves scouting thrift stores in search of fabulous pieces. When she is not writing, she can be found on Richmond's coffee shops doing some people watching. Contact Paula at paulabpeters@gmail.com

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