Leather

I’m somewhere between being minimalistic and profligate….

Saba ruffle top, leather a-line skirt, Scanlan Theodore thigh high boots, Marc Jacobs clutch

Warning: this blog post is going to be somewhat contradictory to what I may have written about….because fashion.

Fashion for me is something I have always adored. From beautiful fabrics and textures to extravagant evening wear. Some days I dress as a minimalist would dress; jeans, a t-shirt and white sneakers. And other days, I cram every pattern known to woman in one outfit…along with some sequins! But then my happy-medium probably fits somewhere in between. But what sterotypical group does that fit into you ask?! What blogger doesn’t haven’t a title?! Well, to be honest I don’t fit into any one category. I’m seriously stuck somewhere between a minimalist and profligate!

Thinking back to my hay days; I tried every trend. Remember corduroy and tencel? I tried it. Remember stirrup pants and low waisted jeans with belly tops? I tried it! And remember low cut tops and dresses that came down to your belly button….Yep, I tried it! For me, the wow factor was something that enticed me. As I grew older and realised the importance of good quality materials, I started to make wiser choices when purchasing staple wardrobe pieces. But I felt I lost that pizzaz, that special feeling a unique dress can make you feel. Those are the outfits that made fashion exciting for me.

And yes, I suppose I should be purchasing more conservative pieces as I work in a corporate environment. But why can’t I have both? Why can’t I have a little pizzaz in what would be an ordinary mid-week work outfit?

That’s why I like ruffles, feathers, fringing and sequins. They add an extra element to what would be a pretty plain outfit. The outfit I’m wearing in this post is fairly conservative in terms of the colour palette. But the extra detail in the sleeves and the thigh high boots add a little extra something. And if you’re anything like me, where you’re not really a minimalist, but you’re not widely extravagant (anymore) – adding a little extra ruffle and texture helps lift a somewhat plain outfit.

Saba ruffle top, leather a-line skirt, Scanlan Theodore thigh high boots

I really do believe the best way to pull off a few extra pizzazy pieces without compromising your level of classiness, is to pay a huge amount of attention to how well each piece fits you. And that essentially comes down to good tailoring. And there a few ways to accomplish this; size appropriately, wear styles that suit you and buy quality.

Some fast fashion stores will have pieces that fit perfectly, but most of the time I find I have to compromise on the fit. This is ok for the occasional one-season wonder, but for those pieces that are extravagant in their mere presence and have a timeless quality (e.g. long fur coat, sequin pencil skirt, or leather trench), opt for quality via good brands or vintage stores.

I don’t think we need to categorise ourselves into a certain style group. My style is constantly evolving, and I like that. I pretty much know what suits me and what doesn’t, but it doesn’t mean I won’t branch out and experiment. But what I am certain, is that I love that fashion can make me feel unique and inspired. In a world full of stereotypes and social groups, be confident enough in yourself to trust your own style judgment.

I often align style analogies with life…but it resonants with me. If you are confident in your own values and self-beliefs, everything falls into place around you. When you are fearful and doubtful, you’ll second guess every decision you make, which in turn makes those around you uneasy. And the most important lesson of all…don’t be afraid to make mistakes. When you’re not making mistakes and learning from them, you’re not growing. Sometimes playing it safe is actually the most dangerous decision you can make.

Leather skirt, silk shirt, leather thigh high boots, Chanel handbag

If you like to pine over fashion inspiration, check out my Pinterest and instagram page –

https://www.instagram.com/leatherandsoie/

Thanks for reading

K- Leather & Soie

What I wore:

Top – http://www.saba.com.au

Skirt – Willow (this brand isn’t available anymore). For similar (and better) styles check out http://www.kitx.com.au

Boots – http://www.scanlantheodore.com

Coat – http://www.viktoriaandwoods.com.au

Clutch – Marc Jacobs from http://www.davidjones.com.au

August 18, 2017

Leather & Soie2 Comments

Can women really have it all?

Lately I have seen a considerable shift in the movement towards empowering women. I for one, think that is amazing. I believe every woman has the right to feel confident, successful and well…empowered (for a better lack of the word). For me, that is nothing new. I have always stood up for what I believe in, gone after my dreams, and shown an unrelenting desire to succeed. I realise this is hasn’t been the case for a lot of women around the world. But in relation to the culture I observe in Australia, there seems to be an unhealthy approach to women having to ‘have it all.’

Not too long ago women didn’t work so they could bring up children. Slowly we saw a shift toward women forging their way into the corporate world, developing their own businesses and standing up for what they believed in. I felt we started to get to a really empowering stage. And now I fear it has gone too far in the other direction. I see women struggling to maintain a career, have children, be a good wife, cook and clean, have a side hustle, exercise (no, be an athlete), dress well, be a good daughter/sister/aunty/cousin/granddaughter/niece/whatever, maintain friendships and social outings and drink green juices whilst meditating! And if you don’t do all that, who are yo? And are you even a woman? How have we gone from doing a few things well to merely ticking boxes?

Kookaii vest, Sportsgirl earrings, Tom Ford sunglasses J.Crew leopard print belt, Serpant & the Swan polka dot mesh top

Kookaii vest, J.Crew leopard print belt

Servant & the Swan polka dot mesh top, Marc Jacobs snakeskin clutch

I know the usual culprits such as mainstream media and social media have weighed down heavily on this, but can it all be down to what we read and where we scroll? I must admit, I don’t think I can open up Instagram without seeing a ‘we are all feminists’ t-shirt being flaunted. Don’t get me wrong, I am all for empowering women, but I think we need to tread carefully. It’s ok to be a stay at home mum and still struggle. It’s ok to have a career and no children and struggle. It’s ok to not be an athlete at the gym. And it’s ok to not have your shit together. I feel this ’empowerment’ movement has overlooked the ability for women to be sensitive and vulnerable. Just because we are out there kicking arse, doesn’t mean we need to hide our insecurities. In fact, we should share them with one another so we can learn from each others’ mistakes. All the while, supporting women, doing not only amazing ventures but celebrate those women who dedicate their lives to bringing up their children and running a household – as that’s no easy feat either. We need to celebrate it all! And we need to celebrate the fact that women don’t need to ‘have it all’

What is the point in being so tired and stressed every day that you don’t actually get to sit down with your children and just enjoy their company. Just you and them. And what is the point in working long hours, so you can earn more money to spend it on things that impress people you don’t even like? It really is a relentless rat race!

I also feel like everyone has to be busy all the time. Being busy has now become the number one metric in which we measure success. Being busy to me, is very subjective. What does busy even mean? You were busy plucking your eyebrows? What I classify as busy is very different to the person next to me. And that’s ok! I’d like to see people measuring their own level of success by the amount of happiness they bring into their life and to those around them. Because being happy is work. It doesn’t just happen!

Kookaii vest, Viktoria & Woods leather pants, Jo Mercer boots, J.Crew leopard print belt, Serpant & the Swan polka dot mesh top, Marc Jacobs snakeskin clutch, Tom Ford sunglasses, coffee

I am all for women going after their dreams, having a career, starting a business, being a stay at home mum, juggling it all…whatever floats your boat. But do it because it’s the right thing for you. You don’t have to prove yourself to any other woman, man or social group.

I certainly do not have any answers. But I do know that there are many women out there doing amazing things every day who are not celebrated. Or maybe it even lies in the fact that we actually don’t need to celebrate these things at all. Maybe we just need to live out our lives purposely without the need to tick boxes and compare. Or maybe it just comes down to showing your vulnerability a bit more, and creating a more supportive network of women. After all, being uncomfortable is where you find your biggest growth.

As this blog post had nothing to do with what I’m wearing….please find below my outfit details! As always, when I feel good in an outfit I exude confidence. And life is too short not to be confident.

K- Leather & Soie

What I’m wearing:

Vest – http://www.kookai.com.au

Polka dot mesh top – http://www.serpantandtheswan.com

Leopard print belt – http://www.jcrew.com

Leather pants – http://www.viktoriaandwoods.com.au

Boots – http://www.jomercer.com.au

August 10, 2017August 11, 2017

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Back to basics.

I love experimenting with fashion and style. I love to be bold with colour, textures, and shapes. But there is nothing better than putting a pair of comfy jeans, a silk top and a leather jacket and feeling put together. You can spice it up with jewellery and/or a red lip. And you can dress is up or down with either heels, boots or flats. I’m obviously a big advocate on investing in a good capsule wardrobe; but it’s important to understand where to spend your money.

Leather jacket, Witchery silk top, Frame Denim jeans, Tony Bianco boots

It takes a bit of pre-planning, but once you understand what you like, your current lifestyle, and what you feel confident and comfortable in, you’ll soon start to establish your own set of ‘prerequisites’ when out shopping for basics.

For example, I appreciate really good fabrics because they feel good on, look great, are usually very durable and stay intact for longer. But I also like easy-to-maintain clothing. Which is a nicer way of stating that I in fact hate having to worry about hand-washing and ironing! There are some items of clothing that are undoubtedly high-maintenance, and often won’t get worn because of the amount of effort needed to just clean them! And unfortunately, this silk top (I’m wearing – creases and all) is one of those. It creases up so easily, that I find myself having to iron it after trying on a skirt then changing my mind and putting jeans on (what I did here!). But I have other silk items that de-crease much easier, and perhaps I paid a lot more for them. So my advice here is to understand what you are willing to do to maintain your clothes. If constant hand-washing, ironing or dry-cleaning trips are needed, and you don’t have time or money to obtain that type of maintenance, it’s worthwhile looking at some alternatives. By the way, I never iron jeans. Jeans are usually made up of cotton, which is sensitive to heat. If you own raw denim jeans, you run the risk of ruining the colour when you iron them. So if your jeans are quite crinkly, hanging them up in the bathroom to steam whilst you shower should suffice.

Another thing to factor in when shopping for basics is your lifestyle. And by this I mean, your occupation, what your weekends entail, whom you hang out with, and weather/climate. If your job requires you to wear corporate wear during the week, and you also go out and socialise on the weekend in dressy locations; you may not require as much loungewear/casual wear. Whereas if you wear more casual attire during the week and over the weekend; your basic wardrobe will comprise more so of jeans, sweaters and t-shirts.

My lifestyle is a little bit complicated! I wear corporate wear during the week, but also have to take into consideration the amount of walking and standing I do in hospitals. Suits and heels are not always ideal, particularly because I get changed in and out of scrubs throughout the day, leaving my clothes in locker rooms all day. Then on the weekend I go to the gym, wear casual outfits, dress up, and also love to utilise formal events to really explore my dressy attire! I like everything! And I don’t like to skimp on any item of clothing. For example, I have literally lived in a gym since I was 5 years old (as a gymnast) and I know the importance of having good quality activewear. But I also love experimenting with dresses, skirts, shorts, swimwear and shoes! I’m a bit of a chameleon in that sense. But I know other people would require less variety and would benefit from spending more money on one area of their life, such as casual wear.

If you go out to dinner infrequently, and struggle every time an event comes up, is it because you haven’t invested in the right basics? Do you have a wardrobe full of, dare I say trendy items, that are outdated? Maybe it’s worth having a few really good quality key pieces (from the list lower down the page) to ensure you always have something to wear no matter the occasion.

There a few good items of clothing that every woman would benefit from having in their wardrobe. And it’s worthwhile spending a bit more money (if necessary) to get exactly what you love. I wouldn’t suggest you buy these items from the sales rack, unless you find something that you can honestly say you absolutely love and would wear for years to come. I see a lot of people being sucked into buying sale items because they’re on sale, not necessarily because they love the item.

Here are some items I believe make up a good capsule wardrobe. Use your lifestyle to determine weather some or all of these items suit you. For example, if you never wear heels because of an injury…don’t buy heels! There are plenty of alternatives. And if you don’t wear skirts for some reason, then perhaps you need to understand what looks best on your body type. Sometimes a change of perspective will open a whole new world of styling looks [I’ll do a post further on down the track highlighting ways to enhance all different body shapes and skin tones].

Use these items below as a guide to create your own wardrobe. I haven’t included activewear, loungewear, lingerie or formal wear…as those items will depend drastically on your needs. But you can create totally different looks by mixing and matching really good basics. Just add some on-trend jewellery, style your hair differently, and wear a different shade of lipstick, and voila – you have versatility!

Basic wardrobe:

Skinny pair of jeans
Looser more casual pair of jeans
Perfectly tailored black blazer
Black cigarette trouser
White shirt (that can be worn casually, dressed up or corporate). This can be silk, cotton or linen – depending on your lifestyle/climate.
Leather pants (for me definitely!)
A-line skirt
Pencil skirt
Leather jacket
Little black dress
Trench coat
Cashmere sweater
Ankle boots (with heels or not)
Classic black heel (pump)
Silk camisole
Denim jacket
White t-shirt
Winter dress (knit)
The perfect summer dress (floral, denim, long or short)
White sneaker
Ballet flats (black, beige or brown)
Flat sandal
Sandal with a heel
Classic sunglasses
Winter boots (thigh high/knee high)
Wrap dress
Silk scarf
Tote bag
Classic dress bag
Classic swimwear
Shorts (denim/linen/silk/cotton – depending on your lifestyle/climate/style)

Leather jacket, Witchery silk top, Frame Denim jeans, Tony Bianco boots

It’s amazing how many outfits you can create from a deceivingly limited list. When you have good quality items, that fit you perfectly, the looks you create are lot more polished and refined. That to me is a sign of a well thought out wardrobe. Furthermore, you haven’t wasted money on items that you never wear – which isn’t good for both your savings and the environment.

I’d love to hear your thoughts. Have you got anything you’d add to that list? How does your lifestyle change the importance of some of those items?

Thanks for dropping by.

For more inspiration check out my Pinterest page – https://au.pinterest.com/leatherandsoie/

K- Leather & Soie

What I wore:

Leather jacket – Willow (doesn’t exist anymore) try http://www.kitx.com.au for similar items

Silk lace camisole top – http://www.witchery.com.au

Jeans – Frame denim from http://www.davidjones.com.au

Boots – http://www.tonybianco.com.au

Lipstick – YSL from http://www.myer.com.au (le rouge No.1)

August 3, 2017

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Effortless (Australian) winter style.

It’s winter, and it sucks. There is no positive way to say that! The short cold days can really get you down. But on the flip side, winter fashion would have to be the most exciting of all seasons because of the endless styling smorgasboard on offer. You can really put your creative mind to the test by experimenting with different textures, prints, angles and basics.

But today’s post is more about effortless winter styling…in Australia where the winter isn’t that cold (even if my lips still go blue)! Sydney see’s quite mild temperatures, and therefore doesn’t require copious amounts of layering. And when you travel for work as much I do, minimalistic packing is quite desirable. Throwing a dress, a coat and boots in a suitcase, with a few other basics is quite liberating.

Despite my un-tanned transculent skin, I am actually enjoying this winter look. It makes a big difference when you wear good quality materials. Leather, wool, cotton, and cashmere are great options to ensure you feel insulated without the excess bulk! Both from layering and winter comfort foods!

Rebecca Vallance leather dress, Oroton leopard print bag

I bought this dress a little while ago from Rebecca Vallance as I new the classic shape would allow me to wear it year on year. I’m looking forward to wearing it with a hot pair of stilettos, big earrings, and super sleek straight hair.

The coat is another classic item that will never age. The coat can be thrown over any outfit for an upscale chic look. And the camel colour is warm and comforting, and will suit most skin tones. But I think it’s important to try different camel coats on to ensure it suits your personal style and colouring. I am also a fan of the long straight coat as it’s not only timeless, but adds an extra element of class without having to try. Tick!

This look reconfirms why I love leather, as it makes effortless style so easy. Adding different textures to an outfit is a simple way of elevating a look that would otherwise be quite simple and questionable boring. And if you’re anything like me, time is of the essence in the morning, and this outfit defines easy styling.

And for extra textural, warm-inducing goodness – add stockings and a cashmere sweater. Easy.

Thanks for dropping by. 🙂

Leather & Soie – K

What I wore:

Dress – http://www.rebeccavallance.com.au

Coat – http://www.seedheritage.com

Boots – http://www.jomercer.com.au

Bag – http://www.oroton.com.au

July 25, 2017

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The little black leather dress

There are some classic wardrobe pieces that are always on-trend. And I like to take a classic piece and add a twist. This little leather number caught my eye the moment it came out. It reminded me of an 80’s leather dress I witnessed when I was younger on video hits (in fact, I still have mood boards about music video outfits!). I very patiently waited until it came on sale, and jumped on it when I could.

I have worn this dress a number times; both casually and dressy. I love how versatile it has been. I love that I can throw on a denim jacket and some casual boots and I have an interesting yet simple outfit. On the flip side, I can throw on some dressier boots, double it up with a leather jacket, add some big earrings (not shown) and I’m ready for a night out. Dresses can be so easy to style…because you only have to think of one item!

Leather dress

Green leather bomber

Boots and leather dress

Seed leather dress

Leather wrap dress

I have been pondering lately about the stigma around wearing the same outfit more than once. I had a chat to some younger millennial women, and they said it’s frowned upon on social media to be seen wearing the same outfit twice. I tried to remember back to when social media first started when I was younger, and it was becoming a slight issue, but not nearly to the same extent is nowadays. Why is it so bad to be seen wearing the same outfit twice?

Is it a lack of money, style, creativity or the deep desire to fit in? It even has a name, ‘outfit repetition syndrome.’ How is that our society has become so self-involved, that wearing the same outfit (no matter the quality), is seen to be embarrassing? I actually think it has come down the fact that nowadays, we as a population have a reduced our ability to focus on one thing. The internet and social media has fed our weak desire to want everything new, and have to have it now. I remember a time when I would save up for an item and cherish it for years. Now, you can have whatever you want, whenever you want, and probably for a much lower price. And after one wear (or photo on insta) it gets thrown out. I don’t know what makes me cringe more; the need to conform or the complete and utter waste we are producing.

What do you do with your unwanted clothes? I know I try to give to charity as much as I can. But is that enough? There has been exponential growth in the amount of clothes thrown out from fast fashion chains over the last 10 years. Fast fashion chains are said to be throwing out nearly 80% of their stock. And to make matters worse; most of these brands produce their clothing out of materials such as polyester. Polyester can take up to 200 years to break down.

I want to hold on to the fact that I cherish good quality items, such as a capsule wardrobe made up of amazing materials, precise tailoring and items I absolutely love. I don’t want to conform to what everyone else is doing. I don’t think that way of living is sustainable. When I choose an on-trend item, I choose it because I love it and it suits me. But I most certainly don’t choose it to showcase a new outfit on instagram.

I believe in choosing great items that can be worn multiple different ways. That to me, is the true meaning of creativity and style. Anyone can max out their credit card to buy the latest top worn by Kendall Jenner. Style, like anything, takes careful thought and consideration. Nothing comes easy. And as a side note, no amount of new outfits will ever make up for a lack of style.

Harsh, but true.

Maybe a dark topic, but an important one nonetheless. For me, classics like the LBD can never be overlooked. Choose wisely, and trust your instincts. 🙂

What I wore:

Dress – Seed Heritage (although not available anymore) http://www.seedheritage.com

Denim jacket – http://www.leejeans.com.au

Taupe boots – http://www.ninewest.com.au

Green leather jacket – http://www.scanlantheodore.com

Black boots – http://www.jomercer.com.au

Sunglasses – http://www.tomford.com

Earrings – http://www.sportsgirl.com.au

K- Leather & Soie

July 12, 2017

Leather & Soie1 Comment

Is wearing black & white lazy?

Woah, that’s a bold title! I actually oscillated over a few different blog titles for a while, because my intention was to evoke some sort of emotion when you read it. I have been thinking a lot lately about personal style and what that actually means to say that you have found your own personal style. I often find myself saying to people that it’s important to know who you are and dress for yourself. But when we finally discover that elusive ‘style’ (or pretend to), is it because we just get comfortable and lazy? And if you haven’t caught on by now…I kind of use style as a sort of metaphor for life in general! But I also really love fashion and styling too! Let’s just say, it’s a bit of both. 🙂

Sass and bide trench coat

Statement earrings

V&W leather pants

I have gone through many different style phases throughout my life, and a few stand out in particular. I remember quite fondly when I was 9 years old being heavily into the Spice Girls (I think every girl that age was). And I would dress up as my favourite Spice Girl (Posh) and dance into a video camera, recording what can only be a terrible rendition of ‘Wannabe!’ I had this fabulous little leopard print skirt and jacket combo, that I’d wear with black opaque stockings and black boots. Not much has changed…. I’d wear that again! And I still wear similar outfits, and dance around the house dancing to pop music and dream of being on a video clip! If only I kept up my singing lessons…

But then growing up happened. I got heavily influenced by trends, magazines, friends and hobbies. I circled in and out of being really experimental with my styling choices to being quite conservative. I mean, I have rocked a crop top on more than one occasion. That would be the influence of the dance culture I was apart of and Britney Spears! It was normal as a dancer to wear midriff baring tops with really low jeans. When I look back, I admire myself for having such confidence. As I got older I became more refined, which I originally thought was a really good thing. But I started to wonder…am I just being complacent?

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think I will be rocking crop tops and low cut jeans anytime soon…but I’d like to stay open to it. And this shift in mindset has worked wonders in terms of my outlook on life.

I am in a place where I feel good about experimenting again. I have a wardrobe with all the basic pieces required to throw a good outfit together without thinking. This caters to my adult-ing life where life can get so crazy that you don’t have time to think about what to wear. And on the flip side, I like to play with colours and prints that I had previously not tried.

And back to the life metaphor…I do the same thing. I feel as if I have some really good foundational values in which I am equipped to make big choices in life, but I also feel as if I am utilising that fearlessness trait that I used to possess as a teenager. The ‘I am going to go for it, and I don’t care what people think’ mantra. And by ‘go for it’, I mean really go for it. Try and fail. But learn from the failed attempts.

Now, I want to get one thing straight…I love black and white outfits! And I don’t think this outfit, or other black and white outfits, are a sign of being lazy. But I do think it’s easy to become complacent. And I could be talking about my outfit or life in general. I like to think that I am always pushing the boundaries, but I’m sure there are areas in my life (and style) that I could step it up.

When embarking on something new it often feels a bit uneasy at first, and this is probably because it’s unfamiliar and not apart of your sphere. But go with that feeling of uncomfortableness, and do it anyway. Learn to stay curious without being judgemental. You’ve probably heard yourself saying in the past in regards to a new trend, “I’d never wear that!” And then 6 months later you wonder how you ever lived without it. That’s perspective. The first time you saw it, it was new and uncomfortable because your brain hadn’t seen a style like that before (or in that context), and now you’ve seen it everywhere and it grew on you…In actual fact, you just accepted it as being your new norm.

I will be honest and say that I find styling black and white outfits easier as I tend to add a whole bunch of different textures and shapes. You don’t have to worry so much about matching colours and patterns, you can just throw it all together and appreciate the look for the silhouette it forms and the individual features. This outfit could have been boring (and be deemed lazy)…but with the added texture difference from the leather pants, knit and the denim (yes, it’s denim) black trench, you’ve got quite an interesting look. Not to mention the individual shapes from the skinny leg leather pant, flared sleeves, long trench and big earrings. I would say in some instances, monochrome and black and white outfits can be more difficult to style when aiming to achieve a sense of creativity.

A few tips on thinking outside the square when it becomes to styling outfits:

Try a different shape jean. If you always go for a skinny leg; why not try a straight leg.
Pick a colour combination that you wouldn’t usually associate together and see if you can come up with an outfit. E.g red and pink, orange and pink
Instead of saying, ‘I’d never wear that,’ think ‘how would I wear that?’
Always wear loads of colour? Opt for a monochrome look. Or vice versa.
Never wear dresses? Go out and try a bunch on in all different shapes. Go against all of your natural instincts.

Now, this won’t be easy at first. You’ll feel a lot of resistance. But once you start to open up to the idea of change, you will start to feel empowered and alive. I can guarantee you will have some failed attempts along the way, but it’s important to stay vulnerable and enjoy the process. After all, if you’re not failing, you’re not learning.

Isn’t it interesting that style evolution is much the same as evolving as a person. That’s why personal style, to me, is elusive.

Thanks for reading! I’d love to hear your thoughts – leave a comment or email me on k.leatherandsoie@gmail.com. You can also check out my insta page for style inspiration – @leatherandsoie

What I wore:

Trench – Sass & Bide (no longer available) http://www.sassandbide.com.au

Leather pants – http://www.viktoriaandwoods.com.au

Ruffle knit – http://www.saba.com.au

Loafers – http://www.ninewest.com.au

Earrings – markets http://www.plant4bowden.com.au

Sunglasses – http://www.tomford.com

Bag – http://www.oroton.com.au

K- Leather & Soie

July 6, 2017July 12, 2017

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One skirt that stands the test of time.

One look at this picture and I’m sure you can guess what skirt I’m talking about! The classic pencil skirt that has been seen to be worn effortlessly through different eras. It’s flattering, feminine and versatile. But can it be it timeless in leather?

Now there’s no guessing as to why I picked this skirt… because well, leather is my thing! But what I appreciate most about this leather skirt is that fact that such a simple style has been elevated by the fact that the added texture the leather provides, completely transforms this outfit. I also love how the skirt accentuates the body to give it a sexy and edgy look.

Now this look didn’t come easy! I had been looking for the perfect black leather pencil skirt, with a thigh split for quite some time! I finally found it on Revolve.com by a brand called TY-LR. This brand was originally under the ‘Australian Fashion Labels’ umbrella (along with Finders Keepers & Cameo), but unfortunately is no longer available. When I received the skirt, I was disappointed to find that it was more of a relaxed fit. I understood the look it created, but I knew what I wanted. And I also know that a more tailored, fitted look suits my body much better. I went to a reputable leather tailor and we spent weeks tweaking the skirt bit by bit until I was happy with the fit. I highly recommend you do this with your clothing. When it fits and feels better, you are more likely to get more wear out of it. And when it comes to leather, always ask that they are equipped to handle leather garments.

Black leather pencil skirt

Black polka dot mesh top

And unbeknown to me, my mum actually had the same skirt when she was 18. In fact, she still has it hanging in her wardrobe! I was quite amused that I had gone out and bought (and tailored) the same skirt! She has such fond memories of wearing this skirt, as it went with everything. She could wear it to numerous events and social outings and never tire of the look. It goes to show that investing in a wardrobe staple like this skirt, really pays off. She has told me that she would like to get it altered to she can wear it again. I rest my case.

Mesh top & black leather pencil skirt

Servant & the Swan polka dot mesh top

This polka dot mesh top by Serpant & the Swan makes me so happy! I love the long sleeves on it, which makes for successful layering. I have wanted to try this top for a while now, with nothing underneath it and throw on a jacket or vest or even a dress with a plunging neckline. The layering effect will look amazing! In fact the styling options are almost endless with this top. I also think polka dots are one of those ‘trend’ styles that never seem to really go out of fashion. What do you think?

In true Leather & Soie style, I added a black blazer with silk (soie) lapels and sleeves. This is a great example of wearing the same colour, but creating a really texturally interesting look. And the best part is, it’s so easy to achieve.

So this is one of my favourite go-to looks. The classic pencil skirt, heels, mesh top and a blazer. There is so much to love about all these individual pieces, but the fact that you can throw it altogether and look so tailored and put-together, makes the OCD-ness (made that word/acronym up) in me jump for joy! When you feel put together, you act put together. Fake it to you make I say!

With good basics hanging in your wardrobe you really can achieve countless different looks. And the classic pencil skirt in black leather has proven to me that it has stood the test of time and can now be added to that list.

I’d love to hear your thoughts. Leave a message or drop me an email at k.leatherandsoie@gmail.com. You can also check out my instagram feed – @leatherandsoie for more inspiration.

What I’m wearing:

Skirt – TY-LR via http://www.revolve.com (brand no longer available)

Mesh top – http://www.serpantandtheswan.com

Shoes – Christian Louboutin http://www.christianlouboutin.com or http://www.davidjones.com.au

Earrings – http://www.oroton.com.au

K- Leather & Soie

June 27, 2017July 7, 2017

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