Faux leather is one of the key trends for this autumn. However styling it can be a challenge. Particularly faux leather leggings and trousers can be unflattering particularly for those of us with curves. Also what kind of look should you go for in the middle years – when biker/grunge may not be quite the thing? My mission last week was to bring home a few faux leather items to try out, and see what suited me.
Most of the items in this post came from Lakeside which is a shopping mall in Essex, and easy to get to if you live in east London like me. I have recently given up on my nearby Westfield. Its opening in 2012 just before the London Olympics was probably one of the most exciting things to happen ever. However these days I am steering clear; it’s always crowded even on a week day morning… and social distancing is more or less impossible. Lakeside is roomier though, and its also smartened itself up, making for a much more pleasant shopping experience.
Here is what I wore on the day :
I really like this black dress from Asos, which has this season’s volume sleeves which you can also shop below. I accessorised it with some items I already had in my wardrobe. I find using faux leather animal print as an accent to make a plain black outfit more stylish works really well. The snake print pumps are from New Look last autumn (but here is a similar pair from LK Bennet), the belt and snake print bag are from Primark, but you can bag a very similar one on ebay.
I did not want to bulk myself out with a coat so I wore this faux fur and leather gilet which is years old (and which my daughter famously wore when playing the wolf in little red riding hood:). This one by Select fashion is a bit different but very glamorous.
Given the Covid situation all fitting rooms are closed so I did a major try on when I got back home. I bought three pairs of faux leather leggings/trousers, and also a pair of chunky boots.
Here is the first look with these biker style leggings from Topshop. I tried them with and without a blazer.
I actually really like these leggings and think I might keep them. I decided to size up to a 12. I think I would have squeezed into a 10 but these work fine with a belt and then are not too tight over the hips and thighs. They have a soft lining, and are great quality, and I think the hardware and styling looks stylish rather than tacky. If you are looking for a new pair for this season then I would not hesitate but go for these, and they also come in Ecru.,
Another pair I would highly recommend, are this pair from SpanxI did not buy these are part of this haul, but they are still available online and a best seller. These do not have any detailing and are more like a pair of gym leggings that suck you in excellently. So they are better with a longer top or cardigan to hide the top. If you are thinking of dabbling in the faux leather legging trend then this is a great place to start.
I also wanted to try out some different trouser styles. First of all if this pair of culottes from Zara. They come in brown and black. Pros, they are soft and comfortable and good quality. Con’s their cropped length makes them a bit harder to style in winter, and for me the fit does not really work. While they fit well around the waist they pull across the thighs and therefore don’t hang properly., and therefore I won’t be keeping them However I still recommend them and depending on your body shape they are worth a try.
Finally are these flared pair from Top Shop. I really like these, the fit is great and the length too. My only reticence is that I am not sure how much wear I would get out of them, as opposed to those in a legging style. I’ve styled them in two ways here, with a plain black top and then with a top with a geometric print and neutral coloured bag. If you don’t really suit the more skinny jegging type trouser and like to wear a flare to balance out your proportions then this would also be a great pair to try.
I have also been on the hunt for a pair of chunky or biker style boots. I’ve tried on a few pairs and in theory I like them, however in practice they don’t really do anything for me. However at last I found this pair in Top shop. They tick all the boxes they have a chunky platform sole, so you get height with discomfort. They also have a sock style top which elongates the leg. Anyway I love these and will be keeping them.
I also tried them with this dress from Zara (which I could not find online) and I think they also work well with a pair of black opaques. I won’t be keeping the dress as its just not quite special enough to earn a place in my wardrobe, however if you are on the look out for a warm verstatile autumnal dress then I do recommend this one.
