Wearing leather in the office can pose difficulty. How do you style it to temper it’s bad-ass, rocker-chick image. Of course, in certain fields its a non-issue. The fashion industry and the arts celebrate its iconoclastic nature. But in a corporate setting things can be different. Companies (or clients) may have far more conservative expectations and policies regarding dress code that can keep you leather limited to your weekend wardrobe.
But there is hope.
DailyLeather follower @cocobordeaux has been experimenting recently with incorporating leather into her work wardrobe. We reached out to her and asked how it’s been going.
DL: How often do you wear leather fashion to work?
@CB: Not often – I have a leather pencil skirt that I’ll wear on occasion with a blazer if I feel like being risky!
DL: How confident are you about your decision to do so?
@CB: My leather pencil skirt is very conservative, almost an exact cut as a wool Brooks Brothers one, so I feel that it’s not too big of a work fashion risk!
DL: How long has leather been a part of your wardrobe?
@CB: For a long time – at least since college. Investing in a leather pencil skirt and leather leggings has given many pieces in my wardrobe more mileage!
DL: Does anyone else wear leather to your workplace frequently?
CB: Not really – although I have seen an occasional leather shell or peplum, considering buying one in the future if I find the right cut and price point.
DL: Whats your experience been when you’ve worn leather to work.
@CB: I stick to casual Fridays to wear it – the days when it’s permissible to wear denim. And again, I treat a leather pencil skirt as a component of a suit and am very careful with how I style it. Silk, crisp cotton and cashmere tops with a great leather skirt always look classic. [I]f you’re styling a leather skirt for work, it’s important to do it conservatively, with really simple pieces that are work appropriate. Shoes, shirt, jewelry, etc. should be understated so the only thing edge about your outfit is the fabric of the skirt.
DL: Do you have any styling tips you can offer?
@CB: As a matter of fact, I have a blog post with styling tips for a leather pencil skirt that I’d love to share: Check it out here
DL: Are there any other comments you’d like to share?
@CB: Just that I think thrift and consignment shops are the best spots for leather – and it’s also more sustainable. I think there are some people that don’t like to buy leather because of environmental or ethical concerns, and I have started to learn more on the topic and landed on sticking to second-hand pieces – they are more affordable, and by focusing on second-hand, you’re also lessening the demand for new which helps to mitigate those social problems that cause concern.
You can also check out this article for more great styling tips to bring you leather into the workplace.
Happy styling!
– DL
