Wardrobe | Home

Don't let your leather say the wrong thing about you. If it's right, you'll feel very vogue; if it's wrong, you'll feel very vintage (in the unhip way).

This is a "no" - just so we're clear. This leather jacket is oversized and frumpy. I'm sorry if you bought it in Italy and remember the sweet man on the street who sold it to you. It's awful. Image source.

We recently talked about this - a leather jacket needs to be fitted. Narrow armholes and shoulders. And a leather jacket is the perfect leather piece for you to wear if you don't want to put your bum in leather. It can also double as a suit jacket in a business casual environment.

If the sleeves on your leather jacket are too long, either hem them, or if they have zippers or are otherwise unalterable, by all means push them up your wrist.

You don't have to be able to close your leather jackets. In fact, don't. They are better left open, as long as they are fitted through the waist, and not too long. This leather jacket hits at the right place, your hips. There is an amazing cognac leather jacket in the October Style Vault. Members sign in and start shopping.

I love a good western shirt. Plaid, denim, and why not leather? Same rules apply, it must be fitted. Suede can be a bit roomier, but not a leather shirt like this.

Free tips of the day: 1) when you wear a button down, you'll typically want to leave the last button (or snap) undone so it doesn't pull across your hips and 2) I've had so many inquiries about this horn cross pendant you've been seeing me wear this fall (I've had it for 10+ years and it was a big purchase, but I wear it constantly, so cost per wear has gone down to practically nothing), that I decided to tell you where to get one yourself. It's by Ashley Pittman, they're all different, and they're handmade in Kenya. Shop now if you want one. This will be a great experiment, too. If it's a popular item with our readers and Vault members, you'll see more great jewelry finds in the future. October Style Vault update: shop a Tina-tested leather western shirt in the Style Notes.

I'm easing you into leather bottoms. Starting with a skirt, because it will be more forgiving than leather pants.

A leather pencil skirt is a true timeless classic. I have brown, not black. But Im not opposed to black - it's just that I have black leather pants. Style Vault update: shop the perfect leather skirt in the September Style Vault - it's still available to purchase.

Suede is a great way to wear leather, too. I found this vintage suede skirt several years ago and when we were shooting for this post, I rediscovered it! It's back in the rotation after a few years off. See, that's how a wardrobe can work for you when you buy right and buy well. Timeless classics earn their keep in your closet.

Rather than the expected cowboy boots with this skirt, I went with a heel, and I love how they play off my denim western shirt. Style Vault update: shop my new fave denim western shirt (I got it when I was in NYC) in the October Style Vault, Style Notes. It's less than $50!

Okey dokey. Here's where we get real. Leather pants, especially black leather pants, can get trampy real quick if you don't have the right ones. They need to be fitted, yes, but they also need to be classy, so not too fitted. I wear mine with silk blouses more often than not to be sure they come off classy.

These leather pants are fitted without being skin tight. So they are fitted through my hips and thighs down to my knees, where they start to flare slightly to a bootcut. Leather will wrinkle up like this at the knees, and that's ok. If they didn't guess what they'd be? Leather leggings. Gross. Style Vault update: shop some great black leather pants (classy ones) inside the October Style Vault, Style Notes. I provided 2 price points, the "affordable" faux leather pants, and the "I'd love to buy these one day" leather pants.

How 'bout faux leather? Absolutely! These are a faux suede and they are machine-washable, so that's a real big perk.

I wanted you to see them upclose so you can see what a good faux they are. And that's the point - not all faux leather is created equal. In fact, I'd venture to say over half or more of faux is terrible. Which is why I put a pair of amazing faux suede pants in the October Style Vault, in a gorgeous caramel color! (Find out more here.)

Fabric content of these faux suede pants is 82% polyester, 13% rayon and 5% spandex (you never want more than 5% spandex in anything, or it will stretch out way too much). And that's not my hand with black polish, incase you thought I'd lost my mind.

Suede ankle pants gotta be right. They may not be leggings. Got that? They must be pants. Actual pants. And I really prefer that you wear a longer top with them.

K so I'm showing you my bum. Real sacrifice here because this is on the INTERNET. So be kind, friends. Listen up: you need back pockets on your bum when you are wearing a skinny pant. Period. Pretty much no exceptions. And they need to hit in the right place. The bottom of the pocket cannot dip below the bottom of your cheek. (Getting technical here.) And the top of the pocket needs to not be taller than this one is. Otherwise you get a really looooong bum.

Wear a longer top, or a cape or poncho over your leather and suede pants if you feel they are hugging you in places you'd rather hide.