Never Stop Werking The New You
This fall I’m dreaming of faux leather or pleather. If you want that 90s look: anything that looks like leather is a must in a stylish wardrobe for a boss woman look–and to keep us warm!
We are climbing out of our collective hole, back to a life outside. I’ve been taking trains, planes, and buses and walking the pavement in this wild new world, post war, post everything. Should it surprise you that I had a previous life, living the office vibe? Truth be to told: I don’t miss it–it wasn’t for me. But I do miss having somewhere to go and having a reason to dress up. What I really love is the idea of being an office woman. Being a child of the 80s, I have visions of Working Girl in my head. But really, I’ve decided that for me, it’s all about that pleather life. Not to mention that the Boss Woman look is making faux leather or pleather a must for fall winter.
Biker Leather made chic – 1991
Some inspiration to wear faux-leather or pleather look, for this fall, they’re a must in a stylish wardrobe that says “I’m a boss babe”, and don’t mess with me! The trend took off in 1991 thanks to a collection by Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel.
Faux Leather for a Stylish Grunge
This leather look is a lot more grunge than glam. The thrifted pants are worn with a vintage tartan (plaid) jeans jacket, oversize sneakers, a bucket hat that I found at H&M, and a thrifted vintage office bag. You can add some designer sunglasses for a more rich effect. I’m wearing Gucci by Tom Ford c. 2005 sunglasses. To dial in the motorcycle leather trend of the early 90s, you don’t have to go as colourful, For a more office appropriate style, I suggest to keep the jacket blue, black or beige. You can also swap sneakers for dressier shoes.
Office Lady in Pleather à la Helmut Newton
One of my favourite photographers of the 90s is Mr. Helmut Newton. His images of strong women epitomized what working women aspired to look like in the pages of Vogue (or at least–I know I did). This tribute to Mr. Newton is more streamlined, starting with a cashmere sweater from Canadian retailer >Hudsons Bay, layered under the thrifted oversize plastic trench coat. The fedora hat is from H&M and can be found > HERE. Sunglasses are vintage Gucci circa 2005, and plaid jacket is thrifted as well as the office bag.
These looks are reels on my Instagram
Pleather Please
My sleuthing of what’s available on the racks or local retailers are reveling in some leather too. And while searching for Online option, most descriptions mention them as faux leather. Luckily, I already happen to have my very own (they’re actually leather) but they look like faux leather. They also happen to have a great story… One day, I was taking my shoes to be repaired at my local cobbler. He took one look at me and said… “I have these pants here, the girl never came back for them, I think they can fit you”. And this is how I inherited these late 80s, Oscar Leopold high-waisted motorcycle style pants.
———Shop the Pleather look ———
MANGO’s option for a modern high-waist faux leather pant, at 99$US
ASOS DESIGN Hourglass leather look straight pants in black 54$C
