This post features how midlife women look stunning in leather, and encourages women of any age to wear leather. Read how older women can look effortlessly stylish in leather, and get inspired.
Contents
- Women over 40 Can Wear Leather
- Jackets Are an Easy Start for Integrating Leather in Your Wardrobe
- Create Timeless Looks with Leather Leggings or Pants
- Go Beyond a Black Leather Pencil Skirt
- A Pleated Leather Skirt Is a Statement Piece
- Leather Peplum, a Real Statement Piece
- See How Midlife Women Look Stunning in Leather Dresses
- Vests Are Great Layering Pieces
- Shorts at any Age, in Leather, Yes Please
- Going out in Leather Clothes
- Final Remarks on How Midlife Women Look Stunning in Leather
Disclosure:There are affiliate links in this post.
Women over 40 Can Wear Leather
Only Roy Rogers and Marlene Dietrich should be allowed to wear leather trousers – Edith Head
Sorry Edith, but I disagree. First, everyone should wear what they want! Second, everyone can look stunning in leather when knowing how to look stunning in the hide. In this post, I will show you how some of my fellow blogging friends rock theirs and how they get it right. And, yes there is not just one way to look stunning. Are you new to the trend, and want to jump the leather trend bandwagon?
Jackets Are an Easy Start for Integrating Leather in Your Wardrobe
A black motorcycle jacket or a brown fringe leather jacket are easy ways to wear leather. Look for high quality when shopping for leather and a classic cut. Add a pair of dark jeans, a white T-shirt, pearls or a long necklace, pumps or Birkenstocks, and your have a polished casual or California Casual Style look, respectively.
Nancy Baten of Nancy’s Fashion Style even doubles up on the material in her outfit. This look works because of the classic blazer style, and the American Classic white-gray-blue-black neutral color combo.
Tip: Wear your moto jacket over a dress instead of a cardigan.
Create Timeless Looks with Leather Leggings or Pants
Annette Höldrich at Lady of Style, creates a timeless outfit by pairing her taupe leather leggings with a black blazer, patent leather girly flats, and white shirt plus a pop of color. She also demonstrates successfully that women over 50 can look stunning in leggings. The secret of this Ageless Style? All colors of the main pieces are neutral.
Go Beyond a Black Leather Pencil Skirt
A black leather pencil skirts is a classic and easy to style even for the office with a button-down shirt and pumps, when the work dress code allows to wear leather. There are so many opportunities when you can wear your leather skirt that you shouldn’t stop with black.
A tan pencil leather skirt is as easy to pull-off as Annette demonstrates (photo below). This look is so much more eye-catching and interesting than the usual black and white combo that you see everywhere. The embellishment on the comfy tan wedge sandals, the bag and necklace add a third color to her look. Her outfit demonstrates that you can wear leather in summer.
The following outfit in all neutrals lives from the unexpected combination of brown with black.
Susana Fernandez of A Key to the Armoire, looks classic and office appropriate in a mustard nappa straight skirt, navy school blazer, and classic navy-white striped sweater. The red pumps complete the three basic colors of red, blue, and (mustard) yellow.
Sheila of Ephemera makes the color of her leather skirt the statement with print top in analogous colors. Because green and purple have blue in common, the outfit gives the illusion of being monochromatic. Therefore, the bold colors (green, purple) don’t look over the top.
Tip: Work the color wheel when going beyond neutral colors.
Pleated Lather Skirts Make a Statement
Besides color, the style of the skirt can make the look. Jamie of More than Turquoise dons one in pleats. Her neutral color look lives from the texture (pleats, faux fur, laces) and shiny booties. While we often associate pleats with conservative school uniforms, they get a real edge as a pleated leather skirt.
Vests Are Great Layering Pieces
Most outfits look incomplete when there are not three major pieces. A vest is a great alternative to a cardigan or adding a scarf. So when you love menswear, Rock’n Roll, street style or even Bohemian Style, a nappa vest is a great way to go. You can wear a leather vest in many different way.
Midlife Women Looking Stunning in Leather Dresses
Leather sheaths are often sold super short in black as party attire.
Call me a prude, if you want, but for my money, they are a No-No.
However, give the dresses just 10 inch or so more, and they become head-turning sheaths (photo below).
A fit-and-flare dress can be styled many ways and is flattering on many body shapes. And of course,
You can’t go wrong with a LBD. – Coco Chanel
A classic shirt dress cut in just above-the-knee length stays on the modest side.
Leather Peplum, a Real Statement Piece
Many women love peplum tops because they create a waist and an hourglass figure instantly. Sheila pairs her leather peplum top with floral paisley cropped pants. The tan and black in the print tie the outfit together.
Stylist’s tip: Repeat two colors of a print in your outfit to tie it together.
Pairing nappa with suede is a nice trick to create interest when wearing leather-on-leather because of their different texture.
Shorts at any Age, in Leather, Yes Please
Speaking of shorts, we hit several perceptions at once. However, key in styling leather shorts (in midlife) is all about balance. Therefore, show your features strategically because sexy is not equal to “flesh show.” Covering more is a sexy teaser. When you love your legs, and want to feature them, show them off. Typically, you can get away with a shorter length more easily with tights underneath than with bare, well maintained legs (shaved, leg makeup).
Going Out in Leather Clothes
Who doesn’t remember Angelina Jolie on the Red Carpet in her breath-taking nappa evening gown with her signature mile-high side slit? Sheila (photo below) demonstrates that midlife women can look gorgeous in nappa too when going out. More on how to wear metallic over 40.
Final Remarks on How Midlife Women Look Stunning in Leather
There is no age limit on wearing leather. The key is to find pieces that tell your story, match your personal style, and lifestyle. Therefore, when you feel comfortable and great wearing leather clothing by all means go for it.
Even the over 100 years old Iris Apfel looks great in her leather pants.
I hope these examples demonstrated how midlife women look stunning in leather.
Photos of me: G. Kramm
© 2013-2024 Nicole Mölders | All rights reserved
