In India, designers like Sahil Aneja and Nitin Chawla have experimented with pastel tones of faux leather in their menswear offering
While we are mostly used to seeing leather ready-to-wear offerings in the tried-and-tested palette of blacks and browns, this season the closet essential acquires statement hues. The richly-dyed skin separates seem to be going major not just for the party months, but also for coming spring/summer.
Designer Anthony Vaccarello’s one-shoulder cognac offerings at Saint Laurent come to mind right off the bat. Molly Goddard has showcased bright red leather pieces and Tod’s structured shirts in a pop orange clamour for one’s attention. The plush-toned leather has become bold and wild. The latest issue of British Vogue has Taylor Swift in a puffball red leather dress by Saint Laurent. Proenza Schouler in their fall/winter outing presented a pale pink double-breasted pink dress. In India, designers like Sahil Aneja and Nitin Chawla have experimented with pastel tones of faux leather in their menswear offering.
Recently, Ayushmann Khurrana wore a quilted version. His stylist Isha Bhansali remembers the one-of-a-kind, quilted pullover by designer Nitin Chawla that she gave to him for one of his outings. “What I love about leather is its slimming quality. All you need is the right pair of leather trousers. Of course, this season, it’s gone more versatile with the likes of high-street brands such as Zara selling coloured-leather tops. As far as the red leather Saint Laurent puffball piece is concerned, it’s purely editorial and in India, only someone like a Natasha Poonawalla can pull it off. Unless you are Carrie Bradshaw, don’t even venture towards it. Having said that, Tod’s leather pieces have a place in everyone’s closet,” she says.
Stylist Eshaa Aminn suggests pairing it with a lace bralette and a high-waist pencil skirt. “From rust and pink to emerald green and bottle green — it makes for a cool colour-blocking option,” she says.
INJECTS VIBRANCY
While fall/winter is usually synonymous with dark warm hues, the coloured leather trend is a spin-off from the spring/summer. Designer Rajat Tangri believes hues such as acid yellow and British racing green add a splash to your closet. “It’s a refreshing change. You just add one element and it enhances the whole look,” he advises.
Designer Nishka Lulla observes that shoe designer Christian Louboutin has been playing with a larger tone palette for a while now. “Rainbow or the multi-coloured is a major trend. The Valentino shoes with chevron prints are a must-have for the season. From D’Squared 2 to Roberto Cavalli — designers have flirted with this happy colour palette which has translated into leather as well. Opt for a statement accessory or go tone-on-tone while wearing coloured leather outfits,” she elaborates.
A MICRO TREND
However, designer Arpita Mehta doesn’t deem it a practical move as coordinating options are rather limited. “I see leather moving into different colours and it’s definitely a statement look, but it’s just a micro trend,” she says.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Red leather dress")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}