How to Style The Leather Trend for Fall 2024

Leather is a big trend this fall. On top of that, there are many leather-heavy fall fashion trends in 2024 that are clearly reminiscent of trends we already wore in past decades. How to style the leather trend now, as a grown woman, and not look like Leather Tuscadero?

Don't get me wrong, if you want to emulate Suzi Quatro, I fully support you, you badass grown woman. But if that's who you are, you're not here for advice on how to style the leather trend for fall/winter 2024.

For those who feel you have read this before, I originally wrote this a few years ago, but since the leather trend has returned and has a different vibe than before, I wanted to update it to keep this as a valuable resource for the Wardrobe Oxygen community.

How to Style the Leather Trend for Fall/Winter 2024

Let's get one thing straight: We're grown women, and we can wear whatever the heck we want to and look fierce AF. It's about choosing what fits with your taste and feeling comfortable and confident in it. And this article will share tips if you wish to style leather in an on-trend manner this year.

Below I share styling tips with the leather trends for fall/winter 2024 that I think not only are pretty darn wearable for us grown women, but there's a good chance the pieces en vogue this season are hiding in the back of your closet or a jumbled rack at the thrift store.

All The Leather This Season You Have Seen Before

Earlier this year, I went to the mall with my high schooler for back to school shopping. We went into Urban Outfitters, which for years has been looking an awful lot like Urban in the 80s and 90s with the same fashion, merchandise, and music.

But I was floored when my daughter came up to me with a jacket she wanted. It was the jacket that at least 60% of my high school wore and I'd bet you'd not only recognize, but be shocked to know is considered cool again.

It's a lined leather jacket that zips down the front, has a foldover collar, knit or snap cuffs, and a knit or elasticized hem. Depending on one's personal style or circle of friends, this leather coat could be black, it could be multicolored with patches, it could be distressed brown leather.

And there was my daughter, modeling the cheap fake-*ss version of my 11th grade boyfriend's black pebbled leather coat that weighed a ton and smelled like Cool Water.

I said heck no, I was not letting her get a fake version of what is lining the thrift stores of the DMV (DC and the Maryland and Virginia suburbs that border it). Those jackets are the age of empty nests and downsizing and teens should be able to find the real deal for way less.

But not for long, because the vintage and retro leather trend is hotter now than ever, and we grown women are at the age where what we wore as teens and young adults is cool again. It's not just leather bombers; it's pencil skirts, jeans, fringe, blazers, studs, going-out tops, dresses, trenches… this fall/winter is going to look very familiar.

What's worse is this season's leather trend is not some morphed version of what we wore then. We're used to almost having a classic but it's the wrong wash or silhouette or it's not in pristine condition. But this year? The cool kids are literally rocking the leather collecting dust in the back of our closets.

We have the potential to look chic AF with that leather that survived all the closet edits, or we can look like a sad sartorial Delta Dawn in our faded rose of leather. How's a gal to know what leather trends are best for us women over 40?

I preface this by saying we all can, should, and deserve to wear whatever the eff we want. There's nothing more chic than a woman dressed in what brings her comfort and joy. You do you, my friend. I fully support you. But those who would like some guidance on how to rock the leather trend in 2024 as a grown-ass women, this is my advice,

The Best Leather Fashion Trends for Women Over 40

One idea that I keep feeling as I see the vintage and retro leather trend going on right now is that what would look and feel the most chic to me is what I never before rocked… but really wanted to.

Maybe you couldn't afford it, or it didn't come in your size, or it wasn't accessible where you lived, or it wouldn't go over well with your community. I think that's the most stylish leather for you to rock this season.

I don't know what your wishlist contained but below I will share some of the retro leather trends that are popular in 2024 that I personally loved but often felt wasn't accessible to me for some reason or another. I hope they help clarify my suggestion of how to style the leather trend for fall/winter 2024 as women over 40.

How to style leather blazers

leather blazer | turtleneck | jeans (link to misses) | boots | belt | bag | lipcolor | earrings

Recently, I discussed the Americana Chic fashion trend on Wardrobe Oxygen, and I think it's the easiest way to style a leather blazer as a woman over 40. Classic fabrics like denim and tweed, silk shirts and solid-colored sweaters as base layers. Let the leather jacket be the hero piece, and choose subtler or simpler shoes, bags, and accessories.

While some women over 40 can effortlessly wear a too-big leather blazer, I know many of us feel and look better when something fits well. A leather blazer is not cheap to tailor, but if you can't afford it and it's working against you, don't wear it. No one needs a leather blazer to look fashionable in 2024.

We did these trends before, we don't have to do them again. But if we do, we have to do them better than before. Style comes not from what you wear but how you wear it.

Leather skirts

silk blouse | vegan leather skirt | commuter bag | shoes | necklace | lipcolor

Like leather blazers, leather skirts go in and out of fashion, with some silhouettes a passing trend and others becoming classics. This fall, there are two returning classics that I think are great for us grown women: the pencil skirt, and the a-line skirt.

Both silhouettes of leather skirts are from just above the knee to ankle, with most hitting mid-knee to mid-calf. The a-line ones may button down the front and have pockets, or they may be plain with a side zipper. The pencils may also be plain, but they can show drama with longer lengths.

With these silhouettes and lengths, the most stylish way for women over 40 to wear leather skirts this year is in the same manner you would wear a skirt of denim, corduroy, or wool. Classic, but elevated. Silky blouses and soft sweaters, low heels or flat footwear.

As for footwear, again keep it classic but elevated. If you wear knee-high boots with your leather skirt, I recommend they match in color and finish. Otherwise your shoes can have a bit of personality with color or textile, with burgundy or dark red a safe bet pop of color.

Leather trenchcoats

A leather trench may be something you may consider this year because you never felt able to consider it before. I know I felt I couldn't carry off a trench because I was short and round. Trenches have been associated with a lot of different things over the years, and not all positive, or inclusive. Well, if you always wanted a leather trench, this year may be the time to get one.

Shop the collage:
top left belted black | middle brown | top right black | bottom left black open | bottom right black short

Again, this baby needs to fit. No cuffs hiding hands or exposing wristbones, it needs to comfortably close, you need to be able to raise your hands above your head, and it's short enough that we can see your ankles. It's not cheap, but if you love it, you have permission to rock it for the rest of your days. Let it mold to your body and be your signature piece.

Shop the collage:
Top row: camel | burgundy | brown | black
Bottom row: black | brown | burgundy | black

As for styling, this is one garment that is such a statement it's a staple. It can be worn with workwear with a blanket scarf, it can be your night out coat, going over a dress or being part of the actual ensemble. I think it would be hella chic with a cashmere turtleneck, Adidas track pants, and a pair of shelltops. And of course jeans and boots and all your other fall to winter favorites.

When it comes to length, details, color, or finish, that's up to you and your personal taste. But I think a safe bet is smooth or slightly glazed leather or even suede in the colors of black, brown, camel, cognac, and very dark jewel tones. If you get a color, consider gloves, scarf, hat, and such in the same color or slightly different (like dark red with dark purple, dark teal with dark green, cream with camel).

Brown leather

Brown leather is a classic, but beyond the bags and boots it goes in and out of fashion. But in 2024, brown leather is back in a big way. Coats, jackets, skirts, dresses, and more are in brown leather.

sweater | jeans | jacket | earrings | sunglasses | lipcolor | bag | sneakers

The brown color is chocolate and luxe, or weathered and western. If you love brown leather apparel, this is the year but I recommend sticking with simpler styles so they will remain fashionable beyond this season. I personally am Jonesing for a brown leather moto jacket that I can wear now and forever, letting it get softer and weathered with time. If you find a petite option, please let me know!

Styling suede in 2024

Suede is back in 2024, and I expect it will continue to be popular into spring and beyond. Right now, the most popular suede colors are camel and chocolate brown. You will see a lot of brown and camel suede boots, bucket bags, belts, and outerwear, but also some other dark colors of suede (black, gray, burgundy, navy, dark green).

shop the collage: skirt | dress | trench | belt | bag | tall boot | jacket | ankle boot | loafer

Pull out your suede tall boots, loafers, and ankle boots that are tall enough to slip under your pant and jean hems. Leather hobo, bucket, and tote bags are great, as long as they are free of embellishments and adornments. If you own a suede skirt that is a-line and knee-to calf-length, style it with leather shoes and sweaters. And suede moto and “denim” style jackets as well as trenches of any length can be pulled out or thrifted this season. Only buy suede if you love suede and are willing to maintain it (here are my tips on how to care for suede).

Tall leather boots

Tall leather boots are back. As grown-ass women, we do not need tall boots, and our style will benefit from us only doing the trend if we own pairs that are functional, well-made, and comfortable and free of embellishments.

• Good embellishment: two-tone top of riding boots, strap with buckle around the ankles, a contrast-color or material heel/sole, zipper pulls, subtle elastic gussets, a subtle crackle or a snakeskin or croco finish
• Bad embellishment: buckles all over the place, obviously fake leather, studs and grommets, embroidery (unless western-style or eclectic style), quirky toeboxes, platforms, tassels or fringe, elastic gussets so big they are half the shaft

I know some of these details are more common when you don't have the budget or the slim calves for better selection. I have a list of the best stylish wide calf boots, but also, you don't need to do this or any other trend to be stylish. It's better to pass than to do it poorly and we're too grown to wear chintzy or crappy footwear.

Distressed/vintage leather

With the Americana Chic trend in full swing this season, it's a great time to pull out any leather you have that is high quality, either from a well-known label or free or any logos, and rock it. And if it has been in the back of the closet because it's scuffed or looking worn, consider DIYing a way to care for it to extend its life and wear it anyway. Leather does no one good if it's rotting in the back of a closet or a box in the basement.

Boots, bags, and outerwear do best with the distressed leather trend. Think garments that get a lot of wear, not things like pumps or pencil skirts. Leather that is made to look distressed, especially shades of brown and camel, will be in retailers this winter.

Upcycled and recycled leather

My favorite leather trend for Fall/Winter 2024 is the upcycled leather trend. Coach, a brand that is really popular this year, has a Coach (Re)Loved collection of pieces that vintage, restored, redesigned, and upcycled and they are all chic chic chic.

Shop the collage:
burgundy Hyer Goods upcycled leather convertible bag | gray vegan recycled Mali + Lili tote | recycled Amour Vert leather jacket | recycled ASbyDF leather dress | upcycled Coach bag | recycled AGOLDE leather jeans

ASbyDF has an upcycled and recycled leather collection that is selling fast on the brand website as well as many department stores and boutiques. And for those who prefer vegan leather, Mali + Lili makes stylish bags from recycled vegan leather.

How Much Leather is Too Much for Fall/Winter 2024?

If you're asking this question, you're either uncomfortable in leather or you're already in Tuscadero territory and want to push my buttons. You do you, grown-ass woman. If you love leather, this is your season – stock up! If leather makes you uncomfortable, bypass this trend. And if you just got your first leather piece, let it marinate in your closet, style it, and wear it out of the house three times before you go out and buy more.

Leather is a trend that comes and goes but never fully disappears. As long as you don't buy super trendy silhouettes this season, the leather and leather-like pieces you buy this fall should remain chic for years to come.