25 Feb How to make leather work with sneakers
Athleisure, sport luxe, gym chic… whatever you like to call it, there’s no denying activewear as everyday wear has become the new normal. In our wardrobes, our leather jackets are outnumbered only by Stan Smith kicks, and judging by every model exiting stage door post-show at Fashion Week, they’re in the same boat: the new off-duty uniform is sneakers, leather and ripped denim. Case closed.
Sneakers are no longer reserved for working out and they’re outrun their unfortunate Seinfeld connotations when paired with jeans. Even brides are sneaking Cons beneath their voluminous wedding gowns.
But you would have thought leather and activewear were poles apart. Leather: edgy, sexy, made for after dark. Activewear: basic, sporty, designed for day. Not so – fashions may fade, but true style lies in contrast.
When Olivia Palermo teamed sleek leather leggings with worn-in high-tops and a longline blazer, she made headlines. But now, Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenner and co. are snapped in leather leggings, crisp white kicks, crop tops and bomber jackets with such regularity that we don’t look twice – unless we’re taking notes.
Follow their lead by sticking to a simple colour palette – monochrome or neutrals with chambray – and pick luxe sporty basics to dress up with leather. Think a chambray shirt, loosely tucked into leather culottes with sneakers, or a leather moto jacket with leather-effect tights and a logo T-shirt.
Sneakers tone down leather’s inherent sex appeal for day – wear your Nikes with a leather midi skirt or your Stan Smiths with leather leggings to make your whole wardrobe work double duty.
Versatile, comfortable and with countless ways to wear – suddenly, stocking up on a few more styles for our wardrobe makes perfect sense…