Leather, corduroy, cashmere wool blends…I love the rich textures and materials that come with fall dressing. Today I am focusing specifically on leather. Over the years, leather pants have become a wardrobe staple for me. I appreciate that they can easily be dressed up or down, and they never go out of style! Similar to my recent guide on how to wear blazers, today I’m going to chat all about how to style leather pants. I’ll walk through my favorite pairs, styling do’s and don’ts, and leather pants outfits worth trying this season.
My Favorite Leather Pants
The first step to creating a killer leather pants outfit is selecting a pair that makes you feel your best. In the past, it seemed as if the types of leather pants were limited. However, this is no longer the case! Just as there are currently tons of styles and shapes of denim to choose from, the same can be said for leather pants. Here are some of my current favorites!
Cropped Bootcut
The FRAME Le Crop Mini Boot jean is one of my favorite denim styles, so it’s not surprising that I also love it in leather. This style comes in both a classic black and a stunning deep tan. There are so many ways to style this pair. If you’d like to show some ankle, wear them with sneakers or a great loafer. Or if you prefer to cover up a bit, add an ankle boot or socks and/or tights with a platform loafer. I will say, this specific pair is a bit pricey. So if you’re looking for a similar faux option, check out these or these!
Skinny Leather Pants
I know the TikTok girlies are saying skinny jeans are clugy. BUT, when you need a great pair of pants to tuck into knee high boots, this is the one. I love the lower rise of these leather pants and the fact that they hit just at my ankle!
Leather Joggers
Leather joggers…what an unexpected combination! But honestly, it just works. I love the clean cuff and exaggerated e-waist detailing on this pair. With these, you could create endless leather pants outfits that give off the ultimate cool girl look for fall!
Straight-Leg Pants
Straight-leg pants continue to trend, and I’ve been on the hunt for a great leather pair. So far, this is my top choice. It has an easy leg, a great rise, and is slightly cropped.
Wide-Legs
As you know from my chats about how to style wide-leg jeans and wide-leg pants, this is a cut that I love wearing. I was very excited to find these faux leather wide-legs, which I think could pass as the real deal! The seaming details and forward fit make them look far more expensive than they are.
Leather Pants Outfits Worth Trying
One of the great things about leather pants is that they are truly one of the most versatile pieces in your closet! You can easily create casual leather pants outfits and date night looks all from a single pair. Here are a few ways that you’ll find me styling this wardrobe staple this season.
Travel Day
These leather joggers paired with this striped oversized button-up shirt would make for a comfy and chic travel day outfit. I’d wear this with sneakers, since you’re bound to be doing a lot of walking (or running!) around an airport. Be sure to add some favorite pieces of jewelry to finish the look. For more travel options, check out these comfortable airport outfit ideas!
Running Errands
I love the versatility of these straight-leg pants. They can easily go from daytime to nighttime with a change of shoes! For a morning spent running errands, these would look great with a cool denim popover shirt and a classic pair of loafers. I’d also consider adding a pair of socks for a fun touch!
Leather Pants Outfits For the Office
Depending upon your work environment, it’s certainly possible to style leather pants for the office. For this, I love the idea of pairing these cropped kick flare pants with a pointy, trending flat, this gold button blazer, and these oversized gold earrings. This outfit would pair perfectly with this chic leather tote, which I reviewed here.
Lunch With a Friend
Not quite dressy, but a little more pulled together than your standard everyday style, I present the in-between leather pants outfit! This is the type of look that would be perfect for a NYC lunch date with a friend. You could pair these wide-leg pants with a black and brown bootie and a great cardigan. To complete the look, add a chunky necklace and this bag. The black and brown combo on this one is so chic for fall!
Leather Pants Outfits for a Date Night
There is nothing I love more than bundling up and walking to one of my favorite wine bars in NYC with my husband. Leather pants outfits are perfect for this occasion! I’d grab these skinny pants and style them with modern Western boots, an oversized sweater, and a bag that adds a little pop!
Do’s and Don’ts of Leather Pants Outfits
While there are no hard rules for styling leather pants, I’ve come up with a few pieces of advice over the years. These are pretty basic, and can be applied whether you’re putting together a casual outfit or a dressier look.
1. Don’t be afraid to mix black and brown.
While some may claim it’s unstylish to mix blacks and browns, I completely disagree. I love a head-to-toe neutral look that incorporates lots of different tones. So I say, don’t be afraid to mix blacks, browns, and tans!
Footwear should compliment the leg shape and length of whatever pants you are styling. For example, as I mentioned above, a skinny-leg pant looks great tucked into a boot, while a wide-leg or straight-leg can look sloppy when tucked in. A cropped pant works best when you fully commit to showing your ankles or ensure you aren’t showing any ankle at all. These are important things to keep in mind when planning leather pants outfits.
3. Don’t be afraid to try faux styles.
Some faux leather pants look equally as expensive as the real deal. When searching for these gems, the material and fit are super important. So don’t be afraid to order multiple styles to try. As an avid online shopper, I’ve learned that what you see on a computer screen doesn’t always look the same in person!
4. Do shop your own closet first.
Since most people will only commit to one pair of leather pants for the season, it is important to think about styling options that you already have in your closet. For this reason, I advise that you loosely plan the outfits you’re wanting to create. Which shoes are you hoping to pair with them? Do you own sweaters or button-downs that you’d like to style them with? Having a general idea of these questions can help you select a pair that will get you the most cost per wear!
Leather Pants Outfits for Fall
Whether you’re a leather expert or dipping your toes into this staple for the first time, I hope these leather pants outfits help spark some fun ideas to try! For additional fall favorites, be sure to check out my posts on how to wear blazers, comfortable airport outfit ideas, my favorite barn coats, and how to style wide-leg jeans.