This season, the trusty leather jacket has had a facelift. The classic biker has been replaced by its bolder, brighter and much cooler older sister: the embellished leather jacket. No longer just something you casually chuck on, it can be your very own statement piece, instantly transforming your winter wear.
And if you want further proof that un-adorned leather is being left behind, you need only glance at Instagram to see countless shoulders draped in embroidered, painted and studded jackets. Here’s how some of our Instagram style favourites have been donning the tough stuff.
Neon-orange streaked space buns are the perfect finishing touch to this punk-inspired look. When your BFF (Sami Miro) coordinates her outfit, even better...
Photo: via @simihaze.
Combining a statement painted leather jacket with distressed denim and pink tinted sunglasses like stylist Amy Serrano is a look we'll be trying this autumn.
Photo: via @amyserrano.
We're just as enamoured with the lace-up Nour Hammour leather as we are with that brown suede Gucci Dionysus bag.
Photo: via @fashionedchicstyling.
Fashion blogger Camille Charrière is fully committed to the monochrome trend with a Courrèges jacket and black-and-white-only ensemble.
Photo: via @camillecharriere.
**PROMO FEATURE**
You've heard of double denim, but now it's all about double leather. Model and student Alexis Jae shows us how it's done – and that it actually works – in a Coach studded leather jacket.
Photo via @aalexisjae.
British designer and stylist Hannah Beth Fincham knows what's up when it comes to customised clothing. Just look at those hand-painted flowers.
Photo: via @hannahbethfincham.
With its zips, tassels and red colour palette, editor Celine Aagaard’s leather jacket by BROSLO x MARDOU&DEAN is, fittingly, as subtle as a boxing glove to the face.
Photo: via @celineaagaard_.
Artist Briana Benson’s Anna Wintour adorned jacket shows everyone who's boss.
Photo: via @bribensonart.
Fashion editor and blogger Pandora Sykes wears her leather long and patent. Follow her lead and take your leather up a notch with check cigarette trousers, a Beaufille knit and metallic mules.
Photo: via @pandorasykes.
What's better than dressing your offspring in a matching painted leather jacket? Probably nothing as Kirsti Hadley, founder of GRLPWRGNG, shows us.
Photo: via @kirstiinternational.
Fashion buyer Veronica Very wants everyone to know when she’s off duty by wearing one of Mira Mikati 's signature primary-coloured jackets.
Photo: via @veronica_very.
Toughen up a blush pink dress and trainers with a bit of leather. We're obsessed with fashion blogger Georgia Diggins ' floral jacket by Glamorous.
Photo: via @asos_georgia.
Salma Hayek's bespoke hand-painted number complete with an 'S' initial is what leather jacket dreams are made of.
Photo: via @salmahayek.
Susie Bubble’s throwback featuring this heavily studded, neon-bright DI$COUNT UNIVERSE piece isn’t for the fainthearted.
Photo: via @susiebubble.
Director Gia Coppola went hell for leather in a Gucci two-piece while the ruffled pink shirt adds a softer touch.
Photo: via @gucci.Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
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