Tips how to style leather pants for work

Contents

How to wear leather pants to work
- Plaid blazer with leather trousers outfit
- Nappa trousers styled with a twinset
- Try an American Classic look
Doubling on the statement pieces: Red blazer plus leather pants
What outerwear works with leather pants?
Wrap-up

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How to wear leather pants to work

When your work dress code allows wearing leather, try these outfit ideas. They illustrate how to wear leather pants to work and look professional business casual. Chose a neutral color for your leather pants so it stays in basics territory just having a statement material. Then just pair them with classic work-appropriate pieces like a blazer with button-down shirt or cashmere sweater or a twinset with necklace. Go for a dress pants like cut, i.e. not so tight like for motorcycle pants or skinny jeans. Yes, you can look posh in leather over 40.

Leather pants with classic tops and jackets for Casual Friday. #styleadvice Click To Tweet

Plaid blazer with leather trousers outfit

This classic blazer and cashmere sweater as shown in the inspiration photo above and below. Also make sure that your booties or shoes stay office appropriate and out of the street style or Rock’n Roll territory.

fashion blogger donning a business casual work outfit with leather pants — Outfit details: Landsend cashmere sweater, Burberry menswear inspired plaid blazer, Clarks booties, statement necklace, Hermes collier de chien bangles, and chocolate INC leather pants (all own)

Style your leather pants work appropriate by pairing them with a classic blazer and cashmere sweater. #styletip Click To Tweet

Nappa trousers styled with a twinset

Instead of a blazer, another possibility to wear leather pants at the office in a classic way is to pair them with a classic twinset or variations of a twinset work. The outfit idea in the photos below shows a monochromatic look with a faux twinset. Of course, you can go for a pop of color. The post at the link, for instance, is and example of white leather trousers paired with a faux twinset with in navy and pink.

over 50 years old woman in trendy silver pants and all gray outfit — Outfit details: Silver leather pants, GNW Luxe cashmere sweater and Moda International cardigan, statement necklace, golden bangle (gift from my late mom), Hermes collier de chien bangle, GNW socks, Pour La Victoire snakeskin fall booties, Seiko watch, unbranded dark gray long fall coat and Modalo Pippa bag (all own)

This example outfit is a mix of trends (cheap) and essentials. I got the silver leather pants on sale, while the cashmere sweater and cardigan are essentials that I spent comparatively more on. With both I look for a good price performance ratio. That means the longer I expect to wear an item the more I would be willing to spend on it. If I go for trendy items and have in mind to wear them for a season, let’s say 20 times, the price per wear should go down to at least less than $2. Why would I spent money on silver leather pants? Well I am a ballroom dancer. Thus, I get lots of opportunities to wear silver leather pants. This also means that a great trend item for one person will not be a great deal for another. The price per wear for these trendy silver leather pants would never go down to $2 per wear for someone who is not a dancer. The take home message:
Buy the trendy items for the life you live. #styletip Click To Tweet

Try an American Classic look

Yes, you can wear leather in summer. In a casual work environment, your may even wear leather capris when you style them in a way like Jackie Kennedy wore her fabric capris.

The most important thing when wearing leather at work is to

Style your leather powerful, not provocative. #dress4success #officestyle Click To Tweet

Doubling on the statement pieces: Red blazer plus leather pants

This outfit suggestion incorporates two statement pieces: A red blazer and leather pants. This outfit still looks serious and professional because it uses the rule of repeating the major colors three times. Brown is repeated with the belt, pants and layering top. Red is repeated in the blazer and booties as well as makeup (lips).

Pro tip: Gor for 2 colors and repeat them for best style. #effortlessstyle Click To Tweet

Red and chocolate together are much more unexpected than the classic red and black color combination. The red-chocolate brown pairing adds a modern and interesting twist. Nevertheless, the color combination is chic and posh.

fashion blogger in posh chic work outfit with ruby blazer and leather pants — I.N.C. chocolate brown leather pants with red wool blazer, statement belt, brown GNW Luxe wool cashmere sweater, and Manolo Blahnik booties (all own)

What outerwear works with leather pants?

When wearing leather panst, try a pea coat. This example uses the same concept of repeating colors. All have brown shades and added red gloves and a red floral scarf to tie the red booties into the outfit. See here again the red repeats in the outerwear.

Especially, when your job involves meeting clients outside of your office pay attention to your outerwear. In this case, your outerwear is not just for insulation and style, but must also be a work-appropriate business look. When your job involves meeting customers/clients outside the office, you will need to build a capsule coat wardrobe.

When you meet with clients outside, your outerwear becomes part of your work wear. #dress4Success Click To Tweet

midlife style blogger in posh chic pea coat with leather pants — Outfit details: LeatherCoatsEtc. pea coat style red wool coat with Gucci silk scarf, chocolate INC leather pants, Clark booties and YSL bag (all own)

over 50 years old woman in work appropriate outerwear — Striped coat, silk cashmere scarf, LeatherCoatsEtc leather gloves, Michael Kors leopard print bag, Manolo Blahnik booties, Russian hat (all own) worn over the outfit shown above

Wrap-up

When your work dress code allows wearing leather go for a dress pants cut. Style them like you would style trousers by adding classic pieces like a twinset or blazer. Go with a neutral color for the pants like cream, choclate brown or even silver. Black can fast read motorcycle chic.

Will you jump this bandwagon? Does your office dress code allow wearing leather? If so, do you wear leather at the office?

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Photos: G. Kramm