Trending: leather dresses

Vamp up your little black dress for autumn/winter 2014 by choosing a luxe leather option, as seen on the catwalks at Louis Vuitton and Gucci

Olivia Palermo Photo: Rex

Cast your mind back 15 years or so and Victoria Beckham might have been the sole champion of the leather dress. Remember that off-the-shoulder shiny number the popstrel-come-designer wore to her first catwalk show - Versus Versace - back in 2007?

Victoria Beckham in 2007
One might shudder (that lip gloss too!) and wonder why Planet Fashion invited VB into the fold, but the mother-of-four and her pop fans were unwittingly ahead of the curve. For autumn/winter 2014 brand titans Louis Vuitton and Gucci have both stamped their allegiance to the leather dress, with plenty more brands - David Koma, J, Mendel, Anthony Vaccarello - following suit.
For Nicolas Ghesquière, leather was the key to realising his belle du jour aesthetic, with teasing zips placed tactfully down leather pinafores and V-neck dresses sitting just at the point of decency.

Louis Vuitton A/W '14 collection
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Frida Giannini at Gucci, meanwhile, balanced her 'boyish romantic' aesthetic against dark unlined, glacé leather and leather in sugary blues and baby pinks. Who knew fondant fancies could look so luxe?

Gucci A/W '14 collection
Fashion can also point the finger at Christopher Kane, for the Scotsman's penchant for black wet-look fabric undoubtedly has a leather aesthetic to it. And where Kane goes, style insiders scurry behind.

Veronika Heilbrunner in Christopher Kane and another look from the A/W '14 collection
A black mini dress (maxi would endanger the wearer of being swamped like a leather sofa) is the easiest entry point to the trend, and has been favoured by red carpeters seeking an edgier look to the usual pretty confections. Charlotte Gainsbourg, oft modelling friend Nicolas Ghesquière's wares, has become this season's pin-up.

Charlotte Gainsbourg in Louis Vuitton and wearing Anthony Vaccarello
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Others have updated the leather skirt and shirt workwear look for long-sleeved leather dresses (see Olivia Palermo, main image).
But, if the thought of being swathed in that much leather brings back bad memories of Victoria Beckham, a simple leather panel on a dress would nod to the look. Beginners can also take heed in the fact that simplicity is the key with this trend. Choose minimal black accessories and let your hard-edged leather do the hard work for you.

Left to right: Liya Kebede and Leigh Lezark
SHOP
High street

Left to right: Combination dress, £39.99, Zara; Faux leather sleevless shift, £48, Warehouse
High-end

Left to right: Angelina leather bustier dress, £495, Reiss; Turi leather dress, £248, AllSaints; Leather biker dress, £499, Karen Millen
Designer

Left to right: Saint Laurent Open-back leather mini dress, £2,655, Net-a-Porter; Balenciaga Eyelet-embellished leather dress, £1,655, Matches Fashion
All catwalk photos courtesy of Isidore Montag; all celebrity photos by Rex