Women’s leather is making a big impression in 2013. From leather dresses to small leather inserts, there are a variety of ways to wear this timeless fabric. So whether you’re a leather-lover or you’d prefer only to make a brief nod to the trend, there’s plenty to choose from.

What’s new in leather clothing

Leather shoes and bags are a mainstay of women’s fashion. But the Autumn/Winter 2012 catwalks indicate that this year, women will be wearing plenty of leather on their bodies too - and in revolutionary ways. Leather skirts, for instance, are making waves in designer boutiques and on the high street. Leather skirts come in a range of shapes, from pencil skirts to maxi-length ones. Choose a leather pencil skirt for a versatile clothing item you can wear to the office or out on the town. At work pair with a white collared shirt with minimal jewellery, or wear with a lace-detailed top on a night out.

Leather dresses too are re-emerging, though this is more of a niche look than leather skirts. If leather dresses appeal to you, look for them in mini-length and with a straight line. Wear with ankle boots rather than knee length ones so you don’t overdo the leather look and pair with a softer fabric on top – for instance, a faux-fur scarf or wrap.

Elsewhere, leather trousers have gained favour too, especially with designer houses Gucci and Roberto Cavalli. Fitted leather trousers can look fantastic, when accessorised correctly. Try wearing black leather trousers with black riding boots, a thin white jumper and a twill coat for a look that balances feminine elegance with the dominating lines of leather.

Adding a touch of leather to your wardrobe

If you love leather but don’t like the idea of wearing leather clothes all day, rest assured that there are plenty of alternatives. Try adding small leather details to your wardrobe – for instance, leather gloves in the winter or a leather belt over a cotton dress. Or look for leather details on clothing, like leather panels on a shirt, or stitch a leather pocket on to the back of a pair of jeans for a trendy DIY touch.

For a classic leather look, you can’t go wrong with a jacket or coat. Women’s leather jackets might have less pop culture significance than their male counterparts, but they look just as good and they’re equally as versatile. Wear a leather jacket over jeans for effortless casual outerwear or pair over an evening dress to bring a raunchy touch to formalwear.