If you don’t have any leather or faux leather, maybe it’s time to add a piece to your wardrobe. It is timeless, modern, and youthful. How to pull it off without looking like you are trying too hard? Some say to dress well in your 50’s and 60’s one should dress more simply. I agree with this concept to a point, but there is nothing wrong with showing a little attitude in one item while paring down the rest. How about a leather jacket, or skirt, or a pair of faux leather pants. Let’s talk about how to Wear Leather After 50.
MY SUGGESTIONS FOR HOW TO WEAR LEATHER AFTER 50
- Stick to classic styles
- Don’t Overdo the Details
- Keep the colors neutral so that your leather garment will complement other items in your wardrobe
Don’t be afraid to layer. Here I am wearing an older Ralph Lauren quilted vest under a leather topper from BR that I have owned for years. Items or similar items are linked below the picture.
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Debra Bolan has a great post, Seven Good Reasons to Wear a Leather Jacket at any Age you might enjoy.
A leather moto jacket is a great way to add some edge to a simple white shirt as I did here. I am wearing two leather pieces faux leather leggings and my ancient moto jacket.
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Leather or suede can add texture to an all-black outfit. Here I am wearing a suede midi skirt (that I inherited from my sister) a simple black turtleneck and my moto jacket and boots.
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The same jacket with a leopard midi skirt and the same boots.
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Leather is a great season spanner. Here I am wearing the moto jacket with a cp shades lily linen skirt, and a leopard shirt.
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What’s better with jeans than a leather jacket? Here I am wearing it with a camel turtleneck, jeans, and leopard slides.
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My daughter bought me this great leather jacket from Sundance last year for Christmas. I like the juxtaposition of the ripped jeans with the more polished shirt and jacket.
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Here I am wearing a vintage Banana Republic jacket with J Crew Velvet wide-leg pants and a black turtleneck. Can you tell I like this color combo?
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I have had this Banana Republic leather skirt for probably twenty years. Here I am pairing it with a Ganni Mesh Leopard turtleneck (you can find on Ebay here) from a couple of years ago and boots.
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The same leather skirt paired here with a black blazer and belted.
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If you have been reading this blog long you know how much I love faux leather leggings. I l particularly love the Spanx version. Here I styled them with my vintage Native American jewelry, a cashmere sweater, and Artemis mules.
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I am wearing faux suede leggings with my J Crew Coat over 15 years old and available again with Velvet Birdies.
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I love this mudpie cardigan! I purchased it at a little boutique called Necessities in Indiana, but you can find it on the Mudpie website if you don’t live in Indiana It is one size and it looks just as nice worn open without a belt. Sorry the wind was terrible on the day I photographed. All sources are linked below photo.
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Thanks for Reading How to Wear Leather after 50. You might also enjoy my post Owning Your Own Style after 50 Now pop over and see what the youngsters are wearing. I know you won’t be disappointed!
Whew … Cindy! I have to close this post before I’m into the poor house. Seriously though, I love your style and flair for layers. I ordered the suede booties, turtleneck and tortoise earrings to complete my animal print skirt/moto jacket combo for New York next month. How did you know I needed this?! xo
I SO look forward to your blogs. I too wear a lot of vintage jewelry, especially native american, some that
I’ve had since I was a teenager (and THAT was a long time ago!). Really like seeing the outfits on a real person
as well.
I like most of these looks, but I do think that a person can do too much leather/faux at a time – like a person who is ruffles from head to toe. Leather jacket and shoes/boots? Yes. Leather pants and shoes/boots? Yes, Leather jacket and pants and shoes/boots? No. Too much, too heavy looking and the textural interest goes away.
Ciao Cyndi, carina come sempre, moderna, naturale, senza sovraffare, quante belle idee grazie.
I’m a Texas girl who’s over 70, and I love leather. Ten years ago my sales associate friend at one of the department stores talked me into trying a pair of leather pants. I thought I was too old, but no way!! Since then I’ve bought another pair and love faux leather leggings. I will wear my black leather pants until I run out of breath. xoxox, Brenda
My favorite outfit on you is the Carmel leather jacket and black pants. The scale and color is perfect for you !
Love all the looks and I think leather is classic and tasteful at any age. However, ripped jeans are never appropriate for anyone over 40. Better leave this fad to teens!
I’m watching the Dodgers/Giants game right now, but you’re the one hitting it out of the park! I have a couple of vintage leather jackets but at 67 I’ve never owned a pair of leather pants. I don’t know where I would wear them, especially these days, but you and Sarah and Kim sure make me want to give them a try. So hard to let go of that fear of looking like one is trying too hard to be young and hip. What a disservice we do to ourselves, right?
I love how you’ve styled different outfits incorporating leather with just enough attitude. I don’t see any reason why leather should be any different from any other fabric when it comes to the age of the person wearing. It’s all about the composition and all of your outfits pull it together in a classy way.
I ordered the Spanx leggings in Medium since it said to size up if in between. Whoa! Way snug around my middle and bottom but the next size up fits 12-14 and I’m not taking the chance of ordering again without trying on in a store….when that can happen. I do hope to find some that a tunic top will work with.
Thanks for the great inspiration and perfect for fall!
Cindy, my supermodel friend,
I’ve decided you can wear anything and make it work. I don’t think I could wear leather…not me. But I do like some of these leather pieces. Maybe if I’m feeling super slim one day, I’ll try a piece in the dressing room of a store. Haha.
xo,
Karen
Hi Karen
I have the advantage of pitching the shots that make me look fat…trust me there are many. Once in a while the first pic will be good but trust me it is rare. It usually takes multiple shots. I have never been photogenic. This is a learning process for me. I envy those that feel and look natural in front of a camera. That is not me. But thank you for making me think so!!
Lovely! What great ideas. I have a Moto jacket and now figure I can wear it. Super curation.
Yes to the moto jacket Beth! You guys inspire me to drag my stuff out of the closet and style it!!
So many great style ideas, Cindy! I held my breath from when I saw the title in my inbox to opening up your post. When the weather allows, I wear a lot of leather/faux leather, so I was happy to see you wearing so many great pieces with leather. I have to admit I have a Moto jacket addiction and I may need to enter rehab soon. Super post as always!
Hi Deb
I have seen you in your cute moto jackets. I think they are classic. I hate to think how old mine is. Most of my leather has come from Ebay!!
Hi Cindy,
I love all these looks on you! The answer to your title question is an obvious YES!
I love wearing leather, real or faux. I’m so happy that I can once again fit into my leather pants from 20 years ago. Wish I had kept my skirt, but I actually just ordered one last week, bordeaux colored pleather from BR. Can’t wait to style it with sweaters and my boots. Cindy you have such an easy style that looks classy and elegant, with a touch of rancher chic! Love all you fashion posts!
Xo Heidi
Hi Heidi
You are so nice. You all inspire me to dig deep in my closet and make things work. We aren’t going too many places yet so my outings are limited. We can dream, can’t we?
Thank you for the post Cindy, wonderful looks you wear them all so well !! I just bought a faux leather blazer the other day and am feeling very chic 🙂 Happy days !
Go Francesca! I know you are very chic…even though we have never met. Hopefully one day!!
As usual, you totally ROCK all these looks! I do own leather, but only get to wear it a couple of times during the year. Florida and leather are usually mutually exclusive. Still, it gets cold sometimes, so I indulge. I sent you a cute sign that I saw in Hobby Lobby, regarding why we should make a little effort to get dressed. I agree with the sentiment. Hope it made you laugh.
Hi Gayle
Love that sign! I am going to post in my Instagram stories tomorrow! What is your coolest month in Florida…Jamuary or February? We fell in love with Rosemary Beach!
Well, it’s a little hard to predict because it all depends on the jet stream. But offhand I think February probably is the coldest. But cold is relative in Florida. Canadians will be strolling in shorts regardless.
Cindy I loved your post. The last picture was so cute.. I had the same issues- hurricane force winds that day! Looked like I had a wind machine! Love how you have so many unique and beautiful pieces. All your jackets are a treasure. The leggings should be a staple in everyone’s wardrobe they are so comfy and chic. Your black coat from J Crew is a beauty. That is one thing I still need – a good black wool coat! Your brown version of the leggings is a good foil to your cool accessories. I want them too. I so love doing this with you and Sarah! You both have so much style. xoxo Kim
Hey Kim
You are so stylish I am embarrassed that you think I am! I am so lucky that you and Sarah will hang out with an old bag like me!!
I love your style. The collected wardrobe you have assembled resonates with me as I too have timeless main pieces, accessories, jewelry that I’ve had for years and pop them with less costly on trend pieces. My question….you photograph with a lot of sunglasses and hats. Do you wear them like that or is it a styled photo? Also, all these beautiful outfits…where do you go to be sooo put together? I don’t ask to be snarky. I guess my life is so much more casual.
Hi Lindsay
So funny you would ask. I almost always photograph outside because the light is best. Honestly, if I don’t wear sunglasses in pictures I look like I have my eyes closed (old age!). Most of the time I live in sweats especially the last couple of years.All of my jewelry and accessories are old, and so are a lot of my clothes. I dress very casually almost all of the time, but I try to step my casual clothing & accessories up a notch to give you all ideas and inspiration. Hopefully we will all be entertaining and going out more in the next year.
One of my favorite posts from you. At 72 I plan to wear my black leather blazer( 25 years old) , My Kentucky Blue Molto Jacket (20 years old) and a black leather motorcycle jacket (15 years old) as important parts of my fall and winter look. I have a group of Leopard–a turtleneck, a shirt, a skirt, a cashmere sweater set. I had already planned to wear these pieces, so todays post was right down my alley. It is still too warm here in Central KY to wear these pieces. But I am looking forward to my trying my looks out.
Hi Beth
Aren’t you so glad you saved your classics? I got rid of a few things (that maybe I will regret) in this move. You are my girl. It sounds like we have many of the same pieces. We just need to remember to wear them, right?
Love, love, love this post! Love all your looks. They are so well put together and you look so stylish.
Thank you so much Nancy. You all inspire me to go outside the box so to speak.
You look stunning on all pictures and I find the leather looks specially nicer against your gray hair. Kudos to you to still fit on pieces you’ve hang onto for 20 years. The oldest piece I have in my closet is maybe 10 years old and I may be able to fit nothing other than my fingers through it. I’m now old enough to see that fashion always come around. But I’m not thin enough to hang onto my clothes and shoes, for that long.
Hi Liana
I was probably chubby from puberty through high school and college. The reason I can fit into those clothes is somewhere around the age of 50 I got my weight under control. I am heavier than usual now. I guess I can blame it on covid, or maybe not? I had a large home with lots of storage so I hung onto things. I am also a collector by nature.
Lovely! Just wish you would include more plus size options.
Hi Cindy
Thank you for reminding me. I will make a point to do that!!
I love this post!! I wear similar black combinations now so really love it! I just found a pair of faux leather pants I forgot about and 2 really nice leather jackets, one with a little edgy look like your Sundance one! I live in Arizona and we have such a short window to wear leather so I pulled out so I can revisit them!!!
Today is in the 60’s (unseasonable) so I tried them on with some of your looks and it was like buying something new!!
Thanks…such great looks!!As usual you look super!
Hi Char
That’s what we all need to do shop our closet. Since I am not a real fashion blogger (just an imposter) I shop my closet for most of my looks unless I find something really good. I hope I encourage you all to do the same. Thanks so much for your support
So glad ya did this post❤️❤️ Must wear my Leather Skirt( Deep Indigo Blue color (BP) and Leather jacket( Black).
Just stored them away.
Love Love all the Beautifullllllll Pics.
I love when ya blog lands in my e- mail
Happy Escape
Thank you
70+ and still wearing leather jackets and “shackets.” But not pants (sorry, the thighs won’t allow it) and no faux leather in Texas—it just doesn’t breathe!
I love all these style inspirations! Pinning them all!
love this so much! oh how i wish the banana republic leather pieces i bought in both that wonderful brown and black still fit…in other words – oh how wonderful to be the same size as i was 20 years ago. NOT:( i held on to the pants and jackets for as long as i could. finally realized i’d never be that size (or shape) again. but you look fan.tas.tic. in everything!