Key fashion trends of the season: Leather

Leather and embellished lace panel dress, from a selection Christopher Kane never ceases to surprise us, every season he lurches wildly into a new direction leaving our minds whirling, frantically trying to process it. For A/W he wowed us with a floral embroidered leather and lace collection, we even liked the Dolly Parton star burst embellishments. There are two ways to wear leather this season, this is the tough pretty way by teaming it with lace and making it less girlie By Christopher Kane from Dover Street Market 020 7518 0680 Photographer: Jason Hetherington Fashion editors: Jo Jones and Helen Seamons Fashion assistant: Ainsley Towli Hair and makeup: Juliana Sergot Model: Victoria at Models 1 Photograph: Jason Hetherington Jacket, £299 For a smarter twist on the leather trend try out this cropped tuxedo jacket. For a really dramatic look wear it with a maxi skirt From jaeger.co.uk Photograph: PR Dress, £100 We like this, a leather dress that somebody had the sense not to cut as a skin tight sheath. The chestnut colour is much more flattering on more mature ladies than all the black that is on the high street From dorothyperkins.com Photograph: PR Top, £286 We love this super elegant cowl neck top, no one does relaxed understated chic quite like the L.A designers. Must be all that poolside chilling and sunshine. We'd like to wear this with a silky camel maxi from Zara or jeans By Graham and Spencer 020 7580 8644 Photograph: PR Leather T-shirt, £70 Phoebe Philo showed leather t-shirts for summer at Celine and this is fast becoming a wardrobe staple, just the right side of boring. The high street has caught on fast, this one hits store early October. Snap this up before they sell out From dorothyperkins.com Photograph: PR Boots, £120 When we saw the Burberry Prorsum boots we wondered how good the high street versions would be, over-the-knee leather is hard to pull off on the cheap. These, however, are excellent From topshop.com Photograph: PR Polly leggings, £79 The fashion desk has a friend called Polly and if she were a pair of leggings she would be these. Part Suzi Quatro rocker part slinky fashion fox. We'd also like to mention just how marvelous the new Reiss website is, excellent work Reiss people! From reissonline.com Photograph: PR Jeans, £195 Leather for non leather lovers, these leather look jeans have a leather look finish for a less in-your-face biker look. They look great with relaxed cashmere knits By Acne from matchesfashion.com Photograph: PR Faux leather shorts, £28 "Shorts for winter?" we hear you cry! Yes, dear reader, worn with tights, a cape and a hiking boot these are quite the catwalk winner From next.co.uk Photograph: PR Skirt, £175 This is quite the Christopher Kane homage. Again, the looser cut is more flattering than a tight mini's. You could do a full leather look with the T-shirt or introduce a lace shirt, Next have a great moss green one (very Burberry) From whistles.co.uk Photograph: PR Skirt, £120 Very. Excited. So excited, in fact, it's all we could do to finish typing this and not rush to French Connection to bag this Celine-look-a-like patch pocket skirt. Wear it with a simple cream blouse (H&M have a fab longer length one with single breast pocket, instore now) From frenchconnection.com Photograph: PR Bag, £38 Unless you haven't been paying attention box bags are the thing for A/W. Thanks again to Celine the fashion pack is going crazy for this minimal design. Sadly the closest we will get to that one is when we stroke it in Selfridges. Luckily for us those clever folks at Topshop have done it again with this bargain style in chic parisian navy blue (it also comes in black) From topshop.com Photograph: PR