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Consignment score & What to wear with leather pencil skirt?

shiny

Veteran

Out and about with MIL (mother in law) today, and we hit her favorite consignment shop. She is neighbors with the owners and they were having a 70% off sale. Except for some of the newer items, which were 20% off.

I scored ... I think... except my two items were not in the 70% off category:

Pic 1: cream Kate Spade bag. What is this shape called? I am blanking! The bag is pristine condition, not a smudge, nothing, not even dust inside. It looks like it's never been used. Perfect size for petite little me, too. And I've been totally KS jonesing lately. And I can never have enough white/cream bags. I think this style is probably a few years old (?) but it totally works for me. *happy dance*....

Pic 2: Elie Tahari leather pencil skirt, brown. The leather is like butter. The fit is perfection -- I believe it needs zero alteration. Hits at the knee. And once again, pristine condition, looks like it's never been worn.

QUESTION: what to wear with the skirt??? I really have no clue. I never purchased a leather skirt because I am not really a skirt person... though I am starting to gravitate in that direction. I would never have purchased a leather skirt in a zillion years because I'm not a skirt person and eek the price. But this was so affordable, and such a classic shape and color, I figured why not and I can experiment with it this fall/winter. But I am drawing a blank here............ HELP!

Show me your leather skirt outfits!

A P.s... what I almost but didn't buy: a Vince velvet blazer, classic cut, three buttons, in a rich shade I can't describe. Not brown, not burgundy. Something in between the two. Fit like a glove. I opted for the leather skirt instead. I hope that wasn't a mistake!

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Dressing

26 replies

Latest reply was from JAileen

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

The bag looks perfect and the skirt is the exact shape that will work in lots of ways. I will let wiser minds give you the examples though!

Mamapicklejuice

Veteran

The bag is TDF, truly. It is a satchel shape called a "doctor's bag" and I covet it greatly.

Ditto the skirt.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

Love both. Would the blazer you left behind work with the leather skirt, just asking?

celia

Veteran

The bag is awesome.
Great finds both of them.
I would wear the skirt with a more feminine silhouette and fabric. My favourite is to mix leather and silk.

shiny

Veteran

It probably would, Caro; not just the color but the contrast of textures. I have been experimenting. I guess what I'm thinking is that I need a top with matte, not shiny, texture. And most of my blouses are silky/silk like. Or am I over-thinking that?

I did try it on with a cream l/s chiffon blouse and that looked awesome! So I have one outfit. I am thinking suede red pumps, for additional texture. I am nixing any animal print belt, handbag, shoe, or cardigan because it just seems over the top to me... but what do I know?

Do you think this would work with a denim shirt? I still have to dig mine out of storage. I'm thinking denim shirt with cobalt suede ruffle heels could be a cool look?

One challenge is that this is brown... and I moved away from brown awhile back. So that is making it tricky for my head to get around it. But I probably have other items-- fall/winter-- tucked away in storage that might work. I am hoping to get DD's room cleared out enough tomorrow I can use it for staging ground for a closet seasonal rotation/inventory/purge.

shiny

Veteran

Celia-- I was typing while you were. So, silk top with leather is fine to mix? Because that opens up a whole lot more options!

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Leather and lace! : )

I think a silk top would be fine, it just depends on the color. Leather skirt says "fall/winter" to me, so I think darker, more winter-appropriate colors and fabrications would work well. What about a turtleneck sweater tucked in to the skirt? Or a chunky, oversized sweater could be cool, too.

shiny

Veteran

Hi Ana! Good to see you again!

I don't do turtlenecks. Chunky sweaters are all tucked away in storage at the moment. I think that is my challenge because most of my "dead of winter" items aren't in my closet right now. Agree darker colors. I was thinking this skirt would look awesome with the burgundy that is on trend right now.

Also note to self: don't go shopping on an empty stomach. Went out to dinner after I bought this, big dinner, capped off with a rich dessert (I rarely eat dessert). It feels tight in the waist now. It didn't feel tight in the dressing room. Argh. One meal can make that big of a difference? Or is this the curse of skirts and that's why I rarely wear them? Well, I guess it wouldn't hurt me to drop a pound or two before Fall fashions are in full swing here...

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Good to see you, too! I've thought about you a lot during my absence from the forum. Glad you're doing well. Can't believe both your girls are in college already!

I think on some level I knew you didn't wear turtlenecks. As I was typing I had a little niggle.

That same thing happens to me if I shop before eating.

shiny

Veteran

Since I have to go to the tailor anyway (on my to-do list next week), maybe I can see if she can add two discrete elastic "V" darts to the waistband in the back? Like they do to extend the calves of boots? Honestly I don't need much there-- and the rest of the skirt fits just fine, and has some give since it's leather. It's just my darn waist that is thicker (the 0.8 ratio) and this waistband has no give. If done right, it could look like an intentional design element, or be barely noticed, or covered with belt. Then I could enjoy dessert when i wanted to eat it!!

The skirt was inexpensive enough it may be worth a shot?

Joy

Veteran

Shiny, it is so good to see you back! A belated thank you for the heads up on the Calson cardigans.
I thrifted a leather skirt last year and got lots of inspiration from this blog post:
http://youlookfab.com/2011/07/.....rsonified/
It is paired with a silky blouse. In fact I bought that same blouse to wear with the leather skirt.
The deep red's and burnt oranges this fall would be pretty with brown, as would purple, eggplant, black, blues, teals, gold, fushia...about anything. You will look fabulous in a leather skirt!

Caro in Oz

Veteran

I love brown & blue. Do you have blues that would work?

catgirl

Veteran

Gorgeous! I am a fan of wearing anything with a leather skirt, including a recent post with a sweatshirt. T-shirt, cashmere sweater, silk buttondown - treat it like a pair of dark jeans and you will be good to go.

MNsara

Veteran

There's not much better than a buttery brown leather! I say mix it with the denim/chambray, check what cashmeres you have in storage, mix it with your silks, try a sassy sweatshirt like Una just did
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....d-other-kr

Great scores!

Gaylene

Veteran

Angie did this post a year ago about how to style leather skirts.
http://youlookfab.com/2011/08/.....her-skirt/

Kirti

(website)

Veteran

Wow great haul! The skirt would look great with a lace top

Deborah

Veteran

Hi Shiny, the bag is just gorgeous and the skirt looks and sounds like a great find. Here a two pictures of how I have worn mine. Also Christy and Alaska Girl have posted some great leather skirt outfits. AG posted one today or yesterday:)

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Vildy

Veteran

I'm another one who thinks leather skirts are easy to wear/style. They're nice for hardening a ladylike look a bit. Sorry, though, that you didn't get the Vince velvet blazer. Maybe this mother's neighbor does layaway? It's Vince! It's velvet (coming on)! It's a glorious expensive looking off-shade! It fits like a glove!

Anonymous

I love that bag! Almost a baguette shape? I'll SAY you scored girl! Love the skirt too and I see Gaylene linked you to the post I as thinking of. As for brown, I'd just treat it like a *color*. Don't feel like you have to go out and buy a bunch of brown things to go with it. Mix it with black and your other neutrals and have fun. I love the idea of a printed chiffon blouse with it. Woot! Can't wait to see your stylings!

ironkurtin

Veteran

Love them both!

I'd wear a leather skirt like any other skirt. The only thing I'd avoid is leather on leather, just like I avoid denim on denim. Although I think that rule has changed recently.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

This post might help:

http://youlookfab.com/2011/08/.....her-skirt/

That's a baguette bag

Prudence

the pencil shape and the richness of the leather will also dress up something more casual like a tee shirt or a chambray button up.

nicoleb

(website)

Veteran

Awesome finds! Yay leather skirt!! I did this look for work so far but once it cools down again i'm excited to try a sweatshirt pairing as well as some "conversation print" sweaters i have. Basically pairing opposites together. Grown up + young, fancy + casual.

I totally would of grabbed the skirt and velvet blazer. @_@ I have been on the hunt for a velvet blazer for like 3 year now (but preferably black). Maybe i should just bite the bullet and splurge on one in a retail store. :-/

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jayne

Veteran

I tried mine (also brown) with a denim shirt which works for casual and white button shirt for work. But my new inspiration is a photo from a ralphlauren dress that is brown leather on bottom and sweater material on top.....so cool. So I am planning to wear it in winter with a black soft turtlneck and an awesome silver ring belt that i own. RL styed with a belt with metal of course!

Jjsloane

Veteran

Fantastic finds! I'd wear a cashmere pullover sweater and any blouse, or chanel tweedy jacket or chambray/denim top with the leather skirt.

JAileen

Veteran

I went to a consignment store yeterday and didn't find anything!

When I see a leather skirt like that I think biker chick. A denim jacket would look great with it, and lots of silver neckaces.