Trends in fashion depend on a number of things: whether they’re an article of clothing or an accessory, who its being marketed towards, color, size, and most importantly material. In the United States recently Americans have taken in comfort into their wardrobe choices but this year we have also adapted a long lived fashion trend from Europe… Leather. 

The majority of my family actually lives in Europe with my cousins ranging in ages between 8 and 21. While visiting last summer, I was persuaded by the three Swiss teenagers to invest in a black leather jacket. Although my debit card whimpered a bit, it turned out to be one of the best investments for my personal fashion. It adds a bit of sophistication and edge to any outfit and is actually much warmer than it looks.

Me (right) in my leather jacket

Leather can be seen in both accessories and articles of clothing thus broadening its market and heightening its number of sales. It can be seen as a material used for hand bags, jackets, shoes, pants, and so forth. Typically all but the purses and shoes are made out of a fake leather material due to its high price. Those jackets that are made out of real leather are typically marketed at a price of at least $200 depending on the brand. 

Burnished Leather Moto Jacket by Ralph Lauren listed for $495

For the last year before I left for State College in August, I had worked as a sales associate at Ralph Lauren. The store typically had a turnover every season to change out old outdated clothing and exchange it for new ones. Typically Ralph Lauren relies on its high class, Americana type of style but last winter in about December, all of a sudden they had switched the usual jean jackets for leather jackets, something that’s not typically seen in a Polo store. There were two different variations, a slimmer shorter one in the women’s department in both brown and black leather, and a larger bulky black one in the mens department. Both were just under $500 and one of the only pieces in the store than contained 3 different security tags around the jacket.

I think that one of the best things about fashion is its shared ideas over all different countries tying them together as one. Leather is most definitely old fashioned with its popularity for men in the 50’s but has now evolved into something for all genders and origins.