Right, so I decided to finally tackle that black leather skirt that’s been sitting in my closet. You know the one, looks cool on the hanger but then you put it on and suddenly feel like you’re trying way too hard or just… off. I’d bought it ages ago, thinking it’d be super versatile, but honestly, it mostly just collected dust.
Getting Started – The First Attempts
So, I pulled it out the other day. First thought: just keep it simple. Grabbed a basic grey t-shirt, threw it on. Looked in the mirror. Meh. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t good either. Felt kinda boring, actually. Like I hadn’t really styled anything.
Okay, attempt two. Maybe it needed something softer on top to balance the leather? I dug out a chunky cream knit sweater. Tucked the front in a bit. Better. Definitely warmer, cozier vibe which seemed to work okay against the tougher skirt material. But still felt… incomplete? Maybe it was the shoes. I had sneakers on. Let’s rethink the footwear.
Trying Different Combos
This is where I really started messing around. Spent a good hour just trying stuff on, tossing clothes onto the bed. Here’s kinda how it went down:
- Top Idea 1: Silk camisole. Tried a black one. Looked okay, maybe for a night out? But felt a bit much for daytime. Added a blazer. Getting complicated now. Scrapped that for now.
- Top Idea 2: Simple long-sleeved black top. Turtleneck, actually. Okay, this felt a bit chic. Maybe a bit too severe? Needed something to break it up.
- Footwear Frenzy: Swapped the sneakers for ankle boots. Block heel ones. YES. This immediately felt better than the sneakers for most tops. Tried some chunkier combat boots too. Edgy, liked that vibe with the knit sweater specifically. Heels? Nah, not really my style for day-to-day with this skirt.
- Outerwear?: Threw on my denim jacket over the t-shirt combo. Okay, that added something. More casual, less try-hard. Tried a long cardigan over the turtleneck – also not bad, softened the look.
What I Figured Out
After all that swapping, I kinda landed on a few things. First, the skirt is the main event. Everything else needs to support it, not compete. Simple tops generally worked best. Second, texture matters. Pairing the smooth leather with something soft (like the knit) or something classic (like a plain tee or turtleneck) felt right. Mixing too many ‘statement’ pieces just looked messy. Third, shoes totally change the vibe. Boots felt way more balanced than sneakers or delicate heels for my taste.
The Looks I Landed On
So, I ended up with two main ways I actually felt comfortable wearing it.
Look One: Casual Day Out. The black leather skirt, that chunky cream knit sweater slightly tucked in front, black tights (it’s still chilly!), and my sturdy black ankle boots. Felt comfortable, put-together, but not overdone. Actually wore this out for coffee and didn’t feel self-conscious.
Look Two: Slightly Edgier. Same skirt, but this time with a simple black fitted turtleneck. Ditched the tights (if weather permits) or went with sheer black ones. Added the chunkier combat boots. Considered a leather jacket but decided against the double leather thing for myself. Maybe a dark wash denim jacket if needed. This felt a bit cooler, more intentional.
Final Thoughts
Honestly, just spending that time trying things on, seeing what actually felt like ‘me’ rather than what I thought should work, made a difference. The skirt isn’t going to be an everyday item for me, definitely not. But now I feel like I actually have a couple of solid ways to wear it without feeling like an idiot. It’s not just taking up space anymore, which is nice. Success, I guess?
