Red Leather, Yellow Leather

Jenni Kayne, Jenni Kayne, Derek Lam - S/S 07

One thing that appears to be emerging quite rapidly from the undergrowth of fashionable young things and grubby, heavy-booted punks is leather. In a myriad of colours, textures, fits and styles, this sumptuous material is being made into dresses and skirts, quite apart from the usual footwear, bags and jackets. But alas, how doth one procure Jenni Kayne's practically perfect primary coloured-bombers! And why, oh why are all vintage leather items in the form of stiff motorcycle pants or flower-power vests? I have suddenly discovered a passion for leather in the form of quality equestrian goods and luxurious soft-as-clouds, smells-like-heaven nappa or calf leather. I have an overwhelming urge to discard all my poor, cheap synthetic shoes and canvas handbags - to replace them with Hermes keyrings, Repetto ballet shoes and Tods bags.

Being a young, inexperienced country girl, I have only cottoned on to the charms of leather jackets in my late teens, while apparently Parisienne femmes have been regarding a well-cut bomber as a must-have classic for decades and casting me withering glares of contempt for my backward ways. According to The Sartorialist:

It seems like very cool girl in Paris has a short black leather
jacket. Over short skirts, over dresses, or over pants it just looks
right.

Indeed. And ofcourse in Paris it must be black. But in wild-child Helsinski, where a leather coat would be quite practical in their climate, the possibilities of cut and colour are limitless!