The Leather Dress: A Timeless Trend in 2023's Celebrity Fashion

Whether it hugs the body's contours or reveals more daring seams, the black leather dress has won over celebrities in 2023. Spotlight on the most memorable leather dresses.

"I want leather," sang Alain Souchon in 1985. Whether it covers shoes, a bag, or a dress, leather has always been a material that makes a statement. This is what makes it the quintessential timeless material. It's hard to forget, among others, the audacious 100% leather duo formed by David and Victoria Beckham at a Versace evening in 1999. Or the long black leather dress adopted by Angelina Jolie in Los Angeles in 2005, the year she made her relationship with Brad Pitt official. More than a decade later, the leather dress withstands trends. In 2023, it's seen in all its forms. Short, long, tight, or very daring, this year it was the fashion ally of celebrities.

Of Leather and Confidence

On the red carpet of a major event, in the streets of Paris during Fashion Week, on the steps of the prestigious Met Gala... In 2023, personalities did not hold back with leather, no matter where they were. Take British actress Phoebe Dynevor (Bridgerton) for example, who at the Louis Vuitton show in October, wore an elegant straight-cut black dress with textured leather. This confirms the trend that has been prevalent for many seasons in fashion shows. For its show in Manchester on December 7, Chanel offered its own version of the black leather dress: a pencil cut and shiny. The same story for Bottega Veneta, which, in its Spring-Summer 2024 collection, bet on a total reinterpretation of the garment. This year, the leather dress is enough on its own. It replaces a long coat, reshapes the body's curves, or is adorned with rhinestones as seen at Prada.

Kim Kardashian also dared the black leather dress: in November at the CFDA Fashion Awards, she opted for an ultra-tight, backless piece from the brand Chrome Hearts. Earlier in the year, the businesswoman left a hotel in New York dressed in a similar dress, which she accessorized with stiletto heels. In a mini version as seen on Hailey Bieber and Eva Longoria, or in a grand evening variation like the imposing Tamara Ralph dress worn by Lily James at the Met Gala 2023... Whether its detractors like it or not, this piece remains a real tough one to beat.