Leather skirts have a reputation problem, mostly from people who bought the wrong one. Too stiff, too short, too obviously trying. A good leather skirt is none of those things. It’s the piece that makes a plain white shirt look considered, that takes a chunky knit from Sunday casual to something worth photographing, that pulls together an outfit you couldn’t quite land before. That’s the actual appeal and it’s significant. We’ve been through a lot of options to find the ones that justify the price and the wardrobe real estate. Real and faux leather both make the cut here because frankly some of the faux options are extraordinary. We’re interested in fit above everything else. A leather skirt that pulls across the hips or gaps at the waist is unwearable regardless of how good it looks on a hanger. The silhouettes we favour are midi lengths with a slight A-line, fitted styles with genuine give, and the occasional mini for people who know exactly what they’re doing. These are the ones built for regular wear, not a single occasion. A leather skirt that earns its place repays you every single time you reach for it.