Herve Leger runway. (@StylewriterLA)

If there’s one thing I took away from New York Fashion Week, it’s that leather is back and here to stay. Although leather has a stereotypical dominatrix idea attached to it, it definitely dominated the runways this past week.     

No, I don’t mean leather from head to toe. Herve Leger, for example, accentuated a simple bodycon dress with a leather peplum belt or a tight fitted leather jacket. As the first fall temperatures begin to hit, leather is a smooth way to transition from the hot summer days to the winter bliss.

Even off the runways, celebrities like Ashley Greene and Jessica Biel can be seen in tight leather pants and black leather dresses. And we all know that once celebrities wear something, it’s considered trendy.

While I’m a black leather kind of girl, there’s always been really cute Bordeaux leather shorts, red leather bags, and blue leather dresses out there. Leather leggings have been a hit for quite some time now, and people that stray away from those often wear tuxedo pants—pants with a single leather strip down the side. How much leather you want to/can wear is in the eye of the spectator. Leather is great because for mixing contrasting styles: the "rocky" leather can be worn with a girly dress or a simple one-toned shirt. With just one leather jacket or a pair of leather shorts, your everyday outfits will look entirely different and you’ll have a variety of outfits to choose from without revamping your entire closet.

Below is a list of my favorite leather outfits and why they are so great:

Leather dress

Whether it’s Vegas or a cocktail party, a leather dress can really grab everyone’s attention. Pairing a leather dress with a chunky bracelet will make it club-ready, but wearing it instead with a pretty up-do makes it a bit more polished for a cocktail event.

Leather shorts

Leather shorts can be worn day or night. Matching a pair of leather shorts (Bordeaux, black, brown) with a simple white tee is cute with a little bit of edge for the day. Swap the white tee for a sheer evening shirt and heels for a perfect night on the town ensemble.

Screenshot of Ashley Greene at the Spring 2014 Kaufmanfranco fashion show (Celebrities In Leather)

Leather jacket

A tight fitted leather jacket isn’t for everyone, but I wish it were. A short leather jacket looks amazing over leggings and a loose tee shirt. It’s feminine, yet a little bit on the tough side. And it’ll keep you warm when it gets a little bit colder.

Leather leggings

This, for me, is probably the boldest leather piece to choose from. Because leather leggings attract so much attention to your legs, you’ll definitely want to balance out the top part of your outfit. Personally, leather leggings make my legs look a little more on the stumpy side, so I tend to pair them with a simple, loose shirt. Just make sure to find the right fit; you don't want the leggings to scrunch up in odd places.

Leather Peplum Shirt

To all the women that can wear peplum: please add a leather peplum shirt to your wardrobe. On top of dark jeans, a leather shirt looks feminine, classy and so chic. 

Not sure where to start with leather? Here are some outfit ideas for inspiration:

Reach fashion writer Beatrice Verhoeven here.