9 best leather dresses for an effortlessly chic look - plus styling tips on how to wear the trend

The leather dress is popping up all over the high street and the red carpet, and I can see why. It’s an innately sexy, vampy look that offers up a sleek aesthetic in shapes from pinafores to cami dresses and even puff-sleeved, voluminous skirted leather dresses – who said leather can’t be feminine?

The tide is starting to turn on leather dresses being reserved for the red carpet or a dressier occasion, with daytime appropriate leather shirt dresses dominating the shops and leather shift dresses coming in second. Of course, one of their greatest appeals is the versatility a leather dress affords you. Those shirt dresses in leather and shift dresses can be downplayed for the office and the ante upped for evening – just slip on a slim heel.

On the catwalk, Alexander McQueen, Isabel Marant and Chloe all sent models down the runway in variations of the trend at the A/W 2023 shows, from peplum shapes to tunics and off-the-shoulder mini leather dresses.

I personally own a dark green leather pinafore dress, bought from Topshop years ago, that I still wheel out during this sort of weather. I layer a polo neck or long sleeve tee under and when I say I'm complimented constantly when I wear it, I'm not exaggerating.

Royals wearing leather dresses

For some royals, a leather dress has become a staple. Meghan Markle’s is perhaps the prettiest incarnation of one, worn to the Invictus Games Dusseldorf 2023 closing ceremony. 

Meghan’s peacock blue Raylene Gown from Cult Gaia featured the most intricate laser cut floral detailing, and the midi length added a touch of demure.

Another royal, Queen Letizia, has worn a leather dress on repeated occasions, opting for a flowing shirt dress version.

How to wear a leather dress, now

The beauty of leather dresses is that they're versatile. Add a ribbed polo neck, boyfriend shirt or tee under a pinafore, cami or shift style, with sneakers or low-heeled boots, and you can whip off those layers for evening. 

Leather shirt dresses are a one-stop outfit shop, dressed up or down with ease, and the cool girls even wear a leather trench or jacket over the top. The more leather the better.

I love the oversized leather shirt dress look for bridging the casual yet smart gap, and for a super sexy, no messing evening look, get that leather cami like Mollie King, Blake Lively and Misty Copeland.

How I chose the best leather dresses

• Material: 100% leather dresses are the more luxurious version, but there's plenty of faux leather options too. I've included both, and made it clear what the material is.
• Price: As always, I have included dresses across the price spectrum, from under £60 at Sosandar to over £3,000 for a designer option from Alaia.
• Style: Leather dress options are vast, and in this edit you'll find leather shirt dresses, shift dresses, pinafores, cami and more.