Colgate Couture – Hell-Bent for Leather

Are you into leather? If so, this season’s styles are sure to be a real turn-on. Bombers, quilted coats and fur lined jackets turned the Fall ’07 runways into a haute hog race. Leather jackets are the must-have piece of the season and every rough-rider designer jumped on board to motor out their own signature shapes and styles.

Dark and dangerous Yohji Yamamoto’s cropped jacket appeals to the dominatrix in us all. In buttery black leather, this sleek bomber binds its victim with three button-strap closures and is topped with a stiff, pointed collar. Yamamoto’s feisty jacket is bound to whip any outfit into shape.

Herm??s brings Amelia Earhart back onto the radar and the runway with a chocolate crocodile bomber. Tapered sleeves and a luxurious mink lining and collar add elegance and flare while the boxy shape and thick cut stay true to the classic bomber style. Whether paired with jeans or silky jodhpurs, Herm??s’s bomber is ready for takeoff.

Yves Saint Laurent’s embossed calfskin jacket is Park Ave. punk. Cropped to hit the waist, this supple black leather jacket is puckered for a unique texture. Its loose bubble shape softens the otherwise intense look, and a brass buckle closure at the neck adds the final intricate detail.

Ideal for the rebellious preppie who’d rather break Daddy’s bank account than his heart, Burberry’s black quilted coat is both classic and saucy. The double breasted pea coat in glossy patent is undeniably uptown-chic. Heavy brass buttons add to the coat’s edge, but slightly flared sleeves and a Peter Pan collar help to maintain a subtle sweetness.

Move over James Dean, because there’s a new bad boy in town. Groundbreaking designer Rick Owens sent a fleet of revolutionary leather jackets down the runway during his Fall ’07 show. Some were futuristic, some were cartoonish, but all were fabulous. The front runner was a fitted, sculptural black jacket with a fishtail skirt that swims away from the body. A white, fur-lined elliptical collar wilts over the shoulders and a chunky steel zipper adds an industrial touch. Experimenting with volume and proportion, Owens creates a never-before seen style that leaves any traditional leather jacket in the dust.

With punk, aviator and every style between, this season’s leather jackets are fierce and ready to ride. So toughen up and get wild, because it’s time to burn rubber in one of Fall’s hot leather styles.