Cream City Chic
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Kelley Burian chronicles the fashion evolution of an everyday gal and shares style tips, sources for inspiration, current trends and great fashion finds.
Faux Leather: What you need to know about faux
Known in previous decades by the more pejorative “pleather”, faux leather is everywhere right now. Improvements in the look and feel of artificial leather (it’s getting harder to tell the difference) have sent it mainstream, and love it or hate it, it’s hard to miss when cruising the mall. Here’s what you need to know when shopping for faux.
What is it?
Faux or “fake” leather is an animal hide-free alternative to real leather. More versatile, less expensive and celebrated as animal-friendly, faux leather is made from a variety of materials, though the most common now is viscose or polyester coated in polyurethane.
Faux leather jacket paired with mixed-media pants and a floral scarf
How do I wash it?
It depends. Some pieces with faux leather accents are machine washable, but never ever dry them. (Heat melts plastic, ruining your garment and possibly your dryer. This obviously rules out ironing as well.) Dry cleaning is also generally a no-no, as the chemicals used can cause stiffness and discoloration.
The safest bet is to clean your faux leather clothing with a damp cloth, or at most, hand wash it. If you have some wrinkles after line-drying, a cool iron can be used ONLY if you place a towel between the garment and your iron. Take a look at the tag to see what the manufacturer suggests, and err on the side of caution.
Rocker-chic in a faux leather trumpet skirt, booties and layered chains
Is it fashionable or tacky?
Faux leather can now be found at every level of fashion. Once relegated to more cost-conscious retailers like H&M, artificial leather is now featured in the lines of high-end designers including Tom Ford and Stella McCartney. Celebrities are on board as well, and Natalie Portman, Anne Hathaway and Madonna walked the red carpet this year in faux. And New York Magazine went as far as to declare 2013 “The Year of Pleather”.
Faux leather mini with emerald and houndstooth
How do I wear it?
The same rules that apply to real leather carry over to the manufactured version. Avoid wearing it head-to-toe unless you are on your way to a biker rally or Halloween party. A general rule of thumb is to stick to one piece per outfit (shoes don’t count), but you can mix a faux-accented piece with a larger statement. Contrast the inherent toughness of a leather look with softer dresses, bright colors and florals. If you aren’t quite ready to jump all the way in, look for easy-to-wear faux leather accents on tops, skirts, dresses and pants.
Have you tried out the faux leather trend?