Fashion Trends 2021: Faux Leather Is On The Rise

Why are faux leather fashions trending for 2021? Just like velvet and faux fur, faux leather is a textured fabric. Textures add contrast and flair to any basic outfit. Considering that many lived through 2020 in casual dresses and lounge sets, dressing up lazy looks with a touch of texture via faux leather fashions became a no-brainer. This fabrication can also come in a variety of styles by way of quilting (e.g. quilted bags and jackets), print embossing (e.g. croc-embossed boots), and coating (e.g. coated faux leather shorts). This material has come a long way from its edgy all-black origins and is now available in a wider range of shades like burgundy, tan, white, and pink. Even if your style is far from bold, adding a contrary piece to your look is a smart way to apply the concept of “opposites attract” to your outfit to create an eye-catching, elevated look.

This artificial fabric is trending for being a cruelty-free cost saver. What is faux leather made of? Exact materials may vary, but faux leather is made of polyurethane, also known as PU. This material is why you may also see talk of PU leather, patent leather, or pleather while shopping around. PU is made of vegan material but gives the appearance of real leather. This is why you’ll also see “vegan leather” tossed around interchangeably with “faux leather.” Animal lovers tend to prefer manmade faux leather over genuine leather crafted from cattle and this fabrication can withstand scratches and scrapes better than real leather can. Faux leather is also easy to clean if you’re prone to spilling food or drinks. Just use a clean paper towel with water, and perhaps some delicate detergent for stickier substances, and you’re good to wipe dry and go.

Faux leather is no longer just for bikers and rockers. This material is also trending for 2021 due to the variety in which it’s now made and sold. Want a vegan leather top in brown, red, or black? Feel free to buy all three colors, and even more. Want to rock patent PU but feel like moto jackets are too much? There are plenty of cute handbags, dresses, and skirts in this material that will help you stay true to your personal style while allowing you to add some texture to your OOTD.

When it comes to this artificial fabric, there’s something for everyone. Keep reading for trending faux leather clothing that you’re sure to see everywhere in 2021.

Discover Faux Leather Outfits

Classic Faux Leather Jackets

Few things are chicer than faux leather jackets. Although outerwear in this fabrication can come in a variety of styles, like puffer jackets and blazers, moto jackets in faux leather are most common. Why are moto jackets the most common type of faux leather outerwear? Their structured silhouettes and pressed lapels and collars turn our most unimaginative ‘fits into Instagram-worthy looks. In other words, they make things instantly dressy. Most faux leather is waterproof, so using faux leather jackets as your topmost layer on a wet day is a smart way to ensure your fab look doesn’t get soaked. They’re also super easy to layer with; just toss a casual women’s hoodie underneath your pleather when you need some extra warmth in the winter.

As it’s still winter, it’s likely you’re looking for cozy outerwear. Just because pleather isn’t soft and fuzzy doesn’t mean it can’t be warm. Get yourself a quilted faux leather moto jacket to turn up the heat. Quilting doesn’t just create a diamond pattern on fabric; it also involves adding insulation between two layers of fabric, like faux leather, that adds thickness and warmth to any piece. Thanks to its classic black color and construction, this belted moto jacket will take all of your winter OOTDs from darling to daring. If you’re craving some color, inject some literal fire into your hot style with a croc-embossed faux leather jacket. This beauty will add some in-vogue animal print to your ‘fit and trendy texture on texture, due to its embossing and textured gold buttons.

quilted faux leather jacket
Shop This

EDGY GLAM FAUX LEATHER QUILTED MOTO

red faux croc leather jacket
Shop This

FEELIN' BOLD CROC EMBOSSED FAUX LEATHER JACKET

Trendy Faux Leather Pants

Give this trend some legs when you slip into faux leather pants for 2021. This past year was a groundbreaking one for stretchy pants in spandex and cotton, so why not dress up your faves in a dressier fabric? You can still rock oversized graphic tees and chunky knit sweaters you wore and loved in 2020. Faux leather textures instantly dress things up, and thanks to the variety of styles available, you can wear bottoms in this fabric at work, in school, on dates, and beyond without looking out of place.

When it comes to workwear, opt for polished faux leather paperbag pants with belt loops and a little wiggle room. Whether you choose olive or black, wearing neutral-colored clothing free from embellishments is an easy way to ensure that your outfit aligns with almost every office dress code, even if you’re interviewing for a new job at a company you hardly know. For a sultry date night or girls’ night look that draws attention to your waist, high waist corset pants in vegan leather will hug your figure like no other and give you just enough pocket room for some lip gloss, cash, and cards. When it’s time to get comfortable, swap out the pants for liquid leggings or joggers in faux leather that are just as comfortable as other spandex and cotton bottoms. Keep in mind that faux leather doesn’t breathe, so it’s great for chilly nights but should stay in your closet when the sun comes out to play.

olive faux leather paperbag pants
Shop This

POLISHED N' EDGY FAUX LEATHER PAPERBAG PANTS

black high waist corset pants in faux leather
Shop This

HIGH CORSET WAIST FAUX LEATHER PANTS

Sexy Faux Leather Skirts

Just like with pants, faux leather skirts are an easy way to inject this textured trend into your 2021 outfit rotation. The best way to give these flirty pleather bottoms their due is to wear them with a crop top, a tucked-in blouse, or a seamless bodysuit that requires no tucking. Faux leather’s composition can vary, so some pieces may be stretchier and better for alterations than others.

Regardless of if you’re working from home or heading into your day job, faux leather skirts can easily find their place on the payroll when you style them with professional heels and high-neck tops. Take a brown faux leather skirt for work as an example: its curve-hugging silhouette resembles an office-friendly pencil skirt, but the unexpected fabric and spaghetti tie straps inject some fun into an otherwise basic bottom. Wear this piece with a long sleeve crew neck top, slip on some faux leather ankle booties to match, and you’re all set. When it’s time to have some fun on NYE or your birthday, a metallic faux leather mini skirt is the way to go. Whenever you wear it, this baby’s leg slit and stretch will have you looking and feeling comfortably cute all evening.

metallic faux leather mini skirt
Shop This

METALLIC MARVEL HIGH WAIST MINI SKIRT

tan faux leather suspender skirt
Shop This

CLASSIC FAUX LEATHER SUSPENDER MINI SKIRT

Hot Faux Leather Shorts

Who wears short shorts? You do, especially when they’re in faux leather. Plenty of warm fabrics trend every winter, and faux leather isn’t that different from velvet and faux suede. These thick materials don’t just look pretty; they add texture and warmth to holiday party outfits, which allows you to wear short hems while still feeling cozy in freezing temperatures. Like other vegan leather bottoms, pleather shorts will vary in stretchiness and comfort due to the type of faux leather they’re constructed from; do your research before investing in patent PU or coated leather pieces to make sure they work for you in 2021.

No matter the season, tie waist shorts are a classic option that never goes out of style. Upgrade from light linens to thick pleather in faux leather paper bag shorts with a tie waist belt that will give your mid-section some leeway. Seamless side pockets will hold all of your necessities, and these shorts’ moderate stretch will have you feeling comfortable no matter what shenanigans await. If you’re looking for hot shorts, look no further: high-waist coated faux leather shorts in red will heat up any room you grace your presence with. In the colder months, layer a pair of patterned tights underneath for some extra warmth.

red coated faux leather shorts
Shop This

HIGH WAIST COATED FAUX LEATHER SHORTS

black faux leather paperbag shorts
Shop This

FAUX LEATHER PAPER BAG TIE WAIST SHORTS

Edgy Faux Leather Boots

As faux leather motos are to outerwear, faux leather boots are to footwear. You can’t beat a waterproof classic. From spring and summer festivals in dusty deserts and muddy fields to snowy winter mountains with knee-high powder, faux leather boots keep your feet dry and clean while adding a bit of edge to your look. Unlike real leather, faux leather is a little more flexible, so boots in this manmade style are easier to break in and will leave you nearly blister-free.

Start the year with a clean slate in white faux leather combat boots. The practical lug platform sole will provide a few extra inches and traction, which will help you confidently tread any terrain without fear of slipping and falling on your backside. Wear these with distressed denim and a graphic band tee for your next concert or afternoon of retail therapy. Take vegan leather boots to new heights with croc-embossed pleather thigh-high boots. Their fun turquoise color will instantly make a statement wherever you go, and the embossed reptile pattern will add some touchable texture to your elevated footwear. Wear these with a short ribbed dress and sleek oversized hoops for a sexy look that will help you kick off 2021 in style.

blue faux croc leather boots
Shop This

FASHIONISTA CHIC CROC EMBOSSED FAUX LEATHER BOOTS

white faux leather combat boots
Shop This

EDGY VIBES FAUX LEATHER COMBAT BOOTIES

Sexy Faux Leather Heels

If faux leather is edgy, can it be paired with feminine heels? Absolutely. Nothing tells the world that your style IQ is high like when you marry opposing styles into a trendy outfit. Just like boots, faux leather heels are also waterproof, so they’re perfect for outdoor weddings where you want to show off your fresh at-home pedicure without ruining your satin or suede block heels. Comfort matters here, so if you’re not an experienced stiltwalker, look for short kitten heels or, even if they’re tall, thick block heels that will keep you steady on your feet.

If classically cute is your preferred style, nothing is more classic than white peep-toe pumps. They’re the girly equivalent of fresh white sneakers and, if you’re a bride, will seamlessly blend with your engagement or bachelorette party outfit. The stiletto heel will give you legs for days, so play up that effect with a short hemline on a mini dress, romper, or skirt. For a neutral style with a little more support, a pair of clear patent faux leather mules with a nude sole and PVC band will work with any outfit you wear. Their neutral composition and unassuming color palette will let the rest of your look take center stage as you make your way from the street to the executive suite. Lest we forget, as faux leather is easy to wipe clean, heels, boots, and any shoe in this material will stay looking fresh for years to come.

white faux leather peep toe heels
Shop This

INSTANT CLASSIC PEEP TOE STILETTOS

clean and nude patent faux leather shoes
Shop This

LET'S BE CLEAR PVC PATENT FAUX LEATHER MULES

Cute Faux Leather Handbags

Which accessory do you own that gets the most attention? If you guessed handbags, you’d be in the majority. From our front door, our handy, haute purses are never far from our side. With so many necessities inside, what would we do without them? Because they take such a beating, investing in a faux leather purse is a smart option. You’ll stay in style and be able to quickly clean this texture if it comes into contact with anything gross in the outside world, which is of prime importance during a pandemic.

You were born to stand out, so do so in style. A leopard print faux leather purse complete with a removable chain strap is the day-to-night staple bag you’ve always wanted. It will glam up any of your wild child outfits and look so sleek that people will be asking if it’s a designer bag. For a more classic look, yet still a statement piece, try a white faux leather chevon pattern crossbody bag with a chainlink strap. This versatile handbag can go from across your shoulders to stylishly carrying it with one hand, thanks to the detachable clip.

leopard print faux leather purse
Shop This

WILD AND GLAM FAUX LEATHER LEOPARD PURSE

Chic White Quilted Crossbody Purse
Shop This

Chic White Quilted Crossbody Purse

Your leather may be fake but your attitude ain’t. Give yourself a confidence boost when you style yourself in faux leather, one of the hottest trends for 2021. Score some patent PU on windsorstore.com or at one of over 200 stores in the U.S., and tag us in your Windsor ‘fits on social media at @windsorstore and #windsorstore. We repost our favorites to Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram every day—who wouldn’t want to start the new year in a faux leather ‘fit that gets all of the likes?

{"ID":27,"user_firstname":"Windsor","user_lastname":"Stylist","nickname":"Windsor Stylist","user_nicename":"windsor-stylist","display_name":"Windsor Stylist","user_email":"sminternal1@windsorstore.com","user_url":"http:\/\/windsorstore.com","user_registered":"2019-07-02 16:51:35","user_description":"","user_avatar":""}
About the author

Melissa Casas

Explore the Windsor Blog