Here's an interesting way to wear leather: take a very classic dress design and make it leather. This is exactly what Rag & Bone has done with their Raw Edge Leather Dress ($995 - eek!).
It's great for going out worn as above with cool boots... but the great thing about the design is that it's classic enough that you could throw on a long cardigan and some tights and wear it to the office too. With a piece this expensive you'd want to get a lot of wear out of it...
Hayden Panettiere was on Letterman last night looking fantastic in a sleek Caroline Seikaly black lace dress. She certainly looks older than a teenager... (she's 19)! This is a fairly dramatic style change for her, maybe on purpose... since she's getting older and doesn't want to be thought of forever as the cute little cheerleader...?
Who is Caroline Seikaly, anyway, right? I'd never even heard of her before. She's a Parisian designer with offices at 93 Ave. Henri Martin in the 16th (funny, that address is just steps away from where I lived when I studied in Paris during college). Oddly, her website hasn't been updated since the Winter 2008 collection. She did just show her 2010 Resort Collection here in New York at the Cooper Square Hotel on June 9th. Hayden's dress was featured in that show...
Hayden is also wearing Stuart Weitzman's Tijuana Sandal ($365 at zappos)
I saw this super chic dress in the Fall issue of In Style "Makeover" (special issue). Nanette Lepore "High Ball Dress", merino wool with silk ruffles and sewn on faux pearls. The only place I could find it for sale online was Saks.com. The pearls give the look of the tiered pearl necklace that is very Coco Chanel.
It's a merino knit and pull on style, so it's sure to be very comfortable too. And only $230! I don't like the shoes the the Saks model is wearing, I think I'd wear 4" Louboutin black pumps.