Such is the way with fashion that an item can be dead on trend one month, but scandalous the next. One season it’s the maxi, the next it’s the midi, and before you know it, hem lengths have risen past your knees. Exhausting, not to mention expensive. This said, time and time again, there does seem to be one trend that remains season after season that designers use as a fail-proof safety net. Say hello to leather.

Whether it’s a timeless jacket, a pair of skinny pants or a trusty bag, leather is classic, timeless, and successfully goes with everything. Be it black or brown, battered or well-kept, leather exudes luxury, class and undeniable sex appeal. Achieving what most other items could only dream of doing, it can glam and gloss up any outfit, through just a swathe of fabric. For cold winter days, designers have incorporated black and burgundy leathers in all sorts of guises, from leather skirts to leather headbands, to leather trimmed knits. Following suite, the high street have an array of fantastic and faux  leather options, giving everyone the chance to get on board with the look – even us, with the remains of our measly student loans.

For best results, the “leather look” works best when teamed with something of a different fabric or pattern. Try leather skinny pants with ankle boots and a slouchy boyfriend t-shirt for a student grunge look; team a leather peplum top with a pair of baroque trousers for something a bit more glam; or for those of you with fashion cudos, trial a leather shift over the party season.

To help guide you through the trend without highstreet-overdose, here’s LS Fashion’s top selection of must-haves.

Leather Stud Gloves, £24, available at Topshop

Leather Brogues, £32, available at ASOS

Faux Leather Skater Dress, £60, available at Oasis

Faux Leather Shorts, £30, available at River Island

Black Leather Peplum Top, £35, available at River Island

Leather Buckle Heels, £85, available at Topshop 

Black Leather Look Skinny Trousers, £22.99, available at New Look

Black Leather Look Dip Hem Skirt, NOW £17, available at River Island

Leather Look T-Shirt, NOW £14, available at USC

Cream Blouse with Leather Look Collar, £24.99, available at Ark

Leather Pinafore, £125, available at Topshop