Summer leather – yes, you read that right

At first glance, the phrase “summer leather” seems oxymoronic, conjuring memories of Ross from Friends peeling himself out of a pair of sweaty leather trousers in a haze of talcum powder. It’s time to cast those preconceptions aside: leather has shed its reputation as a heavy layer and is now a fluid, light “second skin” for spring/summer. Louise Trotter’s first collection at Bottega Veneta featured plenty of it, including a black dress that fell casually off-shoulder, while at Balenciaga, a butter-soft bomber was paired with sandals and bermuda shorts. The beachside theme continued at Chloé, where a tactile leather skirt was wrapped around the waist like a sarong; at Fendi, leather pieces were adorned with flower-shaped cutouts. Final proof that summer leather is legit: Saint Laurent’s SS26 lookbook has models in visor sunglasses and swimsuits with leather handbags over their shoulders like a chic arm band. Who’s ready for a dip.

Model wears swimsuit, sunglasses and Mombasa bag, all Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello