Celebrities Are Embracing Summer Leather – How Do You Wear It Without Overheating?

Florence Pugh has been promoting her new movie with Marvel - the studio's latest instalment is called Thunderbolts - so, without knowing the ins and outs of the plot, it makes sense that she's been wearing a turbocharged wardrobe of leather. (Her Marine Serre dress had sculpturally moulded shoulders and a glove-like fit that meant she absolutely strutted into Jimmy Kimmel Live.) If you're not a superhero, however, you might be wondering how exactly to wear leather when it's sweltering? Can this really be leather weather?

The A-list seems to be saying 'yes'. Last month, Tracee Ellis Ross was an early-adopter of summer leather, wearing a lipstick red leather dress by Patou. With its standout sleeves, flared skirt and gorgeously head-turning colour, it was a textbook example of new power dressing - a.k.a less suiting and more leather.

In London, Rosamund Pike put her own spin on the look, swapping a cotton shirt for a leather button-down that, paired with pinstripes, was a brilliant way to sidestep the ubiquitous leather jacket for something a little bit different. In real life, you'll need to look for a leather shirt made of a butter-soft nappa, ideally, while your trousers should be a sturdy fabric rather than something fluid so that you can tuck in your top half without adding a bulky layer of fabric to your bottom. COS's contrast-stitched leather shirt fits the bill - and is selling fast in both shades of black and Bordeaux, the latter of which is entirely out of stock.

If a shirt feels like too much of a departure from your leather comfort zone, what about a skirt? There are so many delicious options on the high street - Whistles's version is straight and hits below the mid-calf; & Other Stories's midi has an elongated silhouette that is the definition of chic - and they're pretty much perfect if you're looking to smarten up your office wardrobe of crew-neck cardigans and simple cotton tees. The finishing touch? Follow Ellis-Ross's lead and invest in a pair of directional courts, this year's spin on the corporate pump that's pleasingly 'fashion'.

Leather weather? We're ready!

Shop: The Best Leather Outfit Ideas

Natalie Hammond is senior fashion news editor at Grazia. She loves winter, hates summer and can often be found writing about the weather (and what on earth to wear).