3 ways to get the leather look for fall for $100 or less

As the temps drop, it’s time to let your style soar high. Leather (and its knock-off cousin pleather) is one of our favorite fabrics, and it’s huge this season. Leather is sexy, classic and warm—and with so many great looking faux leather options, it doesn’t have to be expensive or over-the-top.

Here are three new ways to work leather-like pieces into your 2014 fall wardrobe:

Faux leather leggings

The seemingly endless reign of skinny jeans has naturally ushered in a revival of leggings, including the use of new, thicker and more interesting fabrics. Find faux suede and pleather leggings that are nearly as comfy as sweatpants, but look much more put-together than simple cotton leggings and much more interesting than predictable jeans. Find them at pretty much any women’s clothing shop, including Target, Forever 21 (these are just $24.80) and H&M, where you’ll find pleather pants for under $35—and you get a real zipper.

How to wear them: Tone them down for daily life with a cropped sweatshirt or cozy flannel button-up and ankle-high boots, either flat or with a sexy heel. Bottom line: Wear your leather pants with anything, in place of jeans.

Leather accented jacket

Although a full leather biker jacket is hot enough to melt the snow, we’re loving a new crop of jackets with leather sleeve accents, like this fitted jacket with woven fabric and imitation leather sleeves from H&M for under $50. Or this texture weave jacket, $59.95, from H&M with imitation leather accents (zipper lining and cuffs—so understatedly rebellious).

How to wear it: Try, how not to wear it? Make this your every-day fall jacket. It goes with everything, including a dress.

A long leather skirt

When we think of a leather skirt, we often automatically think ultra-short mini. But leather has a new life this season, and has taken the shape of longer, A-line skirts that totally soften up this tough fabric. Look for leather in nontraditional cuts, like pencil skirts or this flowy, leather-look below-the-knee skirt from Vera Moda at Asos, $9096.

How to wear it: With the already-structured fabric, you can simply slip into a lightweight tee and tuck it in. Dress it up for work with a fitted button-down or cropped blazer, or wear it to a nice dinner with a lace bodysuit. Keep warm with cable-knit tights, booties and a tight sweater.