Sep 24, 20234 min read

Wardrobe Obsession #5: Navy Faux-Leather Skirts

If ever there was a rarity in fashion, I found one. Navy blue leather, real or faux, is in scarce supply. I discovered this a couple of years ago, but wasn't as thirsty about it pursuing it as doggedly until last year. So, instead of doing a quick google search and giving up on the paltry results, I dug in and spent significant time searching some of my favorite shopping websites for the object of my desire - a navy blue leather knee skirt.

The search results indicated, yet again, the pickings were slim, so I settled on a navy skirt in a non-leather looking fabric. It was super inexpensive and looked like it would fit the way I envisioned my faux-leather love would. Ultimately, it did not. Into the donate bag it went. The few items that did turn up in my search results were either exorbitantly expensive or pre-loved and reasonably priced, but not in my size OR pre-loved and in terrible shape. Just as I was about to give up, a mirage of perfection came up during my Amazon search. Of course, I would find it on Amazon, right?! Not so fast. It wasn't navy leather or faux leather. It was a stretchy type of spandex material that gave the illusion of being leather and I managed to snag THE LAST one in my size. At last, my love had come along. Not exactly. When it arrived, it had what a massive dark splotch on it, resembling an oil stain, smack in the front - not that it would have made a difference if it were in the back. It just ruined my whole vibe. I didn't even bother trying to wash it to see if the stain would come out because I was skeeved out about what it might be (if not oil). For someone who almost NEVER returns items (I simply donate them), I was so pissed off that I returned it for a refund. My first Amazon return in a decade. The disappointment, however, didn't stop me from hunting.

Navy is a somewhat of a neutral. It's one of those basic colors that practically every other color easily coordinates with . How was it possible to not be available as abundantly as black and beige? I guess denim is considered the go-to when it comes to blue, but I could see from the search results that at least some navy leather had made it into the fashion consciousness. It was just rare, or cost more than I would ever be willing to pay. I took a chance on a skirt from Ebay in a size I thought I could make work, but it was a smidge too big. If I wear a thick sweater and tuck it in, you wouldn't be able to tell, but when I sit down the gaping would be more noticeable. I kept it in case I gained 5 pounds, but still wanted something I could enjoy NOW, so the quest continued. Also, it was more blue than navy, which wasn't awful; it just wasn't what I 100% wanted. The style of it, however, was pretty darnn perfect.

Navy Skirt from EBAY

Monroe and Main Navy Faux-leather skirt: Ebay (Sold Out; more similar navy skirt options at the end of this post)

Navy and white pinstripe shirt: SHEIN

Blue Cropped Sweater: SHEIN

Blue and White Plaid Mini-tote: SHEIN (Sold out)

Shoes: SHEIN

And then it happened. One of those pesky -but sometimes useful- Google ads popped up while I was on a website. In the corner of my eye I saw the model wearing what looked like a knee-skirt in navy leather. Was it really navy or was it black? I clicked on the photo, which took me straight to Stylewe. The photo was larger and the skirt was definitely a deep dark navy...and it was available IN MY SIZE! Immediately, into the cart it went. I'd been previously drawn to the StyleWe website because of other Google ads, took a look around, but never actually ordered anything. The prices can be a touch above what I like to spend - closer to full-price Zara - but the skirt just happened to be on sale. This prompted me to hunt for other sale priced items and before I knew it I had checked out with the skirt and a few other affordable items. When the skirt arrived, it was EVERYTHING I'd been looking for, at last...except it didn't have pockets, which wasn't a deal-breaker! That was nearly a year ago, and I'm STILL positively obsessed!

Below are some the ways I've been able to style up the skirt for a variety of seasons. Since it's faux leather, it's not as hot as real leather or most faux types. It's perfect for moderate Winter days or transitional seasons like Spring and Fall. For what I paid (less than $30), this was a minimum investment I expect to bring me maximum fashion return for years to come. And if I gain 5 extra pounds, I have a back-up waiting in the wings.

Navy Skirt from StyleWe

Navy Faux leather skirt: StyleWe (Sold Out; more dupes at the end of this post)

White Shirt with Navy Stripes: NA (Similar)

Navy and White Striped Shirt with White Collar and Cuffs: SHEIN

White Heels: SHEIN (Sold Out; Similar )

White Bag: SHEIN

Blue tinted Sunglasses: SHEIN (Sold Out)

White rimmed Sunglasses: SHEIN

Blue Bag: SHEIN (Sold Out)

Yellow Trench: SHEIN (Sold Out)

Faux pearl and gold stacked necklace: SHEIN

Faux gold stacked necklace: SHEIN

As you can see, I like pairing the skirt with striped tops or a blue sweater for a monochromatic tone-on-tone look, but I'm looking forward to really playing it up with other colors, patterns, and more casual looks. For now, these office appropriate outfits are giving everything I envisioned this skirt would bring.

See the skirts in action in these YouTube short videos:

FULL VIDEO HERE: https://youtu.be/dVjOpkazdHE

FULL VIDEO HERE: https://youtu.be/QebUwmMMgmw