Mona Tougaard. Photo: Acielle/Style Du Monde
At just 18 years old, Danish model Mona Tougaard is already something of a runway veteran. The latest catwalk entry on her impressive CV? Storming Versace’s vertical maze as part of the house’s FW21 unveiling, alongside Adut Akech, Bella Hadid and Irina Shayk.
Off the runway, the ascendant fashion star’s personal wardrobe is also brimming with covetable style cues. Take the faux-croc coat she sported between socially distanced appointments at Paris Fashion Week (teamed with a Mulberry knit, low-slung flares, sparkling white sneakers and Prada’s geometric bucket hat).
Tougaard isn’t alone in her love of the cruelty-free leather topper. The brightest new model faces from Milan and Paris are likewise backing the wear-anywhere staple as 2021’s ultimate transitional outerwear — pairing everything from vintage car coats to polished trench coats and oversized vegan shirts with pinstripe suiting, inky bell-bottoms and slouchy checked skater pants.
Whether you’re looking for ways to reinvigorate the jacket you already own or scouring Depop for fresh, pre-loved options, we’ve got you covered.
This is Vogue’s guide to wearing vintage and vegan ‘leather’ jackets now, with a little help from our favorite model friends.
Embrace longline
Our key takeaway from Paris’s street-style roundup? Don’t shy away from the drama of a calf-grazing vintage leather silhouette. If you’re looking for ways to re-energise your well-worn 501s, the oversized proportions of a wrap or ‘princess’ coat will do the trick. Just add loafers and pristine white socks.
The vegan ‘leather’ blazer you already own is still it
There’s literally nothing to dislike about a cruelty-free ‘leather’ blazer (foremost the practical pockets), but the right cut is key. Look out for slightly oversized fits — take your measurements when you’re wearing a chunky sweatshirt to guarantee a size that you can cinch in with a belt over eveningwear or lightweight shirting and team with a knit for casual everyday outings. We’re also fully here for how good a modish blazer looks with bare legs and chunky boots (a rollover from 2019 that we’re not saying bye to anytime soon) in Milan’s early spring sunshine.
Work a car coat
Imagine a shortish trench coat that skims the body like a blazer and hits about the same length as a miniskirt — that’s the car coat. A fully genderless vintage cut that makes everything from a Brandy Melville sweater vest to Nike sweatshorts look as intentional as a Tarantino costume department moodboard. Wear it with classic black Dr Martens, wear it with dad slacks, wear it with striped cotton pyjama bottoms. You do you.
Shirting
Chances are you already own a cruelty-free ‘leather’ shirt. The ultimate transitional layer is paying dividends in easy-to-pull-together looks for the days when you don’t want to think about what you’re going to wear. Our 2021 update? A sorbet-pink polo neck and high-waisted wide-leg jeans.
Read Next: Everything You Need to Know About Buying Vegan Fashion
Originally published on Vogue.in
