Get the Look: leather

This autumn is seeing the renaissance of leather. What was once associated with pimps, ageing rock stars and Shaft is now the height of sharp dressing, and it's a trend that will continue into next spring.

On the autumn-winter 2012/13 catwalks, it was seen in upgraded varsity jackets, soft leather shirts and pants, toggle coats with leather panels, shearling lined boots, and newsboy caps and lapels.

Yves Saint Laurent and Hermès were heavy with leather, in all shapes and treatments. The most luxurious were the black crocodile skin trousers from Hermès, which cost a hefty HK$704,100. The leather has been manipulated to allow the artisans to create tailored pants that look as though they were constructed from wool. The result is sharp, polished and ultra-extravagant. Here, they are paired with a black cashmere and sable pullover (HK$16,900) but you could just as easily mix them with something more humble so that they become the focal point of your look.

There are plenty of other ways to incorporate leather into your wardrobe. You can start with a watch like the Tambour Louis Vuitton Cup timepiece (left; HK$90,000), which has a gorgeous navy dial and matching strap, or with a handsome pair of shoes like Brioni's double monk straps (bottom right; HK$10,995).

If you're not ready for the trousers, try a jacket like this baseball-inspired one from Paul Smith (bottom left; HK$10,100). It's casual enough that you can wear it with a pair of jeans, but can also be dressed up with tailored trousers, a white shirt and a black tie.