Leather Shirts for Women: How to Wear a Leather Shirt and Culottes
Leather Shirts for Women: How to Wear a Leather Shirt and Culottes
A leather shirt works three ways: buttoned as a top, open as a light jacket and paired with matching leather culottes as a co-ord. Fine lambskin is the leather to choose, because it is soft enough to drape like cloth. Paris leather and fur house Yves Salomon cuts both pieces in fine lambskin this season; see more designer shirts and wide-leg trousers at Coveti.
By Gemma Deeks, Coveti Fashion Editor. Updated 20 October 2026.
Key facts
- Fine lambskin is the softest leather for a shirt
- A cropped leather shirt sits at the waist, ideal with high-waisted trousers
- Worn open, a leather shirt doubles as a light jacket
- Leather culottes and a matching shirt make a co-ord
- Leave leather cleaning to a specialist
Why lambskin
Lambskin is thinner and more supple than cow leather, so a lambskin shirt falls softly from the shoulders instead of standing stiffly. It also softens further with wear. Both new Yves Salomon pieces use fine lambskin.
The cropped leather shirt
The Cropped Lambskin Leather Shirt has a classic collar and a boxy, cropped body that sits at the waist. Wear it buttoned with high-waisted wide trousers, open over a white tee, and knotted over a slip dress. In autumn it replaces a light jacket.
Leather culottes
The Lambskin Leather Culottes are wide and cropped above the ankle, which shows off a boot. They also come in olive and grey: see the olive culottes. Pair them with a fine knit by day and a silk blouse at night.
The leather co-ord
Shirt and culottes in the same brown lambskin make a full leather look. Keep it modern with a knit underneath, flat shoes and no other leather. For outerwear, add a shearling gilet; our shearling vest guide shows how.
Five ways to wear a leather shirt
Buttoned, as a top
Tucked into wide wool trousers with a loafer.
Open, as a jacket
Over a white tee and straight jeans.
Over a slip dress
Knotted at the waist for evening.
As a co-ord
With matching leather culottes and a fine knit.
Layered under a coat
Under a long wool coat such as the Oversized Double-Faced Wool Cashmere Coat.
Caring for a leather shirt
Hang leather on a shaped hanger, keep it away from heat and direct sun, and let rain dry naturally at room temperature. Take it to a leather specialist for cleaning. More in our care guide.
Our picks
1. Cropped Lambskin Leather Shirt
Cropped, collared and soft brown lambskin.
2. Lambskin Leather Culottes
Wide, cropped leather culottes in brown.
3. Lambskin Leather Culottes in Olive
The same culottes in olive green.
4. Short Lambskin Leather Jacket with Detachable Mink Fur Collar
When you want a proper leather jacket.
How a leather shirt should fit
The shoulder seam should sit on your shoulder bone, and the sleeves should end at the wrist bone so they do not bunch when you bend your arm. A cropped style like this one is meant to sit at the natural waist. Leather gives slightly with wear but does not stretch the way knit does, so if you are between sizes, take the larger one. Yves Salomon uses French sizing: FR 36 is a UK 8; see the size guide.
The colours that work best
Brown and tan leather is the easiest to wear and pairs with denim, cream knits and camel coats. Black reads sharper and works for evening. Olive and grey, which the culottes also come in, are softer neutrals that look modern with navy and white.
Leather shirt versus leather jacket
A shirt is lighter, softer and cut closer, with a collar and buttons, so it can be tucked in and worn as a top. A jacket is heavier, often lined and cut to go over other layers. If you want one leather piece for autumn, a shirt gives more outfits; for winter, choose a jacket such as the Short Lambskin Leather Jacket with Detachable Mink Fur Collar, browsing more in leather jackets.
Yves Salomon at a glance
| House | Paris fur, shearling and leather house |
| Roots | A family of furriers that settled in France in 1920 |
| Label | Maison Yves Salomon, founded in 1980 |
| Today | Thomas Salomon, the fourth generation, joined in 2000 |
| Lines | Main line, the Army parka line (2005) and the fur-free Meteo line |
| Traceability | Fur pieces show a Furmark label number on the product page |
| Sizes | French sizes, shown on Coveti in UK sizes: FR 36 is UK 8, FR 40 is UK 12 |
Frequently asked questions
How do you wear a leather shirt?
Buttoned and tucked into wide trousers, open over a tee like a jacket, knotted over a slip dress, and with matching leather culottes as a co-ord.
Can a leather shirt work as a jacket?
Yes. Buttoned, it is a top; worn open over a tee, it acts as a light jacket.
What leather is best for a shirt?
Fine lambskin. It is thin and supple, so it drapes like cloth and softens with wear.
How do you clean a leather shirt?
Take it to a leather specialist. At home, hang it on a shaped hanger and keep it away from heat and direct sun.
Read next: Leather trousers and skirts, Shearling vests for women, How to style Yves Salomon.
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