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HomeOpinionPoVDeepika Padukone to Kardashians—faux leather is the new cool statement

Deepika Padukone to Kardashians—faux leather is the new cool statement

At a recent outing, Kardashian’s Balenciaga trench coat almost felt like she was paying a tribute to the Batman movie.

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If you have watched Zoe Kravitz in the latest Batman movie, you may have noticed that apart from the signature Cat Woman costume, her outfits have been mostly made of faux leather. Closer home, Deepika Paduone’s sartorial transformation has been the talk of the town, especially since her appearance in a Milo Maria red bodycon faux leather dress, ‘inspired’ by Kim Kardashian’s 2021 Halloween look.

In fact, Deepika stuck to faux leather almost all through her promotions for her last release Gehraaiyan. She has dressed up in a black mini faux-leather dress from Halpern with asymmetric shoulder on one occasion, and on other, she wore a black bustier top with a neon green mini skirt and a black structured latex blazer.


The appeal of PU leather

A recent article points out how Kravitz’s looks in Batman are inspired by dominatrix uniforms. With colourful wigs, nail extensions and laced-up boots, Seila Kyle is as fashionable as she is deadly.

Kravitz’s character, among other things, emphasises that she is not born into luxury, unlike Batman. So faux leather would also be a cheaper fashion choice. It is also edgy, and has historically been associated with motorists too. Her ‘day job’, of a bartender, too brings in the setting for the faux leather outfits, which are bold, but also tough-as-nails.

Faux leather is also easy to clean if you’re prone to spilling food or drinks. A clean paper towel with water, and maybe detergent for stickier substances, and you are good to go. So it’s functional too.


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The Kardashian aesthetic

It is no secret that the Kardashian sisters command equal parts criticism and die hard followers of their fashion, and that they have their own aesthetic. The aesthetic that relies heavily on nudes and blacks when it comes to colours, and also thrives on the PU leather look.

Throughout her fashion evolution, Kim has opted for bodycon outfits, and a lot of it has been latex leather. In fact, at a recent outing, Kardashian’s Balenciaga trench coat almost felt like she was paying a tribute to the Batman movie.

Whether or not Deepika’s look was inspired should be left to the B-town gossipers to find out but the other Kardashian, Kourtney, she too has embraced the PU look to change her statement as bold, edgy and willing to take risks — a fashion reinvention that made perfect sense. Gehraiyaan too is a first venture into the ‘domestic noir’.


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Sustainability versus pleather

Faux leather or pleather is slang for plastic leather. It is made by bonding the plastic to a fabric backing. While leather is expensive and also largely inaccessible, the look, be it in clothes or accessories, has always been much-coveted. Pleather came up as an inexpensive substitute for leather. In the last few years, pleather has become the next big thing in fashion.

It is lighter than leather, and does not decompose as quickly as the former. But Stella McCartney, a vegan fashion designer pointed out that the final product of leather we consume is also full of chemicals and does not necessarily decompose faster. Since pleather is made of plastic, it is also supposed to be much more durable than leather.

Sustainable or not, pleather with its sheen of latex has made its comeback, and with its affordable pricing, is definitely here to stay.

Views are personal.

(Edited by Anurag Chaubey)

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