If you're ready to take your personal style to the next level, you should consider investing in a leather dress. Characterized by a leather construction, it's the perfect garment to differentiate yourself from the crowd and define your own unique look. But while leather dresses can improve your appearance, you'll want to avoid making the following 10 mistakes when wearing one.

Wearing a Faux Leather Dress

The inexpensive price of faux leather dresses may seem enticing, but you should stick with a dress made of genuine leather. Although it has the word "leather" in it, faux leather isn't real leather at all. It's actually a traditional textile that's covered in a layer of plastic. As a result, it lacks the attractive characteristics and qualities that make genuine leather such a prized textile.

Wearing the Wrong Size

It's always a good idea to wear garments in the right size, and leather dresses are no exception. If it's too big, it will baggy and awkward. If it's too small, it will restrict your ability to move while also looking awkward. To prevent this from happening, make sure your leather dress fits your body. You can order a leather dress in a custom size here at LeatherCult. Just tell us your measurements, and we'll create a custom leather dress in your specific size.

Overlooking Sleeves

When shopping for a leather dress, pay attention to the sleeves. While most are sleeveless, some feature either mid- or full-length sleeves. During the otherwise cold fall and winter months, sleeves can offer an invaluable level of warmth and comfort. Even if a leather dress only has mid-length sleeves, the extra fabric will protect your upper arms from the cold weather.

Wearing a Black Leather Dress With Brown Shoes

Perhaps the most common mistake that women make when wearing a black leather dress is pairing it with brown shoes. While brown shoes are perfectly for leather dresses in other colors, they are not suitable for black leather dresses. This is because black and brown clash, and wearing both of these colors in the same outfit is an eyesore. If you're going to wear a black leather dress, don't wear brown shoes. Conversely, you shouldn't wear black shoes with a brown leather dress. You need to choose shoes in a color that matches your leather dress. Otherwise, you'll fail to create an attractive outfit.

Overlooking Pockets

You also shouldn't overlook pockets when shopping for a leather dress. Like sleeveless styles, most leather dresses don't have pockets. But this doesn't necessarily mean that all leather dresses are pocketless. There are still dozens of leather dresses that feature pockets. Some feature two pockets on the front, whereas others feature two or more pockets on the side. Although it's a small feature, pockets improve the functionality of a leather dress by providing you with an area to store small items. Using your leather dresss's pockets, you can store cash, car keys, credit cards, perfume and other small items.

Accessorizing With the Wrong Handbag

If you're going to accessorize your leather dress with a handbag, you'll need to choose the right type of handbag. A good rule of thumb is to choose a handbag in the same color and textile as your outfit. When wearing a leather dress, for example, your handbag should also be made of leather -- and it should feature the same color as your dress. Following this simple fashion rule will help you create a more attractive outfit.

Wearing the Wrong Length

Pay attention to the length when shopping for a leather dress. Not all leather dresses feature the same mid-knee length. While this is probably the most common length in which leather dresses are made, you'll also find them available in shorter and longer lengths. So, what length should you choose for your leather dress? It really depends on your personal style as well as the occasion during which you plan to wear it. Longer lengths offer a more conservative and formal appearance than shorter lengths. If you're choosing a leather dress to wear in the office, you may want to stick with a medium- or long-length dress for this reason.

Not Layering It

There's no rule stating that you must layer your outfit when wearing a leather dress, but doing so will almost certainly improve your appearance. Without any additional layers, the sole focus of your outfit is placed on your leather dress. You can create a more dynamic appearance, however, by layering your outfit with an additional top. Wearing a cardigan or jacket over your leather dress, for example, instills new color and patterns into your outfit.

Cleaning It in the Washing Machine

Don't make the mistake of cleaning your leather dress in the washing machine. This may sound harmless, but leather isn't washing machine friendly. And while running it through the washing machine just once probably won't cause any immediate or permanent damage, it can take a toll on your leather dress if you continue to do it. Therefore, you should err on the side of caution by keeping your leather dress out of the washing machine. If your leather dress is stained or dirty, try to spot clean it using a damp washcloth and liquid laundry detergent. For more thorough cleaning, refer to the manufacturer's recommendations listed on the dress's care label.

Not Conditioning It

Finally, you'll want to condition your leather jacket at least once every few months. Conditioning involves the application of a leather conditioner, such as saddle soap, to the surface of a leather garment. As the conditioner settles into the leather, it moisturizes and protects it from dryness. If you don't condition your leather dress, you may discover it feels rough and hard. And if the problem persists, it may even crack open. You can prevent this from happening to your leather dress by applying a leather conditioner to it at least once every few months.