Dresses are made in a variety of different fabrics, some of the most popular including cotton, wool, silk and cashmere. However, there's been a growing trend towards the use of leather dresses. Leather dresses bring all of the attractive features and characteristics of leather into the dress format. So if you're a fashion-forward woman who's looking to stay on top of the latest trends, you should consider adding a leather dress to your wardrobe. If this is your first time hearing about leather dresses, though, there are a few things you should know about them and how to wear one. For starters, leather dresses are typically made with 100% genuine leather. Some companies attempt to sell knockoffs as "faux" leather, which is just another fancy name for fake leather. Although cheaper, they lack the unique qualities of leather that make it such an attractive material. Faux leather dresses have a synthetic look and feel, whereas genuine leather dresses feel soft, comfortable, and they maintain the distinct leather look. For these reasons, it's best to spend the extra money by investing a genuine leather dress.

Choosing the Right Color

Arguably, one of the most important things to consider when choosing a leather dress is the color. What color do you want to wear? Leather dresses aren't limited strictly to brown and tan colors. Granted, these are very popular choices, but the fact is that you can find leather dresses available in almost any color under the rainbow, including black, yellow, red, green and blue. When choosing a leather dress, think about when you'll be wearing, and the clothes and accessories that you'll wear it with. You really can't go wrong with a black leather dress, as this offers the "little black dress" look. But red is another brilliant choice that many women prefer.

Watch Your Shoes

If there's one accessory that you don't want to overlook when wearing a leather dress, it's the shoes. Shoes are equally as important as the dress itself, which is why it's important to choose the right pair. The right shoes will complete your outfit, bringing all of the colors and designs together in a cohesive manner. On the other hand, the wrong shoes will have the opposite effect by clashing with your leather dress. The key thing to remember when choosing shoes is that they shoes match the color of your leather dress. This doesn't necessarily mean that your shoes have to be the exact same color as your leather dress. Rather, they should feature a color that flows cohesively with the color of your leather dress.

Check the Length

Something else to consider when choosing a leather dress is the length. Leather dresses are available in countless different sizes, most of which fall under one of three different categories: mini, midi, and maxi. A mini leather dress typically stops around the thighs, whereas a midi leather dress is slightly longer and stops around the knees. The longest of the three, the maxi leather dress, stops around the shins. There's no single best choice, as each woman has her own preference regarding the length of their dresses.

Unique Designs

Not all leather dresses are plain. On the contrary, many of them feature unique designs that really stand out. You can find some leather dresses, for instance, with bows sewn onto the front. This is a small and simple accessory that can make a world of difference in the appearance of your leather dress.  Other leather dresses have zippers and buttons fastened onto them. Pay close attention for designs such as these when choosing a leather dress. The great thing about unique leather dresses is the simple fact that few people have them, allowing you to achieve a truly one-of-a-kind look. On the other hand, however, they may restrict your outfit choices, as unique designs can only be worn with certain garments and accessories.

Accessorize with Jewelry

If you really want to turn heads, consider accessorizing your leather dress with jewelry. A gold bracelet is a simple yet stunning piece of jewelry that's guaranteed to enhance your look. Gold and leather were just meant for each other, as the two items go well with one another.

 Maintain it

Leather dresses -- like all leather garments -- must be properly cared for to preserve their attractive qualities. Leather offers a stunning appearance that's unlike any other material or fabric on the planet. It's soft, durable, shiny and comfortable. However, it's also susceptible to damage when exposed to excessively dry environments. You see, leather has small pores that absorb or release moisture depending on the surrounding humidity level. When a leather dress is placed in an area with high humidity, it absorbs moisture from the air. When a leather dress is placed in an area with low humidity, the opposite happens: it releases moisture. And when too much moisture is released from a leather dress, it becomes dry and brittle. To protect your leather dress from this phenomenon, it's recommended that you use a leather conditioning product like Saddle Soap on it. Conditioning products keep leather soft and supple by preventing excess dryness.

Check the Fit

Aside from the length, you should also consider how well the leather dress fits. If it's too big, it may look like it's hanging off your body -- a phenomenon known as the "clothes hanger effect." Conventional wisdom should tell you that this isn't particularly flattering, nor does it offer any benefit in terms of aesthetics. A well-fitted leather dress should sit comfortably against your body, without bunching up in any areas. Furthermore, you should still be able to move freely while wearing your leather dress. If you can't bend your arms or legs, the dress is likely too small, in which case you should replace it with a smaller dress. Hopefully, this will give you a better idea on how to rock a leather dress.