There's no denying the fact that leather is one of the most versatile materials on the planet. It's been for centuries to create shirts, jackets, pants, accessories and other items. Even with all of the recent advancements in modern technology and textile, leather remains the preferred choice among apparel manufacturers. There's a good reason for its popularity: leather is strong, durable, comfortable, and incredibly stylish. All of these characteristics make it ideal for use in the construction of apparel and accessories. While there's no sign of leather losing any of popularity any time soon, there are new trends and styles emerging. So even if you're familiar with leather jackets and other leather items, you might be surprised to hear about some of the innovative styles. Today, we're going to take a closer look at some of the new leather trends and styles.

Leather Skirts

Who says leather is only useful for creating jackets? When most people think of leather fashion, they immediately associate it with jackets. After all, leather jackets are the single most popular garment featuring this material. But just because it's popular doesn't necessarily mean that it's the only garment made of leather. On the contrary, there's been a growing trend towards the use of leather skirts. Made of genuine leather material, it offers all of the same benefits as its leather jacket counterpart -- strength, durability, comfortable, style, etc. -- but in a skirt. If you're a women who's looking to create a unique style that's unlike any other, you can't go wrong with a leather skirt. It's a fun, stylish look that's guaranteed to turn heads. And being that it's made of leather, it's super comfortable to wear, regardless of the occasion.

Leather Suits

Every man should own a suit, regardless of his age or occupation. When choosing a suit, however, you shouldn't limit yourself to traditional fabrics like cotton, wool and linen. Granted, these are the most popular fabrics used in the construction of men's suits, but there are others from which to choose, including leather. I know what you're probably thinking: why should I choose a leather suit over a traditional fabric? It's difficult to describe all of the advantages offered by leather suits without trying it for yourself, but most men will agree that it's far more stylish. Leather possesses a unique appearance that's simply not found in other materials or fabrics, characterized with a textured surface and smooth, glossy look.

Here are some tips on how to sport a leather suit:

• When wearing a leather suit, make sure it's made of 100% genuine leather, not fake/faux leather. Only genuine leather possess all of the attractive qualities of leather that make it such as popular material.
• Consider the number of buttons the leather suit has. Much like traditional suits, leather suits are available in a wide range of styles, some of which have a single button, while others have two or three buttons.
• Consider the placement of the buttons. In addition to the quantity, you should also consider where the buttons are located on the leather suit.
• Accessorize your leather suit with other leather accessories. This may include a leather wallet, shoes, cufflinks, etc. Just remember to use the same or similar color/style leather accessories as your leather suit.
• Use caution to avoid getting your leather suit wet. Water and leather do not mix, and prolonged exposure to moisture may damage it. If your leather suit happens to get wet, dry it off immediately to protect against damage.

Pineapple Leather

What in the world is pineapple leather? It's exactly what it sounds like: leather made from pineapples instead of animal hide. Spanish leatherworker Carmen Hijosa pioneered the use of pineapple leather after working in the Philippines. Hijosa reportedly wanted a new alternative to traditional animal hide, so he embarked on a journey to find a viable material that mimics all of the same positive characteristics of the real thing. After much trial and error, he eventually discovered pineapple leaves. Using pineapple leaves, he was able to produce a material that looks and feels like real leather. Hijosa has since used the pineapple leather to create retro-styled handbags. Unfortunately, there's still word yet on when or even if pineapple leather will be used to create jackets, shirts, pants and other garments.

Leather Cargo Shorts

With summer right around the corner, you should consider updating your wardrobe to reflect the warm weather. Instead of wearing jeans and other long-pants, for instance, you may want to want shorts. Leather cargo shorts are the perfect style of pants for summer wear. Featuring the traditional cargo design, complete with extra pockets, they offer a cool and stylish alternative to regular shorts. You can find leather cargo shorts available in wide variety of colors, styles and designs.

Hooded Leather Jackets

Last but not least, hooded leather jackets are trending in the world of fashion. Hooded leather jackets feature all of the same benefits and characteristics of traditional leather jackets, but with one major difference: they feature a hood on top. This hood, often make of a different fabric or material, is invaluable for people who live in cold climates. Just pull the hood over your head and you'll have instant protection from cold weather. Even if you don't necessarily use the hood, however, a hooded leather jacket is still a bold fashion statement that many men and women prefer. The addition of a hood creates a dynamic appearance that really enhances the wearer's image. These are just a few innovative leather fashion trends to watch. The world of fashion evolves each year, with some styles going away while new styles entering mainstream popularity. While the styles mentioned above are currently trending, the truth is that no one can predict what's in store for the future of leather fashion. You can, however, stay up to date with all of the latest leather fashion styles and trends by following our blog here at LeatherCult.