3 ways to wear a vintage leather skirt

Leather or leather-look skirts are one of those items that can be notoriously difficult to style: it can be all to easy to veer into sleazy territory or look and feel uncomfortable while wearing them.

But leather skirts are actually perfect for the colder seasons and can be incredibly versatile. And we'd always advocate choosing a vintage one - for around the same price as a faux-leather skirt off the high street you can get a gorgeous supple and soft real leather one from a vintage shop! We've got plenty of different styles in at Godiva, from midi length pencil leather skirts to mini a-line ones, and in a variety of sizes.

With a few styling tips and tricks you'll soon see that a leather skirt can take you from work or lectures to nights out, relaxing weekends and everything in between! The only thing I would say to avoid is wearing super-short, skin-tight leather skirts that usually end up looking cheap, or pairing your leather skirt with leather jackets and knee-length or thigh-high leather boots - they look best when worn with mixed textures.

Opt for cosy knitted jumpers and oversized sweaters - wear tucked in to define your waist or over the skirt for a more relaxed, laid-back feel. A simple well-worn t-shirt and long-line cardigan also work well: add a trench coat or wax jacket when it gets cooler. As for shoes, pretty much anything goes: low-heeled ankle boots look great, as do lace-ups or slip-ons, wedges, platforms and heels!

Casual Weekend

A Nordic wool jumper is the perfect juxtaposition to this mid-thigh length leather skirt - and it'll keep you cosy during a crisp October weekend! Wear with a pretty bow necklace by Red Brick Makes and you're all set for a lazy Sunday pub lunch - add a classic wax jacket and a pair of Turtle Doves' recycled cashmere gloves as stroll back home again.

Office Style

The pretty ruffles on this purple blouse make a tough leather skirt look instantly more feminine; this smart-casual outfit would be perfect for wearing to work or class! Don't be afraid to mix up colours, either, like this sweet red cross-body bag by Yoshi which goes nicely with the jewel-toned blouse.

Hit the Town

Who said florals and glitter had to be girly? The boxy t-shirt shape cut of this top by The Style London makes the look more tomboy/sports-luxe than girly, especially when paired with a leather skirt. Together they make the perfect wear-anywhere outfit, but add a sparkly collar and clutch and you're ready to hit the cocktail bars!

New in at Godiva: more wintry goodies!

Our winter stock is coming in thick and fast! It's always exciting to come into the shop in the morning and see what new things have arrived since I was last in. At the moment it feels as though there's a new delivery every day, so there's lots to look forward to!

Rowanjoy Jessie dress, £75; Rowanjoy Bridget cape top, £65; Rowanjoy mega pleat skirt, £65. Items available in store, alternatively shop Rowanjoy online here

Rowanjoy's new Autumn/Winter "Wallflower" collection has been a big hit on social media and in store too: we sold out of one of the dresses on the very first day! Since then she's been busy making up some more 'Jessie' dresses - which form part of her permanent collection - in some new colourful fabrics. The green and yellow one is my favourite; it reminds me of a backgammon board, but it's actually really flattering with the yellow triangles making your waist look teeny tiny! Rowan's also made up these gorgeous mega pleat skirts in a combination of wool and brightly-patterned cotton.

 

Paperthinks long tote, £60; Paperthinks shopper, £65; Paperthinks envelope bag, £50; Paperthinks purse, £35. All items available in store, alternatively shop Paperthinks online here

Last week saw a huge new delivery from Paperthinks: totes, handbags, shoulder bags and purses in so many beautiful colours! If you haven't come across them before, Paperthinks are a UK brand who recycle offcuts and scraps from the leather industry by grinding them down and shredding with rubber. This reformed and recycled leather is then coated with bright, beautiful colours and made into the bags and purses that you see here. Paperthinks reduce waste from the leather industry, save animals and use a lamination technique to get vibrant colours, instead of using harmful chemicals. That's something we can definitely get behind!

The Style London sequin dress, £40; The Style London tapestry skirt, £24; The Style London tailored coat, £49.50. All items available in store, alternatively shop The Style London online here

Just in time for the party season, we've had some lovely sparkly and shimmery pieces in from The Style London! The gold and black sequinned shift dresses have 3/4 length sleeves, perfect for keeping a little warmer during the cold winter evenings. They're also very versatile, and can be worn as a top underneath a skirt, as seen here! I've completely fallen in love with the skirt too, it has this gorgeous textured tapestry effect and a flattering A-line shape.

Jenny Deans Canty studs, £25; Jenny Deans Canty pearl studs, £37.50; Jenny Deans small Canty earrings, £50; Jenny Deans Canty spiral earrings, £87.50. All available in store, alternatively shop Jenny Deans online here

Jenny Deans' jewellery is absolutely exquisite, hand-crafted in Edinburgh from sterling silver and freshwater pearls. We stock her "Daisy" collection - a selection of bracelets, earrings and necklaces adorned with silver daisy petals that can be hand-stamped with dates or names - and we've recently had some new pieces from her "Canty" collection in. I love the earrings: gentle spiral studs, available with or without the pearl, and two styles of drop earrings. So beautiful!

Silk Purse Sow's Ear earrings, £10; SPSE lockets, £20; SPSE brooch, £9. Available in store, alternatively shop Silk Purse Sow's Ear online here

I always look forward to a delivery from Silk Purse Sow's Ear: a box full of an amazing variety of necklaces, earrings and brooches, with barely two the same! The most recent delivery was no exception, with some old favourite pieces (I immediately scooped up one of the lockets) and some new designs too. I love the gold geometric stud earrings, and the running fox brooch is adorable too.

Turtle Doves cashmere wrist warmers, £22. Available in store

Earlier today we had a special delivery from Turtle Doves - a whole bag full of these beautiful colourful wrist warmers! They're each made from a recycled 100% cashmere jumper, so they're super soft and perfect for keeping your hands warm all day long. Fingerless gloves and wrist warmers are perfect for wearing indoors during the day time as well as when you're out and about, because your fingers are still free to type away at a keyboard or pop the kettle on for a cup of tea!

And besides all this, we've uploaded a whole load of vintage goodies onto our online shop! Take a look at our 'New Arrivals' section to view all the pieces, or browse my favourites below...

1960s dress, £50 (buy here)

1970s dress, £30 (buy here)

1970s dress, £30 (buy here)

Mickey Mouse jumper, £30 (buy here)

 

1980s jumper, £20 (buy here)

Wolf jumper, £28 (buy here)

New in at Godiva: Mollie Brown, Azura, Rowanjoy & more!

We might be having a late blast of sunshine over here in Edinburgh, but autumn is definitely on its way and the winter collections are rolling in at Godiva on almost a daily basis. There's plenty of new pieces I want to show you: the latest collections from some of our favourite designers, and some new-to-us brands too!

Rowanjoy
You might have seen some sneak peeks of Rowanjoy's Autumn/Winter collection on social media this week, since she was shooting her new pieces over at the Hill Street Design House - Rowan popped by Godiva yesterday afternoon to drop them off. We've some beautiful dresses, tops and a stunning chartreuse skirt that I have my eye on... be quick if you fancy any of these, one lucky customer snapped up a dress before I got the chance to photograph it!

Mollie Brown
I showed you the first drop of Mollie Brown's Autumn pieces a couple of weeks ago; they were a massive hit, so we've been treated to some more. Slightly different fabrics and colours this time round, but just as beautiful as before. We're particular fans of the winter kimonos, both Asta and I have one!

Azura
We have three dress styles from this Spanish brand, all of which are ideal for the colder weather. The fabric is lovely and thick, but really comfortable too. I especially like the elbow-length sleeves on the blue tweed dress - perfect for this odd inbetweeny weather!

Suzy D
I'm completely in love with these super soft knits by Suzy D. They're kind of an oversized jumper-cape-poncho hybrid, with a cowl neck and asymmetric hemline - ideal for those days where you can't face getting dressed up but still want to look like you've made an effort. Slip one over a pair of leggings or jeans and you're good to go!

Yoshi
I seem to discover a new favourite bag every time we get a delivery from Yoshi. The brand has fused Japanese style with British manufacturing, so you can expect simple but stylish designs all made in the UK from the best quality leather. We have these sweet little shoulder bags and satchels in brown, red and black.

New in this fortnight at Godiva: autumn stock!

The leaves have started falling off the trees, the students are arriving back in town and Starbucks have started serving pumpkin spice lattes again - it can only mean the start of Autumn is upon us! We've all been enjoying having a rifle through the beginnings of the Autumn/Winter deliveries, and they seem to be going down a treat with our customers too. Here's what's new at Godiva...

Everybody loves Queenie Browne's lavender-filled Scottie dogs, bunnies, badger and fox faces... and now our little scented woodland creatures have some adorable hedgehogs to join them. They're all handmade in Glasgow, and at just £9 they make the perfect gift - great for squeezing into suitcases too!

vintage scarf, £5; mustard cardigan, £39.95; forest skirt, £85 / forest dress, £159; runaway fox necklace, £20 / zebra necklace, £25; vintage blouse, £18.50; green cardigan, £39.95; snowstorm skirt, £87.50

Everybody loves Poppy! These beautiful pieces came in last week and we've already had to order in more of the dresses - but as a warning, these are the very last ones we'll be getting in. Not even the designer has any left! In true Poppy style, there's a new illustrated storybook that comes with each purchase. This season, the little girl Poppy and her faithful dog Fred go on an adventure through the woods to find the Hairy Scary Mammoth... the little animals you can see along the hem of the skirts and dresses are the ones Poppy and Fred meet on their adventure. So sweet!  

 

 thistle locket, £20; floral collared tee, £38; tartan skirt, £48 / friends & family locket, £20; floral collared tee, £38; checked skirt, £48; tartan kimono, £48

Mollie Brown's been working hard to bring us her Autumn/Winter collection too, and it's been a massive hit among the staff at Godiva. I've quickly snapped up one of the tartan kimonos and I've barely taken it off all weekend - it's so comfy and cosy! We've also got autumn-ified versions of the popular collared tee and these slightly longer-length skirts would look just gorgeous with a pair of well-worn vintage ankle boots.

 

kirkwood tee, £18

Look who's back! Edinburgh can't seem to get enough of the Bellfield 'Kirkwood' tee so we've ordered in some more - and this time you can choose from the original cream version, or this rather festive red one! I'm sensing a pretty big woodland animals theme at Godiva at the moment...

deadly nightshade necklace, £31.50; shift zip dress, £32; vintage belt, £8; eyelash cardigan, £32 / kissing swans necklace, £30; bow tea dress, £30 / sequinned collar, £15; lace dress, £38; vintage belt, £8

Also new in from Bellfield is this longer-length eyelash cardigan, seen here with Style London's new autumn/winter dresses. The Bellfield cardigan is incredibly soft, perfect for snuggling up in! I love the new dresses too, especially the super cute bow print one in the middle. The two black ones are ideal for any events or parties you might have coming up, and would last you right through until Christmas. I think the longer sleeves look really sophisticated, but they can be dressed up or down - so versatile!

 

#GodivaEdinburgh: our first blogger party!

A couple of weeks ago we invited some of our favourite Scottish fashion and lifestyle bloggers over to Godiva for a little party. It was the first time we'd done anything like this, and we wanted to show off the shop and our designers (as well as some other local businesses!) the best we could. This was also the first time I'd planned an event, so I was more than a little nervous to see how things would go... but I think everyone enjoyed themselves!

As the bloggers arrived I was finishing off the goodie bags downstairs, but Fleur and Edel did a fantastic job of welcoming them and making sure everyone was kept topped up with Pimm's! We had some delicious non-alcoholic juices on offer courtsey of Hula at the other end of the Grassmarket, and some very Instagram-worthy cakes and brownies from Lovecrumbs further up the West Port. Mary from Mary's Milk Bar just across the street from us came over with a tray full of hazelnut pralines - I couldn't resist sneaking back and gobbling up as many as I could!

Some of our designers came into the shop to chat with the bloggers, too. Laura from Prints of Paradise and Edinburgh illustrator Gen Ryan came through, and so did Rowan, fresh from her new studio over at Hill Street! Luis and Poppy from Runaway Fox brought along a rather disconcerting suitcase marked 'HUMAN TAXIDERMY' and gave a little talk and demonstration about their latest venture, life-casting. Four of our lucky guests were chosen to have their finger cast and made into a necklace - talk about unique! Runaway Fox have moved into the Hill Street Design House alongside Rowan; make sure to pay them a visit if you're interested in having yourself cast!

While this was all going on in the designer room, we had a customisation station set up in the vintage room. There were plates, bowls and baskets full of fabric, ribbon, sequins, jewels, charms, appliqués and more! Leyah customised her stripey satchel with a piece of contrasting floral material (love florals and stripes!), Paula went wild with the lace and bows, and Elaine revamped a vintage bag with some sweet birdies and green jewels. I also showed some of the girls how to make a camera strap out of a vintage scarf and found some adorable elephant charms that I couldn't resist adding to my own version.

And there was more! And Mary kindly donated a brilliant prize of a bangle, earrings and a necklace, which was won by Leyah - and Laura won a Godiva gift voucher! A huge thanks to all the designers and local businesses who helped us out with the event, and for the bloggers for coming along and taking so many beautiful pictures and writing so many beautiful words about Godiva!

Don't forget to check out the bloggers' posts about the event for more photos!:

Paula from The Brantastic Life
Laura from The Likely Lady
Gillian from Elevatormusik
Lynsay from Miss West End Girl
Farah from Faz Fashion Diary
Louise from Love From Lou Lou
Leyah from I Am Leyah Shanks
Kayleigh from Wonderchebs

And Lynne from Cocktails and Daydreams made a vlog about the event too!

New in at Godiva this fortnight

We've had such a variety of new items in the shop over the past couple of weeks: jewellery, clothing, postcards as well as an amazing vintage delivery. It would be impossible to show you everything, so I've taken some snaps of my favourite pieces and you'll just have to pop into the shop to see the rest!

We're getting very excited about Jenny's new venture, the Hill Street Design House, especially since some of our favourite designers will be based there! Rowanjoy popped in with some beautiful new dresses and skirts, the first pieces made for us from her new light and airy studio over at Hill Street; we've also had some fab scarves from Karen Mabon - did you spot Asta rocking the 'Robbery in a Sweet Shop' style as a turban on our Instagram over the weekend?

 

Karen Mabon silk scarves

 

Rowanjoy dresses and skirts

Rebecca Jane has treated us with so many new designs! We know you're big fans of her multiway bags (all made from recycled leather and vintage fabrics, the design means you can wear it in a tonne of different ways!) and we've got some new colourways in stock, as well as new clutch bag styles and iPad cases. 

 

Rebecca Jane multiway bag, £120

 

  We've also got lots of new stock from Mollie Brown: floral skirts and matching collared tops (wear as a set or mix and match!), collared vest tops and these beautiful floral cotton dresses. They're elasticated at the waist (perfect for those big dinners!) and look great cinched in with a coordinating belt.

 

Mollie Brown dress

Laura from Prints of Paradise came along to our blogger party (more on that later this week!) and brought some lovely new t-shirt designs with her - I've already snapped up one of the flamingo print ones! Genevieve Ryan was at the party too, and her new illustrated Edinburgh cards and postcards are proving very popular with both tourists and Edinburghers!

 

Prints of Paradise tees, £30; Genevieve Ryan postcards, £1.50

All of us here at Godiva have been cooing over the new And Mary delivery - who could resist an adorable porcelain giraffe? I already have the kissing flamingos necklace (sensing a theme here...), but am eyeing up the hummingbird one too. Or maybe the zebra! We've had some new little birdie necklaces and earrings from Alexis Southam, too. Can you believe they're all hand-drawn, then shrunk down to make these precious pieces? Adorable!

 

And Mary jewellery

 

Alexis Southam jewellery

And I couldn't leave without showing you these sweet teddy bears...!

If you'd like to purchase any of the items featured in this post that aren't available on our online store, leave a comment or contact us via social media and we'll be in touch!

New in at Godiva this fortnight

Rowan had a hectic few days in the studio downstairs making some beautiful new pieces in double-quick time before she moved to her new, natural light-filled studio. Don't worry, she's not moved far, and we'll still be stocking all her designs!

We had deliveries from two Edinburgh jewellers: more of the adorable Queen's head stud earrings by By Jove (made from stamps!) and a huge delivery of necklaces, lockets, earrings and brooches from Silk Purse Sow's Ear! The thistle lockets have been going down a storm, but my favourites are these kitsch orange and lemon tree earrings. I'm thinking about getting my ears pierced so I can justify buying a pair (or two)!

 

We've also had some earrings from a brand new designer to the shop, A Ring To It; you might recognise them, as well as these tops and dresses by Hannah and Margot Molyneux if you went to the South African Market event at the Edinburgh International Fashion Festival a couple of weeks ago. We love the easy, relaxed style of these pieces, perfect for dressing up or down!

 

And finally, some old favourites back in stock. We love Yoshi's satchels (all real leather, designed and manufacturered in the UK), especially the adorable black and white house print! We're also big fans of The Style London's affordable, on-trend designs, and this floral dress is just perfect for the muggy summer weather we've been suffering lately in Edinburgh.