It’s chic, it’s elegant and it’s classy. Patent leather is now back in fashion. It is leather with a high, glossy finish. Its eye catching gloss has made it a hot favourite for fashion designers. Patent leather is used for a variety of fashion products from clothes, footwear, bags, wallets, watches, belts, bracelets, jewellery, car seats and trench coats.

The original process of making patent leather was started by a New Jersey based inventor Seth Boyden in 1818. Patent leather is sometimes confused with imitation leather which is a manmade material with a similar glossy finish.Because of its glossy look, patent leather is popular for dance shoes and tuxedo wears. But it is not limited only to black tie events. "Patent leather can be worn in any situation.

Men can wear  patent leather shoes to office as well as night clubs. Women can carry patent leather purse to office or to a wedding," says Manjula Tiwari, brand head, Esprit India.

It is not necessarily the right option for all dressy events.It might seem too bulky or take the spotlight away from an elegant dress. So it should be worn judiciously . Its lustrous finish makes it the choice for anybody who wants to make a style statement. Patent leather shoes with a belt and bag made of the same, gives a very trendy, retro look.  Used as an accent with your outfit, it will make you stand out in a crowd.  The trick while wearing patent leather is to make sure that your outfit is subtle. Avoid metallics and very shiny fabric, heavy, busy or bold prints  with patent leather products.

Easy care
Patent leather is relatively easy to care for. Cleaning patent leather products is similar to the way imitation leather is cleaned. Dirt adhering to the coating can be cleared with a damp cloth using a mild cleansing agent. Minor abrasions and scuff marks can be removed using special purpose patent leather cleaners. Using home remedies like petroleum jelly or nail polish remover is not advisable.

Patent leather is available in a variety of glistening colours in fashion stores across the country. Stores like Espirit  and Burberry are exploring new and trendy designs. And these are not only limited to women. Men too can wear them. Ankle boots for men are a great variation from the regular dance shoes and if used with lace, they look professional too.  "Patent leather products are available in all colours. The most common colours are white, black, Red and Blue" says Manjula Tiwari. You might want to stay clear of too bright colours such as purple,bright orange, hot pink etc, if you do not want to attract too many curious stares!

Patent leather products are not too expensive either. They cost half as much as genuine leather, so they are not too heavy on your pockets . The range usually starts from 1,500 for belts and 2,500 for bags.

As for footwear, one can experiment with shoes, sandals, wedges, pumps and boots as well. Patent leather sandals and other shoes are actually fairly easy to wear, and depending on the style of the shoes, can work with nearly anything. In recent years, it has become a popular material for limited edition sneakers made by companies such as Nike, Bape, and Greedy Genius.

Patent leather is very sturdy making it ideal for bags. Brands like Gucci, Prada, Tommy Hilfiger, Espirit and Burberry make bags using this. Esprit has come up with some amazing patent leather bags, which will add to your funky look.

The red n white bag by Esprit has a glossy finish that gives it a very niche look. These bags are available at Esprit stores for Rs 2,500.