As soon as the Houston air has that hint of coolness and fragrance of fall, those of us who love fashion are ready to make that first step into the new season. For me, the look du jour that bids summer farewell and ushers in fall is the "touch of leather" dressing.

Leather is no longer the industrial-weight outerwear material that we wore primarily as jackets for so many years. It's lighter to the touch, so that it is not only adaptable for jackets but can be found in a variety of skirts, dresses, vests, pants and shorts.

While the top color will always be black, this season you will also see bold shades, especially in dresses, as they are the newest and most stylish way to go with leather.

There are so many ways that leather has changed. In addition to its lightness of weight there is new direction in style selection through softer lines and feminine shapes and details. As dresses come on the scene as well as the longer length skirts, particularly my fave, the pencil skirt, you will see ladylike dressing making it's way into the leather categories.

Leather no longer just has an edge. Skirts can be pleated; jackets cropped or ruffle-trimmed.

Styling has also changed. One of the newest ways to wear leather is to complement it with the softness of feminine blouses, shirts, knits and cashmere (for later in the season when its cooler).

Here are my favorite looks in order of need:

Leather jacket

The need for a good leather jacket never goes away, but for now should be cropped and/or have feminine details that make it look more like a sportswear piece and not as outerwear.

My personal favorite look: A jacket over a non-leather dress. Modern in look, edgy enough to get noticed yet when layered over a sheath or tailored dress, totally suitable for the workplace.

Leather sheath

My favorite piece of the season is the leather dress. It's one of the newest looks from most top designers, including Stella McCartney, Alexander McQueen, Gucci and Michael Kors or my very favorite choice for the bucks, Vince, whose front-pocketed sheath that can double as a jumper.

These dresses look great in neutrals such as black, brown or camel, but can be an entrance-maker in bold colors, such as the Gucci strapless number or the Caped Michael Kors metallic dress, shown in photos at right.

Leather skirt

If you read my last CultureMap column on the Five Must Haves of the Season, you know I believe a leather skirt needs to be part of every wardrobe.

The pencil skirt is No. 1; short and straight or short and flirty is the second most versatile choice; pleated is your step into stylish femininity. Color and metallics are an add-on here just as in dresses because after all, who doesn't own a black leather skirt?

Leather pants/shorts

Pants can be wide-legged or slim. Shorts are available in all lengths, cuffed and uncuffed. A very cute look for the PYT's is the leather short with patterned tights and tall boots. Not an everybody look, but dynamite if you can pull it off!

To sum it up, fall is here, so you want to dress the part without pulling out your cashmere just yet. Leather is the way to go.

To prove the point that it doesn't need to be freezing (which is about 60 in Houston) to make the move to touches of leather in your wardrobe, note the amounts of leather on the designer spring/summer 2012 runways at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Derek Lam, Oscar de la Renta and others featured lighweight leather dresses and separates in their warm-weather collections.

It's been a belief of mine for a long time and I hold firm, that even in Houston, leather may be, sometime only in small bites, a light enough fabrication to be just about a 12-month/year 'round apparel choice.

So dust it off and start now. Leather makes your best transition to the new season. Fall has arrived!