What the Leather-Clad Team at Veda Wears to Work

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Welcome to Working It, where Racked follows street style into the office. Forget pedestrian khakis and button-downs—these fashionable professionals take dress codes to a whole new dimension. Quick, somebody call HR!

No one knows how to navigate leather weather better than New York City-based brand Veda. What started in 2008 with a focus on buttery-soft jackets has since evolved into an entire women's ready-to-wear line—think leather tops, bottoms, and dresses in black, burnt sienna, and dusty pink—complemented by collaborations with similar-vibe brands like Pamela Love and Reformation.

At their downtown NYC office, founder Lyndsey Butler and her team demonstrate how to pull off a pair of leather pants during the workday, and tell us all about the best ways to break in that brand new bomber.

Lyndsey Butler, Owner and Creative Director, is wearing a Dries Van Noten jacket, a Raquel Allegra T-shirt, Veda leather pants, and Balenciaga sandals. On her left hand is her mom's gold and diamond ring and on her right hand are rings from her grandmother and a vintage silver turquoise and coral ring. Her bracelet is a vintage Mexican silver cuff and her necklace is from In God We Trust.

Do you have any novel tips for breaking in a new leather jacket?
Tie the sleeves in knots, twist it up in a ball, and sleep with it under your pillow. And wear it all day, every day!

Who would you swap wardrobes with in a heartbeat?
Jayne Min from Stop It Right Now.

What fall trend are you really excited about?
Chunky oversized sweaters, suede boots, and fun shearlings.

What's the most essential thing every woman should own, besides a leather jacket?
Leather pants.

When is it not appropriate to wear leather pants?
When it's over 80 degrees, but we make leather biker shorts that are appropriate for the summer months.

How do you feel about pleather?
Not great.

What article of clothing do you own that makes you feel the most like yourself?
My Veda Lazer moto jacket. I have one of our original samples, and I take it everywhere with me. It's the perfect layer and fit.

What fashion rule do you shamelessly break?
Probably all of them. Wearing navy with black, white after Labor Day (I usually go for a cream in the cooler months), mixing gold and silver jewelry.

Mei Kwun, Production Manager and Technical Designer, is wearing the Veda Lazer jacket, the Veda Muse dress, and Jeffrey Campbell boots.

What music do you listen to at work?
Asian pop.

What fall trend are you really excited about?
Oversized sweaters. They are so warm and comfortable—perfect with leather leggings.

What's the most essential thing every woman should own, besides a leather jacket?
A nice handbag. It makes your whole outfit stand out.

How do you feel about pleather?
Done right, it's an okay option for a lower budget.

Marissa Scovill, Sales Assistant, is wearing the Veda Byrd top, a Zara skirt, and Miu Miu shoes.

Any novel tips for breaking in a new leather jacket?
I don't really have any tips or tricks—I think you just have to wear it a lot, and then the leather starts molding to your body the way you want it to.

Who would you swap wardrobes with in a heartbeat?
Sienna Miller. I always think she looks so cool without really trying.

What was your first job?
My first actual job was at a barbecue restaurant and bar in high school. My first fashion job was an internship with Stella McCartney.

What music are you listening to while at work?
Alt-J Pandora station all day. I'm obsessed! I know I should have Spotify by now, but I don't.

What fall trend are you most excited about?
I'm really into the '60s. Miniskirts, dresses, knee-high boots. I love a good winged eyeliner, too.

What's the most essential thing every woman should own, besides a leather jacket?
I think a really good pair of black skinny jeans are pretty essential. I wear mine all the time.

When is it not appropriate to wear leather pants?
In the middle of the summer in New York City. You'll for sure regret it.

Ali Bradley, E-Commerce Coordinator, is wearing the Veda Pixie leather dress, a Zara blazer, and Converse leather shoes. Her bracelets are from the Philippines and another is a family heirloom. Her rings are by Tom Tom, Bing Bang, and some are custom. Her necklace is by Sabrina SLNYC, and her earrings are from In God We Trust.

Any novel tips for breaking in a new leather jacket?
Don't take it off!

Who would you swap wardrobes with in a heartbeat?
John Travolta in Grease. Black jeans, white tee, and leather jacket? Perfect.

Where was your first job?
Dunkin Donuts.

What music do you listen to at work?
My music taste is all over the place and depends a lot on my mood—Hozier, Cold War Kids, and Chet Faker at the moment. I think I'm really late to the James Blake train, but his vocals are so incredible. We've also had some really fun Disclosure office dance-party breaks.

Who's your professional role model?
I'm so inspired by the amazing women I work with. The great thing about working with a small team is that you get to experience the creativity and hard work involved in each position. To see each person thrive in that position is remarkable.

What's the most essential thing every woman should own, besides a leather jacket?
A well-fitting pair of jeans.

What article of clothing makes you feel the most like yourself?
My high-waisted jeans or my leather Converse.

What fashion rule do you shamelessly break?
I probably wear my hair in a ponytail more than should be acceptable.

Dasha Faires, Sales Director, is wearing the Veda Jayne jacket, a Betsey Johnson '90s slip dress, Zara boots, a Sabina SLNYC handlet, and a Suzannah Wainhouse arrowhead ring. Her earrings are In God We Trust and Steven Alan.

Any novel tips for breaking in a new leather jacket?
Don't think about it, just wear it everywhere.

What music do you listen to at work?
Anything from Blind Lemon Jefferson to Bobbie Gentry to Wilson Pickett, but lately I've been really into hardcore rap, which is a new thing for me.

Who's your professional role model?
If we're talking career women that inspire me, I really like Lucy Yeomans, and Sarah Harris is a pretty cool chick that I really love.

What fall trend are you really excited about?
Longer hemlines.

What's the most essential thing every woman should own, besides a leather jacket?
Good jewelry that shows your personality.

When is it not appropriate to wear leather pants?
Wear leather pants for kicking it around town or to a concert or to bed if you feel like it. Don't wear them to meet your boyfriend's mother for the first time. You want to appear ladylike even if you aren't. I'm old school.

What article of clothing makes you feel the most like yourself?
My wide-brim '70s fedora.

Kim LoCicero, Digital Director, is wearing J Brand jeans, the Veda Alfie sweater, Veda x Modern Vice boots, an In God We Trust ring, and a vintage emblem ring and a gold and diamond bracelet that are from her grandparents.

Who would you swap wardrobes with in a heartbeat?
Elin Kling. She's so effortless and refined.

What was your first job?
Besides babysitting, I worked at basketball camps every summer at various high schools and throughout college.

What music do you listen to at work?
I switch between Spotify's classical radio and rap music. It depends on if I need to concentrate on numbers or be slightly more creative.

Who's your professional role model?
I don't have just one. I tend to look up to women who have an incredible work ethic, believe in what they're doing, and still are excited to go to work everyday.

What fall trend are you really excited about?
To be honest, I wish it was still summer!

What's the most essential thing every woman should own, besides a leather jacket?
A good pair of leather leggings. I didn't think I'd wear mine as much as I did this past winter, but I wouldn't have survived without them.

What article of clothing makes you feel most like yourself?
There are a few Reformation dresses that I wear consistently throughout the summer that I love, and everyone I work with will vouch for that.

Jessica Cambronero, Assistant Designer, is wearing the Veda Ghost dress, a vintage top, Proenza Schouler boots, and a ring and bracelet that were her mom's.

Who would you swap wardrobes with in a heartbeat?
I don't think I would want to swap wardrobes with anyone. A lot of my pieces are much-loved hand-me-downs, vintage, or self-made/altered, so I'd be sad to give them up.

What was your first job?
A design internship at Veda, just after my freshman year at Parsons. I found the internship listing posted on Craigslist! It was a tiny team back then and and I was able to get an awesome hands-on experience.

What music are you listening to while at work?
Destroyer, Madlib, Deerhoof, sometimes podcasts. If I don't have headphones in, I'm listening to the Chinese talk radio or music that Linda, our seamstress, plays.

Who's your professional role model?
Dries Van Noten has been designing stunning special clothes for almost 30 years, but is still always pushing forward, looking to the future, and designing things that women want to wear now. You can see in his designs that he's constantly exploring and becoming inspired, which is a beautiful way to work.

What fall trend are you really excited about?
I don't know if it's trendy, but I'm looking forward to wearing long skirts and big sweaters.

When is it not appropriate to wear leather pants?
Unless it's 90 degrees, I think with the right styling a good pair of simple leather pants can be appropriate for pretty much any occasion.

How do you feel about pleather?
The same way I feel about vegan cheese: If it's your thing, go for it, but it's not my first choice.

What article of clothing makes you feel the most like yourself?
I've been wearing my leather backpack everywhere every day for the last two years. My grandmother gave it to me in high school, but it wasn't until after college that I came to appreciate its awesome functionality. It's become an extension of my body and I'd be lost without it.

What fashion rule do you shamelessly break?
Orthopedic shoes. I have a collection of walking sandals, elastic sneakers, and slip-on loafers. My friends and co-workers all call me Grandma.

Linda Zhao, Sewer, is wearing a Veda leather jacket, a Tommy Hilfiger shirt and pants, and Clarks shoes.

Any novel tips for breaking in a new leather jacket?
Get the size you need.

What was your first job?
Sewer in China.

What music do you listen to at work?
Traditional Chinese and radio.

What's the most essential thing every woman should own, besides a leather jacket?
A necklace.

How do you feel about pleather?
Real leather is better.

· Veda [Official Site]
· Working It