How to wear leather

Do work on your facial expression and posture. Aim for insouciant leaning, as demonstrated by Bruce Springsteen Photograph: Lynn Goldsmith/Corbis

Don't bother if you've piled on the Christmas pounds. 'Extra inches' should only refer to your rockstar hairdo Photograph: Getty

Do layer your leather. Andy Warhol shows you what to do when you have a black-tie event and a gig on the same night Photograph: Santi Visalli Inc./Hulton Archive

Don't wear matching gloves and boots Photograph: Ray Tang / Rex Features/Rex Features

Do carry around talcum powder. Not only will it soak up excess perspiration, but it will help ease you in and out of your leathers Photograph: Sygma/Frank Carroll/Corbis

Don't carry around a banana. You will look like a balding gibbon Photograph: Richard Young/Rex Features

Do accessorise with a motorbike. Leathers will not only save you from serious scrapes, but will also make you look bloody cool Photograph: Hulton Archive

Don't acessorise with Victoria Beckham Photograph: Dave Hogan/Getty

Distressed leather can be good ... Photograph: Ilpo Musto/Rex Features

... Leather-clad Germans can be distressing Photograph: Ray Roberts/Rex Features