Little Leather Dress: Angelina Jolie Newscom/LFI

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For want of a cleaner term, the Little Leather Dress is the f*** -you outfit of choice.

Faced with rumours of marital rifts, cosy photos of Brad and co-star Diane Kruger and a growing reputation as a ­stern taskmaster, ­Angelina Jolie chose to flick a finger at the waiting press (and ­possibly Kruger) by wearing a skin-tight black leather Michael Kors dress to the Hollywood premiere of ­Inglourious Basterds.

With smudged eye make-up and messy hair, she pouted at the cameras with the sex appeal that first made her ­famous and showed this vamp wasn’t afraid to bite back.

Across town, love rival (or so we like to paint her) ­Jennifer Aniston was ­preparing a tactical attack of her own. After years of weekly “poor ­ ­ single Jen loses ­another man” ­headlines, she was ready to stand up for herself and show off a different side to the T-shirt-and-shorts look we’re used to. This was achieved by posing for the cover of American Elle in a black leather dress of her own. Yeah, she still looks like she wouldn’t say boo to a goose, but we’re hoping her out-of-shot hand is giving someone the bird. That she chose black leather to illustrate her new look and attitude is significant.

Meanwhile, in New York, Rihanna scared the children in an Erin Wasson for RVCA dress with red ­talons and spiky shoes for extra impact.

The Little Leather Dress is usually a designer label’s game, being too expensive for the high street to pull off well. Not this season though. Oasis, New Look, M&S and French Connection have produced elegant ­versions in very ­decent skin.

So, now it’s the Brits’ turn to pull off the LLD. Come on Vicky B... our money’s on you.