Take a close look at the 1.19 patch notes. They changed a LOT of recipes around. Of note, there's new (far simpler) recipes for all sorts of armor out there. These new recipes have different stats, and you can add materia to them (There's still the old recipes, which make "dated" items that cannot have materia attached). So, you may wish to look at the new item lists both in the update notes and on the lodestone (which, from what I hear, include ALL the new recipes).

One such note is on your leather issue: Leather is now made with 1 skin and 1 alumen to make one leather. You can also use 3 hides and 1 alumen to make 3 leathers.

Here's a list one of my LS members has been making of the "new" armor in the update. Do note that color affects stats, as well as who can wear it. A number of armor, for example, has a base form usable by DoL or DoH, but can be colored to favor one or the other. The same happens with armor that is initially split between DoW and DoM, although in those cases there's usually only one specialization available for that armor. http://www.sanctusrefero.com/forum/i...pic,990.0.html

Of the items on that list (sadly it doesn't have everything added in the recent update), I'd go with a Dodoskin Pot Helm, Hempen Acton (Grey), Sheepskin Mitts (Grey), Hempen Kecks (Grey), Merchant's purse, and Dodoskin Shoes. I will note that they did not apparently add any rings, armlets, chokers, or earrings, so you're stuck using dated items for those. Also of note is that the body, legs, and feet get an upgrade at level 12 (So do heads and hands, but only for your lancer, not your acher), but it's the harness+subligar set, so it's debatable whether you'd consider that an upgrade...

As far as weapons go, I don't have a list... but you can search the market ward, look for a non-dated item close to your level (but not over, non-dated items REQUIRE you to have a level to equip it). Apparently the synth skill to make any given item from the new update is pretty close to when you can equip it, so hopefully you won't have any difficulty making level 11 gear.