The Leather Report

No longer just the domain of Elizabeth Hurley and bad 80s tribute bands, leather pants have squeaked firmly back onto the fashion radar and taken up residence in my wardrobe, usurping all else. In fact, they’ve become such a style stalwart of mine that I’ve started getting that funny “Er, have you washed those?” look from people at work. It’s out of my hands, though, I’m afraid. Namely, I’m a sucker for a catwalk trend and if there’s a slightly distasteful, louche undertone to it, all the better. If it allows me to channel Cher circa Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves as well, then it’s a bloody party.

Leather pant benefits are threefold. One; they act as a precipitation-proof sheath in the most stylish of ways; impenetrable, unyielding and a hell of a lot cooler than a wetsuit and Wellies. Two; they hold everything in and hoick everything up with just as much conviction as a body-sculpting pair of jeans, and three; every time I squeeze them on I’m reminded of Ross from Friends’ unfortunate leather pant-shrinking incident and, as a result, chuckle and congratulate myself that if I ever get stuck in mine, I shall know better than to mix talc and lotion to try and escape their wily confines.

So, who do we have to thank for this welcome injection of sartorial rock ‘n’ roll? Balmain have been championing punk-luxe for a while, with Christophe Decarnin refusing to dance to the beat of anyone’s drum but his own, or perhaps Keith Moon’s. Then we have ultra-hip Parisian poster girl, Isabel Marant and her red leather skinnies riffing on 50s rockabilly cool. Bottega Veneta went off-kilter this season with mannish-cut leather pants which were paired with an equally androgynous oversized blazer, whilst Hermes channelled iconic 60s Brit show The Avengers with a modern take on Emma Peel’s naughty leather catsuit. Ok, perhaps not the last one so much, but you can see why leather trousers have been the style pack’s pant of choice for a few seasons now. Being both cool AND practical, they possess two of fashion’s most elusive qualities. And you don’t get much better than that.

Originally published for Ly.st