Latex Leggings / Leather pants #1

[666tubeamp]

For men, in general, leather pants will never be acceptable...

Leather also resonates with some people more than others...

Leather also has a luxury factor as well which will always keep it from being main stream. Real nice leather can really start at an entry price of $500 for a nice pair of leather pants, and if you want to step up to Jitrois, Gucci, Hermes, Versace, you can be looking $2K - $5K in a heartbeat.

Very well said - I agree [I just didn't copy the whole post]. Although I will continue wearing mine, I too don't think that leather pants will ever be acceptable, in a blue-jeans sense, for a guy. With the right "promotion" and more people wearing them in casual situations, perhaps someday they won't be seen by so many as being a completely negative thing - that would be nice. But I agree that they won't become mainstream; there are too many obstacles.

Due to many factors, both concrete and cultural, when a guy chooses to wear leather pants, I think there will always be a "but why?" question pop into the minds of most observers. I think this is so because leather pants:

-tend to be more expensive than most other options - sometimes to a very large degree,
-tend to be more noticeable,
-tend to be associated with a class of persons that are, for the most part, beyond "regular" society [actors, rockstars, etc],
-have, in the minds of many, become an object of ridicule [thinking of the Friend's episode], and lastly
-"everyone" is aware of at least one deeply entrenched negative stereotype.

Therefore, when a guy chooses to wear leather pants, for many, there is at least an implied "thumbing of the nose" at one or more of the above - at least a tacit admission that "I'm wearing these despite _______". And while that will be a show of confidence to some who are more socially evolved, it will unfortunatley indicate arrogance, self-agrandisement [a.k.a. "wannabee"], blatant ignorance, or something equally as negative, to many.

 

[designerleather]

You can also look at it as how many guys will buy a pair of Levis, Lee or what have you jeans versus how many will by a pair of 7 For All Man Kind? You can get a cheap, but decent pair of jeans for $30 - $50, so where I go to a cheap/decent pair of leather, you start looking at $250 if not more.

I can't call it a negative stereotype, because that is in and of itself saying that being gay is bad. I know this is not what you meant, though gender identity and sexual preferences can be a touchy area, especially with the stereotypes out there. I think this is more of an issue of a straight man being thought gay than the opposite.

I think I have only had only one gay comment, and I just turned around, looked at the guy, and said "I didn't know Toughskins made men's clothes" and his friends burst out laughing hard.

Far more aggressive was one of the PETA folks when me and my Ex were headed to a North Beach Leather trunk show in SoHo and we were both head to toe in leather. Guy way sketchy, game us a real evil look and then as he passed us, under his breath and with a scowl stated, "Animals!". I just turned as he walked passed, let out a deep throaty growl and looked mean, and I swore he was so shocked, that he had to run home to change his tighty-whiteys. I will never forget his freaked out look.

That being said... having an attractive GF or wife who likes and wears leather goes a long way too.

Actually... You get a lot more looks there, and most of the ones from the guys are jealousy.

Leather, or I should say, really nice leather, also has let me get away with a lot more stuff. From hotel room upgrades, getting a table without reservations, I find that if I have to BS, make excuses, what ever, maybe it is the "rock star" image, just seems to carry more clout.

There can be negativity for women as well. Even in some of this thread, have seen references to Dominatrix or some other wanton/negative references. Again, I think it is all how you carry it. It can be elegant. It can be powerful. It also can be complete trash.

One of my all time favorite images from the 80s was a black and white ad of Cindy and Claudia. Looks like Cindy is wearing a pair of Chrome Hearts leather pants and Claudia appears to be in Chanel

Source: NY Times Ad
Models: Cindy Crawford & Claudia Schiffer
Scanned by me
Believe this was an ad for Saks 5th Avenue (5th on 7th). Been floating around on my PC or on disc for 15+ years.

 

[666tubeamp]

...Leather, or I should say, really nice leather, also has let me get away with a lot more stuff....

There can be negativity for women as well. Even in some of this thread, have seen references to Dominatrix or some other wanton/negative references. Again, I think it is all how you carry it. It can be elegant. It can be powerful. It also can be complete trash.

Again, very well said. I've noticed that when I wear really high-end leather [Gucci or D&G] it seems like there's a much higher degree of acceptance - but only if people are aware of the brand. In my case, people at my office were just cracking to make comments on the leather pants, which I had accessorised with a nice turtleneck and dress shoes. Anyway, before the wisecracks started, someone happend to ask where they're from, so I said "Italy", which lead to them asking the brand, and my reply "Gucci". Well! The pending wise cracks dissapeared like smoke in the wind. No one was going to make Ross jokes about Gucci, because then it would be them who looked stupid. Sure, they could think "wow, what a jerk", but they were disarmed of any Ross, Harley or skinhead comments.

And you're so right about the can be elegant or trash. Leather can be dressed way up or way down, and the look can go to he-- in a handbasket really easily. Accessorizing is sooo important, as is quality leather too of course.

Oh yes: I love that photo!!!

 

[designerleather]

I really dress mine down for the most part. Most of the time I wear a nice pair of the leather pants with a pair or Prada or Banana Republic boots and a nice designer T-shirt if I am just about town. It also doesn't hurt that I have three motorcycles and raced a couple of seasons, so maybe there is some carry over attitude.

And let me apologize for the temporary thread hi-jack. New here, was catching up, and was easy to go off on a tangent based upon a couple of posts.

I personally love leather on a woman, think it can be an incredible part of her wardrobe, as well as great leather is EXTREMELY comfortable and lasts years and years. You get a classic style pair of leather pants, and with a little care, they can last you 10 years or more.

Leggings I am mixed. I like the Balenciaga, Jitrois and other medium gloss ones. Not crazy about the over gloss latex or pvc look and it is definitely in my eyes probably peaked.

Part of what I really like about the leggings as a whole, is they can either be a focal point of an outfit or more of an accessory... i.e. worn under a dress you might otherwise worn with stockings.

 

[gogosushi]

I recently purchased this pair of leather look pants and really love them! I took them in because they were too straight legged for my liking and still have to hem the legs because they're too long/bunched at the bottom. Looking forward to pairing them with more knits and shirts this winter.

 

[designerleather]

Looks great and I am am sure they will work great for you this winter. One of my favorite looks has always been leather pants with a nice cashmere top

 

[designerleather]

Very nice finds.

 

[Deborah]

I have a problem! My leather (fake) pants are baggy on the knees and bum, y'know like jeans get after a few days wear, but unlike jeans I can't wash them to tighten them up again. Is there anything that can be done or will I just have to put up with it?

 

[voguetta]

I recently purchased this pair of leather look pants and really love them! I took them in because they were too straight legged for my liking and still have to hem the legs because they're too long/bunched at the bottom. Looking forward to pairing them with more knits and shirts this winter.

gogosushi, let me tell you that you look fantastic in those pics, i like your outfit as it is very simple, yet very elegant. if you take the ends try to keep them better a bit longer that just at your ankle, i mean if you were wearing high heels that extra lenght it's def. a must.

 

[voguetta]

by the way, i'm not a fan of wearing leather leggings/pants with wedges, also not liking lauren conrad's mix & match.

 

[voguetta]

I have a problem! My leather (fake) pants are baggy on the knees and bum, y'know like jeans get after a few days wear, but unlike jeans I can't wash them to tighten them up again. Is there anything that can be done or will I just have to put up with it?

when i bought mine i took one size smaller, to avoid that. of course they are very tight, but they do stretch a little, yeah, i know what you think, i'm squeeze inside the pants!!! well sort of...
best will be to have them taken in. good luck!!!

 

[miss.fashionista]

Hi. I just bought a pair from The Row in petite and it fits fine but not super tight...will these get bigger overtime? Thanks in advance!

 

[sundaymorning]

gogosushi, you look fantastic! those trousers look so good on you!

 

[Dulcisima]

i think the leather leggings is staying in for a good while!!!
i just purchased my first cropped ones in white!!!!
from NAP
http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/41462

voguetta , agreed the wedges...i find pumps or thin heels give the leather leggings an edger look
designerleather i love reading ur posts!!! so informative and a good boost of confidence and encouraging woman to wear leather legging...i have to say i wore it once to meet a friend and lets just say he acted a bit strange! not sure if i looked really good and he was trying to avoid it or he just did not like it lol

 

[voguetta]

Dulcisima, those leggings look awesome!!! as i see they are from "les chiffoniers" i think daggi has bought them too but in black, anyway the whites ones are a very interesting choice too...
good on you!!!

 

[Dulcisima]

Dulcisima, those leggings look awesome!!! as i see they are from "les chiffoniers" i think daggi has bought them too but in black, anyway the whites ones are a very interesting choice too...
good on you!!!

Yeah i bought a pair of normal material leggings from les chiffoniers, they are cropped but the fitting was a bit off...i am assuming its probably because of the material...i wouldnt get the white ones if they were full lengths for some reason i think white/cropped looks much better...i dont know if i am making sense? especially with tanned legs and sandals!!! lol

i am hoping when i receive them the fitting would be good!!!

and i am on the waitlist for the long leather ones...the ones with the zipper...they told me that the new ones would have gold zipper, i am a bit undecided on whether to get the sliver zipper( which is my personal preference) or the gold zipper...

 

[designerleather]

Dulcisima, glad to lend the support. Question I would have about when you met your friend, was your look a major departure from how you normally dress? Do you normally wear colored tights with a skirt, for instance? I would also ask whether you had worn them before and if not if you were a little self conscious? If you are more comfortable discussing offline, I am fine with that as well.

Leather has always had a sort of aura to it through out time. In the early days, it was protection and armor and part of the warrior class. This is not completely true, because they have also found fine, soft leather women's loin cloth / wraps from hundreds and hundreds of years BC as well. Better leather often became a status symbol, and while there were plenty who had leather jerkins because of their durability, the more decorative and finer leathers still tended to be royal class.

1900s are a particularly interesting period. A fair amount of credit goes to designers like Bonnie Cashin who was really one of the first to go heavy into leather and suedes as a center piece of her collections. 50s and 60s also had the bad boy image of the bikers and rock stars, and even then, leather started a bit of a mystique about it. Looking back... Images... Brigit Bardot, Jim Morrison, Elvis... even earlier... Marlene Dietrich wore a lot of leather as well.

You look today, from Angelina Jolie who just a couple of years ago wore a gorgeous Versace leather gown on the red carpet to I can't count the number of times I have seen one or both of the Olson twins in leather. Madonna? She can take it over the top a bit, but again, then there is Victoria Beckham, and while a bit military-styled at times, hers closet is filled with leather, and even she and David have been out both head to toe in leather like book ends as has Will Smith and Jada Picket.

Leather can also be deceptive. I would compare leather to say 3" or 4" heels. Leather can convey many many images or stereotypes, but also often seems to carry with it an air of power and/or confidence. Maybe to some when they wear their leather they "get their b*tch on," but I have been around it enough to see that kind of subtle transformation. It doesn't happen with everyone, but some people most definitely have a subtle change in personality... But back to the start and the heels. How many women own jeans? How many own a really nice pair of jeans? Can you tell across a room that they are wearing a $500 pair versus a $125 pair? (Some people I know can) Now how many women own a pair of leather pants? You may not know if they are a $2300 pair of Gucci or a $450 pair of Andrew Marc across the room, but it will stand out a lot more than most other things.

First time you wore really high heels? Did you wobble a bit? Were you conscious of the wobble? Were you either more aware of people or thought you were because of it? It should not seem like it, because they are just pants or leggings, and it is not something as complex or adaptive as learning to walk and change your gait and adjusting and coping with pain in your feet that you wish weren't there.

That is why I call it deceptive... Because we don't necessarily have physical manifestations that we can rely on, but our bodies can be sending out signals that others subconsciously pick up.

And lastly. Sometimes when delving into this world, it is best not to start with friends. Our friends can be incredible and supportive, but they also have a locked image of us a lot of times. Ever done something radical like go from really long hair to a super short cut? While some friends may have just absolutely loved it from the get go, there were probably others who did a double take and "just had to get used to it"

It can be the same thing.

Bet if you go hang out with this friend another time and incorporate the leggings into your outfit, the reaction is either softer or non-existent, to likely even positive.

 

[666tubeamp]

True about the confidence. When I wear my leather pants, I'm sure that I carry myself a little different. Part of it is that I save my nickels until I can buy very high-end leather, so I have the confidence in knowing that the pants look good, even if they are different from the usual [to me, bad and different are not at all the same thing].

Basically, my "leather pants outfit" [black or brown leather pants, solid color turtleneck shirt or sweater, black dress shoes, good belt] is my "power suit". Plus, I generally wear that ensemble when I'm feeling confident, so I think there's a synergy between already feeling confident and wearing confidence-inspiring clothing. However, I also tend to shy away [literally] from that ensemble when my confidence is low. It's as if I know that I'll not be able to pull it off on that day. Strange...

It's interesting about the "getting used to it". I remember the first time my boss saw me wearing that outfit: he stopped in his tracks and said nothing other than my name, with an exclamation point after it. But, after a few minutes passed, and we were talking about something else, he stopped again, and said something like "you know...you look good. It took a moment for me to get past the initial surprise, but once you get used to it, you really do look good". That itself was a confidence boost and it's funny how one good comment can erase 100 odd looks.

 

[daggi]

Dulcisima, those leggings look awesome!!! as i see they are from "les chiffoniers" i think daggi has bought them too but in black,

I bought Les Chiffoniers like these:

http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/41137

but mine are without zips

anyway Dulcisima Congrats !!! I'm sure You'll be very happy to wear these leggings

 

[designerleather]

And congrats to the both of you. Les Chiffoniers are GORGEOUS!