Hi Blake, Hello Leather Pants

Mar 26, 2008 @ 4:21pm

alexander wang fall 2008 leather pants.jpg I’ve been begging Natalie and Britt to do a “Would You Wear Leather Pants?” for a month now, but Natalie always says, "Over my dead body."

But today, I finally got the ultimate vindication: during a field strip to the meatpacking district, we spotted Blake Lively on set (Spice Market! They're probably still there!) walking in head to toe black and leather pants.

[Side note: We also saw a very poorly styled Michelle Trachtenberg - guess she's not going to be a lovable character after all.]

But back to Blake's pants - I first started thinking about the Buffy the Vampire Slayer staple again (oddly enough, another Michelle vehicle) after Alexander Wang's Fall 2007 80's supermodel homage collection, which included leather pants just like his Fall 2008 (at left.)

Then, a friend brought back from home a pair of CK’s circa 1997 - terrible, but just the idea that she was thinking about them had my mind reeling.

Cut to Barneys CO-OP in Soho last week where a Rag & Bone pair (for women, let me say here that no man should attempt this look lest he should resemble Bret Michaels) caught my eye. And I mean, if the denim gods at Rag & Bone are sewing their label into slinky leather non-leggings, we should take note.

I just feel like as we move away from Lolita-inflected dresses of seasons past to fall’s body conscious sportswear, it seems right again to see women embracing that ultimate body conscious staple; a literal second skin.

Right?

--BRETT KANE

posted by guest

Mar 26, 2008 4:28PM

I am DYING to know how women feel about leather pants now. I am a buyer for a boutique and was *this* close to ordering a few pairs of amazing high-waisted leather pants for fall. I would totally wear them, but I chickened out at the last minute (mainly due to their exorbitant price and the state of the economy.)

If leather pants are a major trend this fall, I will definitely be kicking myself for not ordering them!

posted by guest

Mar 26, 2008 4:51PM

can we wait until fall?

posted by porscha

Mar 26, 2008 5:01PM

i'd probably wear them. i wanted a pair when i was in high school, but never managed to convince my parents to buy them for me. but now, if it were the right pair, i'd definitely buy them.

posted by FWD

Mar 26, 2008 5:13PM

I have a nice pair of jean-style leather pants. They're not like leggings, and the leather is nice. I used to wear them in college with big cashmere sweaters. I might pull them out again in fall.

posted by Rockmantica

Mar 26, 2008 5:15PM

My dad had a pair during his hey days. I'm sad to say that I actually cut them up because he no longer fit into them, and I needed really nice black leather swatches.

posted by guest

Mar 26, 2008 5:16PM

my grandfather owns a pair of men's leather pants. He's quite slight, and has a full head of white hair and strong-framed glasses: a funny thing to imagine, but you know what? he looks pretty good in them!

That said, I would never, ever wear leather pants myself. For practical purposes, would they not a) squeak when you walked and b) get all smelly and sweaty... etc...

posted by guest

Mar 26, 2008 5:34PM

I have both leather and suede pants that are cut like jeans. And no, they do not squeak nor do they make you sweaty. Only plastic would make you squeak. Really soft leather is amazing and it breathes so well nothing like that ridiculous episode of Friends with Ross and his leather pants.

posted by _kristen

Mar 26, 2008 5:40PM

When I think of leather pants, I think of that awful SNL skit with Jimmy Fallon and Horatio Sanz working in the leather store. Every time they walked it produced a ridiculous amount of noise.

The squeak is not chic.

posted by Fassion

Mar 26, 2008 5:47PM

Loved my leather pants. Had the "jean" cut pair from the Gap years ago. I'd welcome them back.

posted by guest

Mar 26, 2008 6:17PM

i had a nice dark brown pair from barneys back in high school - my mother was the one who basically made me get them (what can i say, she's from paris!). i had a suede pair in college, too...got rid of both not too long ago in a fit of moving-in-with-the-boyfriend purging, but not without a pang...someday, a niece or daughter of mine is going to be wailing and asking why i got rid of all of it...

anyways, my answer is: yes. i'd wear them. again. :)

posted by guest

Mar 26, 2008 6:21PM

What did Blake's look like? Not jean cut right?

posted by guest

Mar 26, 2008 6:21PM

i would wear leather pants, but only if there were exactly the style and feel i wanted: skinny,tight,&buttery. I would wear them with big oversized sweaters layered over tanks like marykate. but shouldn't this be discussed in the fall/winter?

posted by guest

Mar 26, 2008 7:10PM

I ordered amazing high waisted leather riding pants for fall for my (coming soon) online boutique. I will keep Brett posted to on who's wearing them!

posted by guest

Mar 26, 2008 7:40PM

I saw a picture of Victoria Beckham (http://www.instyle.com/instyle/parties/party/0,,20186422,00.html) sporting some recently... I can NOT say those look comfortable, though.

posted by guest

Mar 26, 2008 8:03PM

I just snagged a pair of Elise Overland straight legged leather pants for the ridiculous price 5 bucks, I almost teared up when I saw the price. The second I put them on, I felt like a rock star. Living in Minnesota where it's still rather chilly, I got nothing but compliments on the fateful night when I wore them out on the town. They're like my favorite jeans but that much better.

posted by guest

Mar 26, 2008 8:22PM

hey guest at 7:10, who designed the leather pants you ordered?

posted by guest

Mar 26, 2008 8:38PM

I love the idea of leather pants for Fall. I saw this trend coming with the legging trend and several of the leggings being leather or looking like leather. This trend is definitely one that is not for everyone and I do not know if it is something that will be a lot of places. If shows like Gossip Girl as showing it you know many others will as well and many "fashionistas" will as well.

posted by Ali

Mar 26, 2008 9:44PM

So odd you mention this because for the last week I've been sick and having a Buffy marathon, which lead me to think about leather pants, and then I watched the new SMG movie Suburban Girl, in which she wears a pair of skinny leather pants and they look amazing -she wears them in replacement of jeans and they work.

I already wear a leather pencil skirt from Laundry occasionally, so I don't think skinny leather pants would be out of the question, as long as the leather is thin and not bulky and doesn't create that sound as I walk (like in the old SNL "Leather Store" skits)

posted by guest

Mar 27, 2008 12:17AM

I was about to ask for this....because everyone has been using them....first mary kate in paris (she wore them with a long sweater and a very similar sandals to the YSL you mentioned before and she looked so chic) and.....then victoria bechkam a couple days ago......and by the way I'm pretty sure that the one who wore them was Michelle Trachtenberg and not blake lively....see it on http://justjared.buzznet.com/2008/03/26/gossip-girl-michelle-trachtenberg-blake-lively/... LOVE YOUR SITE

posted by guest

Mar 27, 2008 12:22AM

and by the way Brett, notice that this thread had more comments today that the others on the site...maybe Natalie and Britt..should follow your advices more often....just saying...XOXO

posted by Summer

Mar 27, 2008 12:22AM

I, too, had a great 5-pocket (jean style) pair from the Gap that I loved. They were soft, not shiny, not squeaky and comfortable as heck. I am sad I no longer have them, but I would totally wear them again. My question: what shoes to wear with them?

posted by dumbbrunette5

Mar 27, 2008 1:33AM

omg, ive been dying to have a pair of leather pants for almost 2 years now. sadly, ive been living in thailand for the past 4 years (and will continue to do so until this summer) so leather encasing my legs isnt the best idea in these temperatures. plus, they are soo expensive. but if i could afford them i would definately buy them to wear this winter

posted by guest

Mar 27, 2008 2:58AM

YES!! check out www.claudemaus.com they do amazing versions...click on winter 07
They're an Aussie label so not sure if they're available over there but they're amazing....they have a panel down the side which is jersey so they breath and they're made with amazing soft leather....the next seasons versions dont' have the panel but are amazing too. i <3 claude maus

posted by guest

Mar 27, 2008 8:21AM

How has no one mentioned the Friends episode with Ross's leather pants?!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=5oatPOQdeNI

http://youtube.com/watch?v=BT-IDk9Kun8&feature=related

posted by syako

Mar 27, 2008 9:15AM

guest @ 821, it was the first thing that came to mind when I saw the post! lol.

posted by guest

Mar 27, 2008 9:16AM

Michelle was wearing something like leather leggings but Blake's pants were more like leather pants. I hope this link works, it's photos from set http://photo.wenn.com/index.php?ref=gossip%20girl%20270308&action=search&tb=&fp=1&st=0&hs=&start=1
I think she looks so hot in them :D and I'm a girl saying this.

posted by sarahchivonne

Mar 27, 2008 9:53AM

I always wanted to get a pair of leather pants, but then i think of that Friend's episode with Ross's leather pants and it's makes me terrified of pretty much everything that went wrong there. I think a lot of people would be less Blake Lively and more Ross Gellar in a pair of leather pants, no matter how chic they are.

posted by guest

Mar 27, 2008 11:22AM

yes to leather pants (skinny leg and soft leather), I'm kicking myself for not buying a Daryl K pair years ago, I'd have them forever.

posted by Lala

Mar 27, 2008 2:09PM

I LOVE them of coruse one has to be reasonable and take their body shape in consideration, but if you can i think you should.Victoria Beckham looked AMAZING in those and i think Blake looked good aswell.

posted by guest

Mar 27, 2008 5:56PM

does anyone know where to get decent leather pants? i've seen them on so many people, but never in stores (at least in the US)

posted by Fassion

Mar 27, 2008 6:28PM

It looks like alot of the celebs on the gossip sites are wearing the "Shiny" leggings (American Apparel), not so much actual leather pants. Both look good, although the leggings would probably be a better fit (skinny) and also will be alot cheaper.

posted by disneyrollergirl

Mar 30, 2008 1:44PM

I dunno, you need a lot of attitude to work leather pants, you need to wear them and not let them wear you. VERY few people can pull this off, even someone like Sienna Miller would look too self conscious. I reckon only a proper rock chick (Alison Mosshart?) should attempt it. And they'd have to be properly skin-tight, nothing less...

posted by bLair m

Mar 31, 2008 7:05PM

im not really against them....if im picturing them properly, they could look pretty badass, in a good way. let's wait till fall to see where else these start to pop up before preordering any high priced leather bottoms.

posted by guest

Mar 31, 2008 7:41PM

Would love a pair of leather pants, but as i'm only 5'1 its kinda hard finding them at the right length, but high waisted are a big no no.

posted by crod

Mar 31, 2008 8:04PM

yeah sure why not but that model did not pull those pants off!!!
she just looks so bad in them YUK she just looks too skinny!!

posted by guest

Apr 01, 2008 7:32AM

I just bought the black kangaroo-leather leggings from Jens Laugesen - and they are amazing! But leather pants are for now - in the fall they'll be in every highstreetshop and not so fun anymore.

posted by guest

Apr 05, 2008 2:51AM

i always pull on my leather pants when i want to feel especially degenerate. frankly there are precious few things left to us nowadays which foster an air of degeneracy and so of course i'm grateful that leather pants are still merchandised. theres simply no other article of clothing that comes close to fostering the sense of abject degeneracy as leather pants with the excepion of course of black leather pants.

posted by guest

Apr 05, 2008 6:05AM

I know leather pants could look great but for me, I think they could only look good on a fantastic body. I think you have to be careful how you wear them, but if you are brave enough to then i say,
GO RIGHT ON AHEAD!!!!!

posted by guest

Apr 10, 2008 10:32AM

I'd love to know what all those die-hard rocker fashionistas that want to become "green" (or earth-friendly) would wear next. How about leather pants made from hides of antibiotic-free, green-fed energy-saving cows?

posted by guest

Apr 14, 2008 1:22PM

I love you for this brett. I am glad i was actually onto something for once. I am still looking for my ultimate pair of leather pants. (miya)

posted by guest

May 04, 2008 1:24PM

Animal skin should belong to the past. (or on the animals themselves!) Lets focus on something more animal friendly. Leather like fur, is part of a big problem.

posted by Stevie

May 05, 2008 6:28PM

Cannot wait to start wearing my leather pants. Had to ditch about 4 pairs because they were too big. find them on ebay. Don't spend a fortune. Have them tailored.. its faster and cheaper to do that.
also check out what's on sale.

posted by guest

May 12, 2008 1:52AM

I have a lovely pair of jean cut leather pants and I'm thrilled to hear that it may be back in for fall! I think I may have to go out and buy another pair when they hit the stores! I simply love the way they feel. For me wearing leather pants is actually quite a cozy experience, that just so happens to makes my tushie look fab too!

posted by guest

May 12, 2008 11:58PM

I have a fabulous pair of leather pythons pants by Australian label Shadows & Dust. Super comfy with track panels so they stretch!

posted by guest

May 14, 2008 5:02PM

where the hell do i get some? been looking for awhile.

posted by guest

Aug 25, 2008 3:50PM

Regarding [Mar 27, 2008 8:21AM] and why no one has mentioned Ross' leather pants: because it was a TV show. It was funny, but it wasn't a factual representation.

However, it is worth mentioning it because that episode was immensely influential and it still, years later, resonates powerfully in our collective conscience. In fact, it was the "Ross episode" that killed the popularity of leather pants. Up until it aired, the GAP had a very successful campaign going, as did Hugo Boss, Ralph Lauren, and Banana Republic. However, after it aired, most of these had to drop leather pants from their lines within weeks because they just stopped selling.

The sociology aside, I'm very glad to see lots of positive comments regarding leather pants. They are awesome to wear and it's about time that they made a comeback.