Here’s my first Best Friend Handbook fashion rule: Black leather pants are sexy at any age, and any weight. What, you don’t believe me? Well just take a look around. Everywhere you turn, women are rocking leather pants from full figured celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Melissa McCarthy to skinny ones like Kate Hudson and Gwyneth Paltrow. My Mom looks fantastic in her leather jeans at 79 while my friend Kimby is seriously sexy in her The Row leather leggings. In fact, it was seeing her in those pants that really gave birth to my leather pants obsession. To be honest, I’ve always loved the look – I mean Joan Jett is a bit of a fashion idol – but I’ve never felt as if I was thin enough to carry it off (body dysmorphia, thy name is Katherine). But Kim inspired me to give them a go. Of course, she is taller than I am with legs that go on for 12 miles, but she kept telling me how these leather leggings looked good on everyone so I finally tried a pair. And my world will never be the same.
Here’s the thing about leather: It’s actually really forgiving. Leather pants suck you in a bit, smoothing out flaws and giving you curves where you might not have them. They make your butt look great and your legs look long. They can be dressed up or dressed down depending on what you pair with them. They travel well. Can be worn in any season (except the dead of summer unless you want to swelter to death) and thanks to the advent of lycra, they are incredibly comfortable. All of which makes leather pants a great investment piece. There are even great leather pants that aren’t leather. Here are a few of my favorites:
The Row Leather Pants
It’s always amazing to me that the Olsen twins, who are both so tiny, design clothes that work so well for women of all shapes and sizes. Their leather leggings are a case in point. Butter soft and supremely comfy, these pants literally look good on anyone. They’re the most expensive on the list at $1995, but definitely worth it if you can afford them.
J. Crew Leather Pants
These are the ones that I finally bought. Though not quite as nice as the ones from The Row, they still have a classic shape and feel while being considerably less expensive at $495. But be forewarned — they run small. I took them 2 sizes smaller than my normal size. Remember that leather stretches so you want to buy them tight. Like lie down on the floor and suck your stomach in to pull them on tight. You’ll be miserable for the first 10 minutes, but then you’ll thank me.
Blank NYC Fake Leather Pants
For those of you who are anti-leather, Blank NYC makes great looking fake leather pants. These are basically a cross between a jean and a legging. Besides being animal friendly, they’re also inexpensive at $98. The only down side is that you can’t clean them. At all. So, they’re not really a long term item.
Vince, Rag & Bone, and 7 for All Mankind all have their own version of the leather pant at various price points. There’s also a brand new company called SPRWMN, from the former design director at Joe’s Jeans, that makes leather and suede pants geared towards working women. I haven’t had a chance to try them yet, but I’ll keep you posted….
