The Dos and Dont’s of Leather Leggings

Leather leggings are a bold choice. And if you’ve got the courage to give them a try, then by all means, you can more than likely pull them off. (You’d be surprised at what you can get away with wearing, provided you wear it confidently.) However, before you pour yourself into one of fall’s go-to pieces, consider the following dos and don’ts.

1. Don’t: treat leather leggings like pants
Well we might as well get this point out of the way before anyone proceeds with buying anything: leggings are not pants, nor will they ever be. Leggings are super fitted, don’t have pockets and leave nothing to the imagination, and while leather leggings are a far cry from their cotton counterpart, your bottom should at least remain covered. The word leather doesn’t save leggings from being anything but, so keep that in mind.

2. Do: use them as a springboard for chance taking
Odds are if you’re wearing leather leggings, you’re willing to take a few fashion chances “ so go for it. Leather leggings call for more than just a tank top and a pair of flats; use them to load up on bracelets and jewelry for a contemporary nighttime look, and don’t be afraid of hardware. Leather leggings worn with embellished booties (think studs or spikes) can still be dressed up with a silk button-up, so you’ll avoid the hard, biker look “ unless that’s what you’re going for.

3. Don’t: pair with more leather
Leather is everywhere come spring and summer, but that doesn’t mean you should wear leather on leather unless it’s a pair of leggings with a bag. Donning leather leggings with a leather jacket and leather shoes will only channel that age-old SNL skit (does anybody else remember The Leatherman?) so make your leggings the focal point by pairing them with suede, cotton, silk, and even denim. They can act as a neutral, so prints and light colours can help keep them from being overly edgy.

4. Do: ¦not fear them
Technically, yes, this is a don’t. But let’s avoid categorizing leather leggings as a hard-to-wear item, and paint them with an accessible brush. You can easily make leather leggings daytime appropriate by pairing them with a white button-up and flats, and take them into the night with a bright tank and loads of jewelry. Once upon a time, leggings themselves were feared “ now they’ve become safe comfort-wear. If you can wear leggings, odds are you can wear their leather contemporary. Own them.