Investing in Leather Pants

Ahh, the leather pant... something I've obsessed over in the past year. I fell in love after purchasing the best leather leggings ever from Aritizia. They were soft, perfectly form fitting, and had a realistic leather-like texture and finish. Unfortunately, they weren't durable.

I ripped my leggings during Christmas – nothing big, just a small tear on the inner thigh, not even visible unless you were looking for it. I have no idea how it happened, but it did, and I was upset. Originally, I was just going to buy a replacement pair, but with Boxing Day coming up, I figure why not see what sales there are on real leather pants. They'll be more durable, a lot warmer, and well... sometimes I just like smelling like a dead cow (not really). But seriously, these are damned sexy (dead cow smell or no), and a near perfect fit.

Tips For Buying Leather Pants

1. Leather stretches. Make sure to buy something that fits snugly.
2. That said, don't size down when you buy. You want them to be snug, but not skin tight. If you size down too much, the leather will stretch, but won't "ping" back to its original size. Buy your regular size, and yes, they might get slightly looser by the end of the day, but when you put them on next, they'll still fit like new. I bought my regular size, and they fit almost perfectly. As always, I'm stuck with excess fabric in the pelvic area when I sit, but that's normal for all my high-waisted J Brand jeans (and I don't usually fit into a size smaller).

3. If you need to, get them tailored. Go to a specialist (a motorcycle clothing shop should be able to recommend someone). To be honest, I could easily have the waist taken in on these.
4. Pick a classic style. You don't want to be spending a ton of money on something that is hard to style, or can only be worn a season.

5. Pick something with (hidden) ankle zippers. These have hidden zippers on the outer calf, to make putting them on and taking them off 10 times easier.
6. Spend money. To get quality leather, you will need to spend money. I wouldn't buy a pair of leather pants for less than $500 (except maybe Zara's, which are $400 but have a decent rep). Cheap out, and you'll get something thin, feels gross, and tears easily. 

7. When you need to clean them, find someone who specializes in cleaning leather. Again, a motorcycle clothing shop should be able to point you in the right direction. Don't clean them too often though, as it can shrink the leather eventually.

Top: Zara (similar here)

Bottom: J Brand

Shoes: Nine West

Watch: Michael Kors

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