Everything
Words: Jake Halpin
When you first think of leather trousers, you’re probably more likely to associate them with rockstars, bikers, BDSM or last-ditch attempts to be ‘cool’ by delusional dads. The good news is that leather trousers have had a complete designer overhaul – and are the investment piece you need this year, trust me.
Reinvention was something top of mind for designers as we entered 2020 – from tailoring to accessories – it’s clear that reimagining and refashioning the past is high on the agenda. So one might say that leather trousers were due for an update, and for AW/20 in particular, designers didn’t hold back.
Every runway from Acne Studios and BOSS to Fendi and Louis Vuitton featured some form of reimagination of the style. Fendi and Vetements opted for directional updates on the classic black in a variety of different silhouettes, paired with printed t-shirts and stomper boots. The surprising tonal standout though was louche blue leather, seen on runways from Rick Owens and Off-White to Louis Vuitton and Acne Studios ranging from soft sky blue to dazzling cobalt.
Even the street style set in January was embracing the new era of leather – often doubling down and pairing leather trousers with a coordinating shirt or jacket in the same hue.
I, for one, was captivated, and made it my mission to find a stylish and comfortable pair of leather trousers to truly roadtest the style and discover why they had captured the imaginations of so many designers. I opted for a vegan leather style from Swedish label Séfr which were the happy medium between not-too-expensive and environmentally-sensitive.
The first thing I was struck by was the comfort – I was half expecting them to be quite uncomfortable, rigid and hard to walk in, but it was quite the opposite – the (faux) leather was ultra-soft and moved well. The second thing I was concerned about was all-day comfort. Fortunately, these, like many of the other designer pieces, are lined which makes a huge difference when you want to wear them all day (or all night).
My advice: if you’re going to try something new with your wardrobe this year, make it a pair of leather pants. But don’t just take my word for it – see for yourself – we’ve put together an edit of the best lust worthy leather below.
Saint Laurent Skinny Fit Leather Trousers / $4,078 AUD SHOP NOW
Helmut Lang Brown Raw Leather Masc HI Straight Trousers / $1,615 AUD SHOP NOW
ASOS Design Balloon Fit Cargo Pants in Faux Leather / $80 AUD SHOP NOW
