Why you’re never too old to wear leather trousers – and the four most flattering styles to try now
There was a time when if anyone apart from a bloke on a motorbike dared to wear leather trousers, it was considered a rather outrageous style statement ripe for extensive public debate – whether that was Posh and Becks in coordinating skintight Gucci, Theresa May causing a political storm in a £995 pair or my 50-something headteacher wearing hers on non-uniform days (it was the talk of the school for at least a week, I seem to remember).
But this is 2023, people, and leather trousers have had a makeover just in time for the changing of the seasons. In fact, if you’re sick of jeans and want something more elevated than leggings but with the same level of comfort, leather trousers are the zenith of effortless, polished elegance and a potential solution to all manner of style dilemmas.
And if there’s a niggling voice telling you that you might be too old or not have quite the right bum/tum/legs to pull them off, then think again. For so long, leather trousers felt so impossible to get right that they were completely terrifying to most of us; now there is a plethora of options that fit beautifully and will give you that air of sophisticated nonchalance the minute you pull them on, no matter what your age or body concerns.
I write from a selfish place here. In a recent clear out, I sent a pair of leather trews I’ve owned for five years to the charity shop – they were too baggy around the knees, too tight around the thighs. I wanted to love them but they now feel wrong. That said, I do feel that a great pair of leather trousers could be just the thing my wardrobe needs this season.
As a result, I’ve spent more time than is healthy in the past few days scouring stores for my new perfect pair – and it seems I’m not the only one: sales are up 30 per cent on last year at matchesfashion.com, which stocks 60 different options priced from £105 to £4,390. But there are plenty more out there to choose from – these are the best ones:
The tailored trouser alternative you can wear to work
A straight or tapered, high-waisted, tailored-looking trouser is the fashion insider favourite that is most popular on the front row – all the best-dressed fashion editors were wearing them at the shows recently. It’s also, happily, flattering to all figures and the most versatile, looking as good with loafers and trainers as kitten heels or stilettos. “Your leather trousers must move when you move to look good over a certain age,” advises personal stylist Annabel Hodin. “The leather should be really soft so that you get that sensual, feminine feeling. The cut is very important.”
American actress Jennie Garth, 50, mastered this look with a beautiful pair of brown leathers, teaming them with a cream blazer – an ensemble which would be perfect for the office.
If you’ve got a big budget here, then Chloe’s £2,635 design or Nili Lotan’s £1,920 version would be the ultra-luxe ultimates. More affordable, though still an investment (nothing comes cheap, whether real leather or one of the upscale faux options now available), are The Frankie Shop’s £285 faux Pernille trousers, which come in black or burgundy, or Massimo Dutti’s £299 khaki version.
The ones that will replace your skinny jeans
If you would like something that’s not black, Joseph’s Coleman straight-legged style comes in a delectable palette including coral, caramel, pewter and sage. At £1,045, they are not cheap, but they are as timeless as a skinny jean. Meanwhile, Good American’s £196 high-waisted, straight-cut faux leather trousers are famed for their curve-skimming qualities.
Cate Blanchett, 53, recently rocked this pared-back, fuss-free cut at a reception for Oscar nominees – you could wear her trophy knit plus leathers and heels look to anything from a pub quiz to dinner with your girlfriends.
Hodin has a few ideas for making this version work for all eventualities: “I’d offset the toughness with a silky or satiny blouse,” she says. “Adding a blazer, khaki workman’s jacket or slim polo neck to a straight-leg style is a great yummy mummy look, while a bolder fashion take would be a tonal leather coat.
“What’s fantastic about leather trousers is they work for everything, from town to country, day to night – just don’t show acres of flesh, no matter what your age.”
The style that takes you from dog walk to dinner
Leather leggings can be trickier to pull off but incredibly useful if your style either skews ultra casual (in which case wear them with oversized knits and chunky boots to balance out the silhouette) or super glam – take your inspiration from the Saint Laurent catwalks and pair with an oversized blazer and heels.
You could also follow the Duchess of Sussex’s lead – earlier this month she wore Veronica Beard’s vegan leather leggings with a Carolina Herrera camel coat and Dior heels for a night out in LA. Another poster woman in this category is Carol Vorderman who is owning the glam leather leggings look at 62, pairing them with knee-high boots for a sleek silhouette – note that she chooses shades of brown for her leather than attempting the black rock-chick look.
For the best combination of value and fit, nothing beats Commando’s £99 high-waisted faux-leather leggings.
The ones which are as effortless as a tracksuit
There’s now a category of leather trouser that comes with elasticated waistbands – hurrah! The £179 straight leg ankle grazers from Marks & Spencer’s Autograph collection are near the top of my most-wanted list, while another fashion desk colleague is hankering after Hush’s £299 leather joggers.
The even better news is that it takes very little to make these casual-feeling designs look seriously smart. My advice here is to keep it very relaxed rather than “OMG look I’m wearing leather trousers, eek”, which has often been the vibe in the past: a loose white T-shirt, bare ankles and simple heels would be ideal. It’s all about playing with different textures, too: a crisp cotton shirt (the best ones are from Asantii or With Nothing Underneath) will be a pleasing counterpoint to the shine of leather for spring, while a cashmere knit whispers luxury. …
A final note: while leather might appear high maintenance, it’s really not. You generally don’t need to wash leather trousers and most of them will be wipe clean – which is exactly what I need with a snotty toddler who’s prone to wiping his nose on my knees as we get ready to leave the house in the morning.
Follow each manufacturer’s specific instructions, but usually “feeding” your leathers with a conditioning balm will keep them looking fresh: try Clothes Doctor’s £18 leather care kit for the best results. And hang them rather than folding them so that they keep their shape.
And take Hodin’s final word of advice: “We need to get as far from the biker look as possible,” she emphasises. “If in doubt, step away.”
