Mamas: Have you ever tried leather pants? I have - years ago (long before Raines came around). It didn't end well. The knees stretched out, I couldn't bend (Somebody help! I dropped a pencil!), and I found my thighs either sweaty (which previously had only happened in Bikram Yoga class) or freezing. I also walked funny - ramrod straight and uncomfortable. The soundtrack to my leather-pant-walking would've sounded something like ernh-ee-ernh-ee-ernh-ee. I'm sure some girls can carry them off with aplomb....but these are probably also the girls who look cool smoking. Me? Not only am I leather-pant-challenged, but I'm afraid of the fire at the lit end of the cig. Sigh. Hopeless, I know.
But I LOVE the look (of both leather pants and smoking - yeah, yeah, bad for you, yeah). But I LOVE it. Such an awesome rocker/cool-french-girl kind of look. And while I'm totally over the smoking thing, I'm still craving leather pants. Luckily, faux leather options are everywhere. From J Brand's waxed skinny jeans (cute, but not that comfy) to faux-leather leggings that do, surprise!!, feel a lot like leggings.
BTW? I ran across a pic of one the French Vogue editors rocking her leather leggings at 6 months pregnant.
(photo credit: Jak and Jill)
Mamas, that's some serious dedication to leather leggings. Yay, Geraldine.
Encouraged by Geraldine's pic...I bought some faux-leather leggings. Just, you know, to see. Strictly for research, Mamas. We do serious research here at Ain't No Mom Jeans. But my expectations were very low, so I bought the cheapest pair I could find. Then rounded up a couple of pics for leather-legging mom-drobe inspiration (which sounds like an oxymoron, I know, but indulge me for a sec). Anyway, here's my inspiration board for mom-friendly leather leggings:
(photo credits: Kelly Stuart for Elle.com | French Vogue 2008 | Vogue's Aerin Lauder article | Alexander Wang, Spring 2009 | Krystal from This Time Tomorrow)
Ummmm....ballet flats? Sorels? Cozy sweaters and nerdy button-downs? Oooo...mamas, we can do this.
So after all of my "intense" research, I decided to use my faux-leather leggings as a tougher, cooler counter-point to preppy plaids, cozy sweaters and winter boots. (And God knows the Mainline has it's share of preppy plaids). Anyway, here's what I came up with:
(wearing: Windsor store faux-leather leggings, Mia Buckaroo boots, Lands' End raincoat, J.Crew scarf, Marc Jacobs nylon hobo, Moma umbrella)
(wearing: Windsor store faux-leather leggings, J.crew sweater, Uggs Cardy boots)
And guess what? I kinda love 'em.
First of all, they are surpisingly comfortable - they just feel like leggings. And secondly? They make every outfit a little bit cooler. Even my slouchy, wearing-around-the-house outfits.
But my fav look? Channeling Geraldine, natch.
(wearing: Windsor store faux-leather leggings, Mia Buckaroo boots, James Perse tee, J.Crew moto sweater)
Not bad for $16, Mamas.
xo,
S
