mademoiselle - looks great!
(bytheway, I'm on my iPhone and can't really tell if that's a jean vest you are wearing or a jean and leather sleeves jacket?!)
I personally don't see the big deal about leather/pleather/pvc/etc pants/leggings.
A lot of you are talking about them as though they are some sort of wild, out there piece of clothing, some sort of huge fashion risk.
I have two leggings and two pairs of pants (my style is very rock n roll) so I see them pretty much as a regular black pant.
Though, I do see a lot of trendy girls/club girls wearing them just ALL WRONG, and it just looks hooorrrible.
You just have to know wharton piece them with, otherwise you can look quite cheap.
I completely agree with what you're saying because it captures my personal feeling about leather pants [I'm wearing my leather Dolce and Gabanna's at work today, actually]. I wear them because I like the look and feel - end of story. However, the unfortunate fact is that for many people, a lot of people, the idea of someone wearing leather pants is just bizarre. And, you can multiply that by at least 5 times if you're a guy.
I'm basing the following on 4 years of wearing leather pants as part of my regular clothing, and *many* conversations that I've had, stares that I've received, etc, etc. I'm not suggesting that it's good science, but I don't think I'm too far off base. So here goes:
A high percentage of people in the 18 - 50 demographic see leather pants as being something only worn by celebrities, bikers or people on the fringe of what's "normal" in society [I put that in quotes because I'm not the one judging]. Therefore, if someone chooses to wear them, then there must be a reason for the choice - people don't wear leather pants "just because".
Following from that assumption, most people won't assume that it's for comfort, because in addition to many people already assuming that leather pants are hot, stiff, uncomfortable, Ross from Friends "proved" it to the millions of people who laughed themselves silly at this problems. And you would be amazed at how many people believe that what befell him was completely accurate. So comfort is out as a reason for wearing them, unless you've worn them yourself.
People also won't assume that someone is wearing them because they look good, because "everyone" knows that leather pants make you look like a hooker, if you're female, or a homosexual if you're a guy. And why would anyone choose to look like that? So if no one wears them for comfort or looks, they anyone who does wear them must be a wannabe rockstar or a fetishist - there's no other "good" reason in many people's worldview.
Where this all leads is that I *do* feel a bit brave when I walk into Starbucks wearing my leather pants because I don't see any other guys doing it. None, nada, zilch. And, I don't see to many ladies wearing them either. I'm not trying to take credit for changing society, but I think it does take guts to thumb one's nose at "the norm".
BTW: I'm a Canadian too - so it's great to know that there are others in North America who have a "what's the big deal" attitude
YES! I love you.
