I just caught up on this thread, and I have to go back to the original question that started the thread:

"What do you think? Who gets to wear (tight) leather pants?"

I think whoever *wants* to wear tight leather pants gets to. My personal discomfort with them stems from my personal figure flattery concerns, and I reserve the right at any moment to change my mind on that, even if it's 10 or 20 years from now, when I'm well over 50.

But I pass absolutely no judgment on someone who wants to start wearing them, no matter their age, or their size. If someone loves them and is having fun with fashion by wearing them, who are we to say they shouldn't?

Who gets to begin wearing tight leather pants in middle age?
Me!
I'm a 38 year old non-biker with a pretty conservative image, and I'm growing into my very own inner rock star!!!!
I am growing and changing and am now at a point where black, tight leather pants fit with my personality, ideas and confidence. Rock on!

I dunno....even though i share Janet's figure flattery concerns, I'm getting more and more interested in a pair of rock star pants....

"...how much do you care
about how you are perceived by others? ...

Honestly, I don't give a flying f@#k but I've never been a conservative dresser.

Now, I've worked long and hard to get to this point and some of that comes from age. I didn't have the confidence to wear leather pants back when I was 20. It's one of the reasons I don't post WIWs; I'm not opening up my fashion choices to outside opinions, although laziness is the main reason.

Now faux leather is a much more viable option than it was back in my twenties and this pair from Eloquii is on top of my shopping list.
http://www.eloquii.com/faux-le.....00014.html

This is a great conversation!!!

Just gotta chime back in --

Desmo April -- I DID have enough confidence to wear leather pants in my 20s. But it just wasn't my style. (Although I suppose, even if it had been my style, I wouldn't have been able to wear them anyway, because I didn't have the money!)

I have the confidence now, too. The issue for me is not confidence. I've never been a particularly conservative dresser, either. I've always had a dark and gamine edge (except that one stretch in my late 20s where I experimented with colourful surf wear, and it never really worked). It's -- as Una says -- about authenticity.

When I said, 'who gets to wear leather pants', of course I was being tongue-in-cheek. I anticipated the chorus of 'ME! Nobody can tell me what to wear! I dress to please myself!' -- and of course that's true. We all have to dress in a way that pleases us. So if Suz, who is not an actual rock star (although she wrote an award-winning book, which makes her a kind of literary rock star, right?) suddenly decides that she's going to dress like Debbie Harry, then you go girl.

The catch is not caring what people think. If you truly don't, then you get to wear anything -- including black leather rock n roll pants, neon hot pants or a pair of spangled heart-shaped sunglasses. But I do care about my audience -- at least to some degree -- and it's not due to a lack of confidence. For me, the whole point of fashion and style is being able to project an image of yourself to the world that you feel reflects who you are on the inside. When we talk about dressing for 'self-expression', isn't that what we mean? Otherwise we're just playing dress-up.

That obviously isn't everyone's opinion, though.

And it is fun to experiment with clothes a bit, because otherwise, how would your style evolve? It's important to always move forward, while at the same time staying true to who you are.

...and a visual, for those who asked. The first pic is one of the top images you get if you do a google search for 'rock star leather pants'. It shows a guy, but that's fine, because the midlife crisis applies to both sexes. The second image is an example of a woman's pair.

"O’Keefe’s wardrobe adaptations were less about the change in climate and more about creating a look that was in harmony with the cultural environment, landscape, and lifestyle all while still being "her" and modern."

I love the way Meredith cut to the heart in this statement from her thread on Georgia O'Keefe. I'd argue that it takes a great deal of confidence and self-awareness to dress in a way that combines personal expression with sensitivity to one's audience and environment. And I really appreciate Elisabeth's willingness to brave the host of "I'll wear whatever I bloody well want and everyone better back off" comments to articulate another perspective--one that puts the audience and environment, as well as personal expression, into the dressing equation.

I think intent and authenticity are two very important factors people have expressed here.... I appreciate that the discourse has been polite, and truly hope that Aziraphale isn't feeling that she is being berated for her question.

My reading of the question, as well as Gaylene and Aziraphale's clarifications, had me thinking about environmental norms. I agree that it can be rude to totally disrespect the opinion's of others when dressing - no matter how much I may wish to wear something different, for example, I take my hosts' expectations into consideration when dressing for an event or my patients' expectations and circumstances into account (we had a thread years ago for someone who was either a CASA volunteer or visiting clients in jail and there was much discussion of dressing for the setting and the audience in an appropriate and authentic way)... it is polite and considerate to do these things.

On the other hand, society broadly or locally has some views on how one "should" dress that probably deserve some disrespect, or at least questioning (how else would we have gotten to the point where women are "allowed" to wear pants to work, or "dungarees" as my grandmother said when we put on jeans).

Aziraphale, it seemed that your question was one of meeting or not disrupting the expectations of others - and it seems from your comments that it is important for you, in fact it is your preference and authentic for you to dress in a way that says "rock star leather is out unless you are an actual rock star" and that is fine. What I read in the responses was, a portion of "no one tells me how to dress", but even more, I was reading overwhelming support for the idea that the "expectations of others" may not be as opposed to rock star pants as you perceive. What I read was a group of women saying, if the only thing holding you back is consideration for the opinions of others, please know that many others would be just fine with rock star leather pants. If, on the other hand, you have no desire to wear the pants, there is no pressure to be inauthentic. Sort of like, if I'm dressing with consideration for modesty (beyond what is desirable for me personally) because I believe my religious friend's family would be bothered by my sleeveless top, but his brothers and mom tell me tank tops are worn from time to time without a problem, I know that I can choose to wear them to his house, despite what his sister and grandmother wear. They've removed a sense that the family will be disturbed from my dressing calculations and I am more free to choose what feels true to me, without fear of offending. Hope that makes sense..

I just read through this entire thread.

I was thinking about wearing my leather pants to our shared birthday celebration dinner with my girlfriend tonight. I turned 52 and she turned 55 this month.

I had a bit of a challenge figuring out what the central issue was in the conversation and concluded that the "black leather rock star pants" was intended to be representative of an item that was at one time restricted to a specific group and not considered appropriate for the general population. It could have been a tattoo or a piercing or even the OTK boots mentioned by another poster. The real issue is whether we dress for ourselves or others and what our motivations are in choosing the styles we choose.

I do believe that there are boundaries of what is and isn't deemed acceptable by society and that these boundaries are moving targets and perhaps even have a bit of give to be pushed by those who enjoy tweeking the nose of society.

I am a relatively conservative dresser and was a version of a classic on the Kibbe test but I do own a pair of black leather pants that are the five pocket style with straight legs similar to the example posted but not as shiny or narrow. I have worn them a few times and don't know that I care whether they are appropriate or not. Perhaps that is the core issue at play - do I like the look enough to not be concerned about what others think? I don't believe I am trying to recapture my youth but I also don't think I had a midlife event of any kind.

Thanks Az for posting this thread. I found it very interesting and thought provoking. I might wear the leather pants tonight and take a pic in case someone starts a thread as suggested by Deb.

ETA: I had leather pants in my 20s but they were definitely not the rocker type. They had a wide curved waistband that formed a shallow V in front, structured pleats, and were made of a very soft beige lambskin. I wore them to death.

Leather pants are awesome!!!! Leather skirts are cool too!! Stop the fashion judgement! We don't all want to look like an Anne Taylor Loft ad!!!!! *runs away*

(miss you guys. Una. Janet. Suz. I see youuuuuuuuuuu!) :*

*runs back to say*
Sorry i am NOT trying to berate anyone for their thoughts. I"m just being my silly self. You might not know that though if you don't know me. Thus, i explained. :* :* :*
*runs off again*

Nicoleb, come baaaaaack!

So interesting. Az mentioned Ross from Friends, and I remember the episode - it didn't work for him, because among other things, it wasn't his personality to wear them. Had Rachel worn them, sure, it would have worked. As for me, wearing them with a cute heeled shoe and a flowing top? Absolutely. Pointy toed shoes and a graphic tee? You betcha. Wearing them in an outfit that screams sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll? Noooo, not for me. Unless, of course, I'm channeling my inner Van Halen and going out for a evening of karaoke (and yes, I've done that, and no, there aren't photographs to prove it!).

As for a midlife crisis, bring it! That would mean I'll live to be 100. Rock on!

Exhibit A - With a cream colored top, sure!

Exhibit B - Yes!

Exhibit C - New Year's Eve, here I come!

Exhibit D - Yeah baby (oh excuse me, I got carried away)

Exhibit E - Noooo, not in a million...so not me, not even on karaoke night!

NicoleB! Hopefully it won't take 4 pages of leather pants to bring you back! I MISS YOU!

I'm also glad people have remained respectful and willing to talk.

I think we all consider our "audience" in some way, whether it's to please, defy or ignore. I work in the most conservative job in a conservative field (not politically, but certainly style wise). So I will not be wearing leather skinnies to work. I don't consider that choice to be kowtowing to others in some pathetic self-effacing way. Sometimes the trappings simply do matter.

But would I wear them to our holiday event? Hellz yeah.

And Karie, thanks for the inspo pics - that first pic would be perfect for reunion!

Thanks everyone for participating! This was a fun. You all make very good points, and I enjoyed reading them.

(Kat, I totally understand what you're saying! I don't think people are exactly opposed to rock star pants, however. I think it's more that they draw conclusions from the 'vibe' such pants give off in relation to the person wearing them).

Nicoleb!!! My long lost fashion daughter!! Come baaaaaack!!!!

Nicoleb!! You are a rock star!

And Karie, I split my sides (uh....not the sides of my leather pants) at those visual examples and accompanying text...

Aziriphale -- are you sure the issue is the pants...or is it the whole ensemble? Because as Karie's examples show, it really makes a difference.

Another thing that interested me, in the situation you described, it was almost as if you were being pressured to be inauthentic (by wearing said pants). As in, the rock star pant wearing mom sees you as an ally (which you are, in a way, being -- probably -- "cooler" and more tolerant than some of the other moms) -- and she also sees that you are fashion aware and have the figure to "carry off" the pants. She's trying to compliment you by saying so, but you know that you wouldn't feel like yourself in the pants, and don't want to wear them.

And then there is a whole other topic -- "cool" style that does not involve the wearing of rock star pants.

Insightful as always, Suz.

And yes, the topic of 'cool' style (I really wish there was a better word!) -- I agree, it comes in many flavours, and not all involve the wearing of tight leather pants.

Karie, pic #4 that you posted (and your comment) made me giggle. Gosh, but Jon Bon Jovi was cute.

When choosing what to wear, whilst I do try to take into account what will please, or at least not upset, my friends and family etc, I am also mindful of the fact that if no one ever risks wearing something new/unexpected/potentially unacceptable, the range of dress deemed acceptable will stay narrow and (to many of us) boring instead of evolving. In the past, women over 50 had woefully limited choices if they wanted not to upset/shock/offend people. There is still heavy pressure to stick to a tediously 'classic' [read: boring] style even now, with leather trouser wearers being deemed to be 'mutton dressed as lamb', even if they have the figure deemed acceptably thin enough, and wear them in a current way. So from my point of view, the more women over 50 who take the risk of wearing what they want, pushing the boundaries and wearing outfits that some will deem inappropriate given their age, the better. Such individuals increase the freedom of other older women to wear what we want, and for that, I for one am very grateful.

When deciding whether or not to leave the house wearing those tight black leather trousers, I ask myself this: which is the lesser of these two evils: offending boring frowny disapproving strangers, or making myself feel bored? It's not just myself either. I personally love seeing older women wearing things other people probably think they shouldn't be wearing, including dressing fashionably, wearing tight black leather trousers, etc., if it looks intentional and authentic. I just wish more would. I have never understood why, when women reach a certain age, they are expected to have had a personality transplant such that they now want to wear so-called grown-up, classic clothes, and that to the extent that they don't have that personality transplant they are sad losers trying to relive their youth [and add other disparaging nonsense here]. It is all a lot of hogwash.

As Angie says, have fun with fashion. Don't let societal pressure (real or imagined) stop you dressing the way you yourself prefer.

Sarah

What do you girls think about men in leather pants? Is it also about attitude and his comfort level, or are there even more factors?

I love my black leather pants and want to wear them more often, but it seems like they are too situation-oriented. I'm trying to reach that level of "I like them and i'll wear them when I want to" attitude but it is a bit harder for a guy

I forgot to mention that I am 29.

After reading all this, I'm going to look for some awesome leather pants! No inhibitions anymore about age or body type, etc. I just have to find the pair that encompass my style descriptors, or perhaps I can be rocker chic for a day whenever I wear them ! Oh, and I don't wear black, so I want them to be navy, or maybe chocolate brown.

chocolate brown leather pants are a classic, and I think easier to wear than black. Top it off with a cashmere sweater and the look is fantastic.

While I don't have much to contribute (other than the odd coincidence that I just bought a pair of black faux leather pants for my birthday last weekend), I found this entire thread extremely interesting to read.

To anyone who wants to wear leather pants, ROCK ON! Or, if you aren't that bold, rock gently like Bryan Adams If leather pants aren't your thing, that's cool too!

I also think the cut is very important. Skin-tight may be difficult to pull off, but there's nothing more comfortable than a well-fitting bootcut pair with a soft sweater.

Rock star is approaching mainstream and leather skinnies are close to becoming -- well, just another pair of skinnies that can be styled beautifully. Then we have the acceptance of any style at any age. Even authenticity can be stretched because people understand the evolution of lifestyle and style. I'm seeing all of these themes in this thread. Yes, I believe that people will notice a significant style change - I love the example of the hat. But, rockstar leather pants seem pretty safe but perhaps not comfortable for everyone. But I wonder if there is an item that really makes people uncomfortable. I did pause when I saw a leather and rivet mask on Nordstrom.com. Anyone see it? There was a comment on Nordstrom.com about it not being a family friendly product.

This aint leather rock star pants. But perhaps came up when I was looking at leather leggings/pants.
Zana BayneWoven Face Mask

Whoever wants to can and should. All confidence! I'm 40 and considering them.

I have not read all of this thread but I find it very interesting. I have worn leather pants throughout my adult life. Sometimes they were black and very tight. That was when I was skinnier. I had chocolate brown leather bootcut ones, olive green leather bootcut ones and chocolate brown suede ones. I have also had lots of leather and suede skirts. I still have a black leather mini skirt that I wear with leggings (yes I do and I am 59 so there :-).

I would love a pair of leather pants. But when would I wear them. They don't fit into my lifestyle. I would go for dark brown because that works more with my wardrobe.