Wearing leather trousers for the first time at 56 (and no, it’s not a midlife crisis)
Call me an Ageless Rocker but I’m not averse to mannish jackets, military gear and trying leather trousers for the first time in my life at the age of 56. This is a look beloved of French fashion editors, after all. And really, what’s age got to do with it? When you’ve rocked out to the Rolling Stones and pogo’ed to the Sex Pistols, you’re never going to be boxed in. Having lived in a pair of old, coated black jeans all winter, my wardrobe is in need of an upgrade. Admittedly, at £895, Joseph’s beautiful, stretch leather Coleman trousers are eye-wateringly expensive (and no, I haven’t forgotten the reaction to Teresa May’s costly Amanda Wakeley leather lounge pants), but the gorgeous, olive colour and quality of the leather are sublime. This style adventure was for my column in the Sunday Telegraph, which I promised to share with you.
Other less expensive places to find leather trousers, include: Hush whose black leather jeans, £375, are a great fit. Baukjen’s best-selling Sacha trousers, £349, are ethically produced in Portugal and Scandi brand Arket has tapered trousers in beige leather, kick-flare and cropped leather trousers (in black), all styles are £250, fully lined and made using a chrome-free tanning process which is much better for the environment. And of course there are vegan options and ‘faux leather’; a lot of which seem to made from PVC, polyester or polyurethane and not environmentally-friendly, at all. So, check fabric composition before buying.
Photo: Andrew Crowley
Style Notes: the tweed jacket is from Winser London, the silk shirt is Me + Em, boots are from Grenson and ring is by Branch. All clothes were borrowed for the photoshoot and returned.
