I Was Terrified of Leather Leggings and Now I Can't Stop Wearing Them

Until last winter, I was terrified of leather leggings. In a store, nothing would make me panic more than the shop assistant suggesting a pair of leather leggings to go with the chunky knit I was waiting to try on. The fear wasn’t down to body confidence—I wear skinny leg jeans all the time and they’re basically the same. It was more I thought they were too ‘out there’ for my simple, non-fussy taste (plus, I couldn’t get the visual of Ross Gellar’s run-in with leather pants in Friends out of my head).
All of that changed last year when I spontaneously bought this J Brand pair on a late night shopping scroll. Yes, online. Without trying them on. I figured it was simple, I’m in jeans every day, I know what size I am (usually), so I may as well bite the bullet and see if I can pull them off—in the comfort of trying them on in my own home. The result was better than I could’ve hoped. The leather leggings swiftly became my go-to on nights out (and even the office with a long-line tunic thrown over the top), and were comfortable enough to lounge around in all weekend.
My styling tip? Wear them the same way you’d style your jeans. With sneakers, heels, boots—they always look effortless in a Kate Moss kind of way.
Keep scrolling to shop our ultimate edit of leather leggings to suit every budget.
Do you own a pair of leather pants? What's your favourite way to style them? Share in the comments below.
Opening image: Liz Sunshine for Street Smith
Read more stories about style tips and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter.
-
Even White Poplin Skirts Can't Compete With the Pretty Skirt Trend I've Seen in NYC, Milan, and Paris
Hands down, it's the most elegant buy of the summer.
-
Wait, Is This About to Be The Row's New It Mini Bag?
Elsa Hosk seems to think so.
-
Overnight, These Became Fashion's Most Wanted Sandals for Summer 2025
The Row lovers, listen up.
-
The Easy Two-Piece Outfit Combo You Have to Copy If You Want to Look Rich This Summer
From Monaco to Miami.
-
I Found It: The Only Denim Trend That Makes Flip-Flops Look Sophisticated Instead of Cheap
In Kendall Jenner we trust.
-
Since the Margaux Is Nowhere to Be Found, This Is the The Row Bag We're Buying Instead
It's also a forever piece.
-
The Best Elevated Basics to Shop If You Love The Row, According to a Stylist
So chic.
-
J.Law and Ashley Olsen Agree: This $33,000 Bag Is Chicer Than a Margaux
No wonder it's so hard to find one for sale.