Hey, girl!
Want to know how I make the fall and winter seasons my absolute glamour months? With well-fitted faux leather leggings, of course! You might be wondering why “faux leather”? Well, have you ever actually tried to put on real leather pants? I’ll save you the trouble and say, don’t even think about it because it simply won’t happen without some serious elbow grease. On another note, I won’t sit here and pretend to be a super environmentally conscious activist, but I’m a sane human being who will occasionally jump through a few hoops to make the world a better place to live in. With a quick Google search, you’ll find that making real leather is super bad for the environment. So, choosing a faux leather legging option will not only be easier to wear, but it will ALSO save a couple trees? Heck, yes – sign me up!
What’s with all the craze about leather leggings?
The greatest thing about faux leather leggings is that they look super sleek and people think they’re actually real leather. I’ve had so many compliments wearing mine and have noticed that friends and family almost seem impressed. It’s as if people who wear leather pants are a level up fashion-wise on the rest of the world. I won’t toot my own horn too much, but I totally remember Alessandra Ambrosio wearing leather leggings as the fashionable hot mom in Daddy’s Home 2. And my favorite compliment came from a coworker who gushed at me saying, “it takes a certain kind of person to rock leather leggings, so kudos to you!” *Cue hair flip* because damn, that made me feel special.
Perhaps, one or two of those above instances is the reason I chose to highlight Marcie Montevega’s leather pants moment in Chapter 3 of Genesis Mortalis where she’s being ogled by best friend (and secret love interest) Robbie:
“She adjusts her navy, gold-buttoned blazer, draped across her shoulders to match her sleeveless black bodysuit and leather pants. They might have been criminals, but that didn’t mean their double life couldn’t hold a certain allure. After all, they were practically adults now. And they had only ever watched their mother slink around the house in showy getups that could still make their father drool after all those years of marriage. Her presence was mystifying to men, and her daughters all longed to be just like her.”
Genesis Mortalis, Book 1 of the take It Trilogy
If that doesn’t get you in the mood to pull on a pair of leather leggings, I don’t know what will! (BTW, I totally took this outfit idea from a Kourtney Kardashian moment – thanks Kourt!)
Are all leather leggings made the same?
Be aware that not all leather leggings are made the same. A few years ago, I bought a cheap pair from the mall, and yes, they faded SO quickly from being washed and were a thin material that didn’t look great. Fast forward to 2021 when I discovered the most magical and affordable pair of faux leather leggings that have proved to stand the test of time!
Where to get the best faux leather legging brands
So where did I get these amazing leather leggings? Nordstrom Rack of course! I’ll admit, until last year, I underestimated this store and looked down on it even though I’d break the bank every time I stepped foot in a Nordstrom Department Store. On sale, for only $20 a pop, I found ones that are so comfy, easy to put on, made of quality thick material that don’t fade, and are sooooo stylish.
The best part about these leggings: they’re high-waisted and slimming to the max! Even for a tall woman, who is 5’9, these leggings come all the way up to sit at the perfect position on my waist. I’ve had several people ask if my leggings were Spanx brand, and surprisingly no. I’ve heard Spanx are amazing, but they always seem to cost way too much. The comparison, however, of Spanx to these leggings are a huge compliment and credit to the lesser-known brand itself.
The Non-Spanx Brand I fell in Love With
The ones I found at Nordstrom Rack are a brand called Laundry by Shelli Segal. While I’m not sure how much these would cost full-price, I have realized they’re a little hard to find since they don’t sell from their website and only put their clothes in department stores like Nordstrom Rack, Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, and Dillard’s. If you happen to be dying to get your hands on a pair of these and they’re not available or too hard to find, I highly recommend Spanx as the next best thing.
Need an Outfit idea to boost your confidence?
My go-to winter look with high-waisted leather pants is usually a cropped sweater and knee-high boots or heeled booties! This is a great look if you tend to have wider hips because the high waisted look accentuates your waist and makes it look smaller (who doesn’t love that hourglass look?!) BONUS: The cropped sweater allows for a little sexy midriff mid-winter, which is a look I always love. And I always finish this look off with a pair of boots; I’ve found either above-the-knee or booties are the best options, at least for me! For more tips on knee-high boots and how to style them, check out my blog “Over-the-Knee Boots: A Winter Must-Have.”
What are you waiting for? Get yourself some faux leather leggings to level up your winter and fall wardrobe, fashionista!
Sincerely,
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