Black leather pants have one definitive screen moment, Sandy's finale look in the 1978 film Grease. Costume designer Albert Wolsky dressed Olivia Newton-John in a black leather jacket, skintight pants and red heels. This is how to choose black leather pants that you can wear and sit down in.
Black Leather Pants: Sandy, Grease and a Stitched-In Finale
The finale that changed a character
In the 1978 film Grease, costume designer Albert Wolsky dressed Olivia Newton-John's Sandy for the graduation-carnival finale in a black leather jacket, skintight pants and red heels. The Boston Globe reports that Sandy's trousers were vintage 1950s sharkskin with a broken zipper, so Wolsky had to stitch Newton-John into them before filming. Jean Paul Gaultier paid homage in spring 2014, closing his show with Coco Rocha as Danny beside a Sandy lookalike. Black leather pants are the shorthand for transformation.
Real or faux
Real leather softens and molds, and faux leather is lighter and easier to care for. A faux pair with a soft, matte finish looks very convincing. Look at the interior of the waistband, the lining and the stitching. A lined pair slides on easily and does not stick to tights or skin.
Cut and rise
A straight leg is the easiest and a slim leg is the sleekest. A flared pair is retro and a wide one is unexpected. A high rise holds you in. Picture her in black leather pants with a white tee and flat boots, a worn jacket over her shoulders, buying a late coffee. Choose a hem that matches your shoes.
Wearing them softly
Balance the shine with matte textures such as wool, cotton and cashmere. A big knit looks good on top. Leather pants look best when the rest is simple. For dinner, add a silky top and a gold earring.
What I would skip
I would skip pairs that are too tight to sit in and any with stiff, plasticky material that creaks. Leather pants should be dramatic to look at and comfortable to wear.
