Let's go hell for leather!

Hey you guys, sorry for the week-plus absence. Christmas deadlines are fast upon us! Thanks for all the great comments on our return and the response to the new posts. It's really cool to get comments, good or bad (we prefer the good, obvie) and the general discussion. You all rule.

And a happy Thanksgiving to all our US readers! As a Thanksgiving treat, enjoy these Gok Wan videos. (Don't worry, we haven't become a schill for Gok or indeed any other product, brand or entity. TFFF remains independent, yo!) With apologies for the lameness of visuals this week, I'm having internet/laptop difficulties, without further ado, this week's post!

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Today we're going to look at... leather trousers. That's right: yer proper grrr, rock chick, pure raw sex appeal leather trews. I know, the last time we saw these babies was on Ross Gellar, but they're everywhere this winter and frankly, I see nothing about this trend that should stop plus-sizes from rocking the hell out of it too.

The inspiration

L-R: Givenchy, Christopher Kane, Alexander McQueen, all autumn/winter 2008

For trouser options... those at the smaller end of the scale, i.e. UK 14, could try Marks & Spencer's version, £129. Spiegel.com has a pair on sale for $54.99.

But what we'd really recommend - and yes, we know this'll sound weird - is specialist leather sites fround through Google. There are about a bajillion leather sites, ranging from goth to Eighties to motorcycle to chaps to fetish to lingerie, which do leather trousers, and they tend to have a much better range of sizes than name-brands because they're niche, so they don't have the customer base to support being elitist and size-snobby. We say, google plus-size leather trousers/pants, maybe throw in your nearest town/city name to perhaps find a store or company near you to save on shipping, and narrow it down from there depending on whether you like an Eighties, biker, goth, fetish, country, or plain-old leather jean look.

I know that sounds like the lamest fashion advice ever - Google it! - but this is one of the few trends that I think is better served by tiny, random brands which have been doing leather trews for years, plus you're way more likely to find plus-sizing. (Having spent the last couple hours Googling to make sure I'm not talking nonsense, I know whereof I speak.)

Here's how TFFF would style it.


Almost Lipstick in Black Honey, £12, Clinique
Gold metal necklace, £10, Asos
Patent platform peep-toes, £54.99 Red Or Dead
Tunic, $34, Torrid
Volumising Mousse, £4.99, James Brown London

The trick is to go sleek with the pant, voluminous with the top, high with the heels, big with the hair, and lots with the gold necklaces - try buying a ton of cheap individual gold-look necklaces from somewhere cheap such as H&M, Asos or Claire's and layering them up. Finish with a smoky eye and pale lip, or nude eye and a red lip. TFFF likes Lipstick in Ruby Woo, by MAC.

Shrinking violets need not apply!