And my second trouser option...
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.. and from a wide option to a very narrow one. SKINNIES! And not just normal skinnies - oh no, we are embracing our inner rock chick (or at the very least our inner rock chickette which is probably the same thing as chick but the only thing I can think of that is younger than a chick is an egg and that doesn't really work).
Coated. Or leather. Or faux leather. No I haven't lost my mind. These are a LOT more flattering than you would think. And a lot more versatile. They could EVEN be leggings. I KNOW! As someone who isn't the biggest fan of leggings - again no, I haven't lost my mind - when you add a coating to jersey, it changes them completely. It gives them a structure you would be amazed at.
Granted, I'm not going to be sporting simply a tee with them, but with a longer line top - be it jersey or a chunky knit - or channel your inner Uma Thurman with a white masculine shirt and a blazer and you're set to go.
The other joy of a coated or leather skinny is that they are super versatile and probably the only thing I can think of that you can wear to a party and for dog walking (they're wipe down - trust me, they're genius!).
So let's start with the coated... and you won't believe it but my favourite ones I have are about 7 yrs old from... New Look. STLL going strong. Well. Strongish... The ones I have are high waisted (properly hold everything in with not a muffin in sight), stretch in the right places are super flattering and were about £20.
I'm not sure they still have the same ones but these are ones that they have this year that I'm going to be trying.
I LOVE the idea of lift and shape...
Black leather look Lift and Shape Jenna Skinny Jeans £28.99 in four different leg lengths
Which it says they also do in a Tall but the pictures don't match...
AND they also do in a Curve again £28.99
And Petite £28.99
Black leather look Haillie jeans from New Look £28.99 with four different leg lengths. They also have 25% off if you sign up to their newsletter.
Topshop also have a variety of leg lengths in their Jamie Coated Jeans.
Black coated Jamie jeans from Topshop £45.99 currently on offer for £36.79
Proper high rise at River Island. Over all the years of writing about fashion (nearly a decade), people constantly recommend River Island jeans to me.
Black coated high rise skinny jeans from River Island £45
The most popular jean style that is mentioned to me, is the Molly. Which they do in three leg lengths.
Black Molly Mid Rise Coated Jean from River Island £45
River Island Plus Molly coated skinny jeans in black were £40 now £20
Brands that also do high waisted and a variety of lengths are Missguided at ASOS.
Missguided Tall Coated Skinny Jeans from ASOS £28
And in the Petite again from Missguided at ASOS £28
A bargain pair from Vero Moda in the sale.
Vero Moda Coated Skinny Jeans were £35 now £17.50
And then there are the proper leather ones.
The ones I have from hush which they don't seem to have in stock at the moment but I'll check to see if they're getting them this season.
But other options - it's absolutely worth looking at The Outnet. These are an investment for sure. There's no denying it BUT, in my experience, they do last the test of time. I have had mine for 7yrs and they are still going strong.
Black leather leggings from DROMe at The Outnet were £566 now £264
And I would love LOVE to try these from H&M... for H&M they're extraordinarily expensive so I would assume that they're pretty darn good.
Leather Leggings from H&M £199
Then of course there are the leather look leggings. Now, I haven't tried these but I will do, in the interests of research. The reason I love leather is that they also have a spanx like quality - a sucky in feature which I've always found super flattering. BUT that's not to say that leather look leggings can't have the same feature? Ones to try...
ASOS DESIGN leather look leggings £22
They do these for different heights which, when it comes to leggings is super important as you don't want these to be low rise if you're too tall and you don't want to be able to tuck your boobs into your leggings if you're petite.
ASOS Tall Leather look leggings £22
Which they also do in Petite again £22
So some definite food for thought there - for me, I have to say whilst the leather leggings are super comfortable and work with big jumpers and oversized coats - I do actually find the coated jeans a lot more useful. They work for the same outfits that the leggings do but because of the structure that the zip, waistband and pocket features give - you can also wear them with shorter tops - I'm always VERY concerned about wearing something too short over leggings - deffo needs to be bum covering. That's not to say I'd wear a tight top but a tee or blouse half tucked in that has a little volume in it, does work with jeans whereas I struggle to team them any more with leggings. As clear as mud?!
And to that end, it may well be worth trying the actual Spanx ones which I've heard so many good things about...
Spanx faux leather high waist sculpting leggings £89
AND alas I don't have a pic of me in them but fear not - they're on the style file for next week when I get back from Suffolk (and I'm assuming it will be full blown Autumn!).
