One of fashion’s mysteries is why leather seems fine above the belt and below the ankles but crosses some threshold of taste when covering, or partially covering, the legs. Leather trousers outside the realm of motorcycling can make a man or woman look like they are trying too hard to be sexy, associated as they often are with mid-life crises and propping up bars in Essex villages. Cut away the legs and you’re left with leather shorts, epitomised by Bavarian slap-dancing and Alan Partridge’s fantasy lap-dancing. Is there any way to rehabilitate these garments from such imagery? Of course there is!

As with any clothing, how you wear it is key to its success or failure. Nobody bats an eyelid when a man wears jeans, do they? But worn them with a shirt, tie and suit jacket and suddenly he’s trying to cover all bases and you’re doomed to failure. “Take me seriously when I’m behind the desk, but as soon as I stand up, I’m just one of the guys.” It doesn’t wash.

And that is where the successful wearing of leather shorts should take its cues from. With leather shorts, it’s all down to the how, the why and the where, not the what. First and foremost, they are fun. They are clothes to be worn when you’re out and about, dancing, shopping and chilling. There are only a handful of semi-formal occasions where it’s even conceivable that they could be worn, and you’ll have to have made sure first to avoid a faux pas. Second, it must be remembered that they do not physically change your age or the manifestation of your age. In fact, they will probably confirm your age to the nearest month, so unless you’re happy with the skin you’re in, don’t think of them as a miracle ageing concealer. They’re not.

Now for the good news. Leather shorts seem to go with almost anything up top. A blouse, a tee shirt, a jacket, a vest or even a spot of knitwear will work in the appropriate setting. With subtlety, you can show off your shorts (and of course your legs) without necessarily drawing attention to them. Think of your shorts as a skirt that has the advantage of having a crotch, and you’ll be on the right tracks. And at pavement level you’ve got the same number of options: boots, heavy or light shoes or even flip-flops will complete whatever look you’re going for.

You might have misgivings about leather shorts, and that’s sort of understandable. Many of us don’t feel comfortable in leather or shorts so in combination it can seem like a complete no-no. But when you see how they can be worn, the overall look can be surprisingly inconspicuous. In fact, you probably see several pairs per day without even noticing. For an extra twist of individuality, why not check out a vintage clothing store? It’s where some of fashion history’s most interesting styles are sure to be found, and remember, they are available in a rainbow of colours – not just black.

Sally is somewhat of a specialist in vintage fashion. Her likes even stretch to leather shorts which can easily be found in vintage clothing stores today and in the right situation can look stunning.

Sally is somewhat of a specialist in vintage fashion. Her likes even stretch to leather shorts which can easily be found in >vintage clothing stores like http://www.rokit.co.uk/ today and in the right situation can look stunning.

Author Bio: Sally is somewhat of a specialist in vintage fashion. Her likes even stretch to leather shorts which can easily be found in vintage clothing stores today and in the right situation can look stunning.

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