It’s mid-July, and the temperature in most American cities can be described as downright infernal. As long as people wear masks, most of us probably don’t care if flesh is exposed for the sake of the heat. The thought of wearing layers outside seems as unappealing as cocooning oneself in bubble wrap and rolling out the door.
And yet, Kendall Jenner.
Last weekend, the model gave L.A.’s stay-at-home order a big old “nah” and went to show her support for the small local business Nobu. Jenner rolled up to Robert DeNiro’s restaurant on Wednesday looking very Matrix-ish in black pants, a matching cami, beige face mask, and leather blazer. A totally normal and weather-appropriate get-up for a day that peaked at 92 degrees.
She may have gotten the idea to swaddle herself in hide from half-sister Kim Kardashian, whose silence on husband Kanye West’s bizarre campaign announcement is only slightly more concerning than her track record of wearing leather this summer.
While vacationing at her ranch in Cody, Wyoming, Kim posted some photos on Instagram showcasing her impressive collection of chaps (some with fringe). She also donned a backless brown jumpsuit appearing to be made of polyurethane that I imagine is very squeaky to wear and thus impossible to sneak up on anyone in.
It’s a trend Kim seems to have taken to—back at home in L.A., paparazzi found her outside of a convenience store in a stone gray leather romper, just walking around in knee-high stilettos and a tiny croc bag, as one does.
Jennifer Lopez, quarantining in a Miami estate with presumably ample AC, recently posed in a supple brown suede romper with matching platform boots. The outfit came courtesy of Coach, for which J.Lo has a 2020 campaign, which absolutely explains the decision to suit up in the least breathable fabric during summer’s hottest month.
Summer leather might just be another example of wearing your tax bracket: presumably, anyone who chooses to burrow underneath the fabric right now is probably staying indoors, or at least the backseat of a very cool car.
To paraphrase Kim K’s Instagram caption accompanying a photo of her in assless white chaps and a matching bikini, leather is the fabric of choice for those privileged few whose greatest quarantine tragedy is being “all dressed up with nowhere to go.”
And the rest of us? I won’t mind if you go throw on an old leather jacket and stand in front of a freezing aircon unit just to feel something again. But could Kendall, Kim, J.Lo, et. al do their job and influence a trend into existence?
Marie Driscoll, the managing director of luxury and fashion at the retail analytics firm Coresight Research, told The Daily Beast that leather has already been primed the past year to be popular—at least for a certain subset.
“This year we saw double-breasted leather jackets at L’Agence and at Coach a colorful leather collection spanning skirts, leather belted shorts, joggers, and leather trenches,” Driscoll said. “At the high end, Saint Laurent and Balmain showed leather this year too. With COVID impacting apparel needs and fashion whims, leather pieces offer durability with the ability to stylishly span seasons and years.”
Sure, it’s hard to argue that good leather pieces have a lifespan longer than most clothes. Impermanence is the norm, so it makes sense we would want something made to stick around—though I prefer to save mine for cooler days.
