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Byrdie / Sabrina Jiang
For those that grew up in the 1990s, no piece of clothing was more aspirational than Buffy’s red leather pants. Both tough yet sexy, they encapsulated her badass vampire-slaying abilities. Though I always dreamed of owning a pair of my own, leather pants seemed larger than life, only fit for special occasions or a fantasy universe.
Today, owning and wearing leather pants has never been easier. There are so many styles, colors, and compositions available across different price points. And, let's face it: adding a little leather can go a long way to revive a wardrobe you may think has grown stale. “You can’t go wrong with a classic jean or trouser, but there is just something so show-stopping about a pair of leather pants,” celebrity stylist Solange Franklin tells Byrdie. “They are the perfect way to elevate any look, no matter what your personal style is.”
We conducted hours of research on the best leather pants (we looked at faux leather pants, too), evaluating them on fit, material, color, and size range, plus overall design aesthetic. After consulting two wardrobe stylists and considering dozens of options, we landed on these 21 best.
Best Overall
AGOLDE 90's High-Rise Recycled Leather Straight-Leg Pants
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Moda Operandi
In 2022, AGOLDE introduced its line of recycled leather designs made using the pieces that would normally be discarded during the production process. This pair has the brand's signature, '90s-inspired silhouette with a pinched high waist and straight legs. You can and should wear them with absolutely everything this fall and winter.
Price at time of publish: $348
Colors: Detox (black), Lace (ivory), Night Shade +more | Fit: High-rise, straight-leg | Material: 50% recycled leather, 30% polyurethane, 10% viscose, 10% polyester | Size Range: 23–34
Best Overall, Runner-Up
Deadwood Phoenix Leather Pant
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Revolve
If you're looking for a reasonably priced find that's still made from leather, Deadwood's timeless Phoenix pants have you covered. They're tailored from recycled lambskin leather and lined in a synthetic material to keep the cost under $400.
Price at time of publish: $330
Colors: Black | Fit: High-rise, straight-leg | Material: 100% recycled leather; lining: 100% recycled polyester | Size Range: DK32–DK44
Best Vegan
Aritzia Wilfred Melina Pant
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Aritzia
The Melina pants from Aritzia's exclusive brand Wilfred once went viral on TikTok—and for good reason. You get a universally fitting straight leg, and you can choose between short, tall, or regular sizing to find your ideal fit. The vegan leather material looks and feels like the real thing, and with so many different shades, you can find pants for any mood or occasion. The price point is relatively low, too, so you can perhaps stock up on a variety of colors, like pastels for spring and summer and earthy greens and browns for fall and winter.
Price at time of publish: $148
Colors: +20 options | Fit: High-rise, straight-leg | Material: 100% polyurethane outer; 100% polyester interior | Size Range: 00–16 with additional short and tall sizing
Best Vegan, Runner-Up
Abercrombie & Fitch Vegan Leather 90s Straight Pants
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Abercrombie & Fitch
These Abercrombie vegan leather pants are available in a variety of lengths, including tall, so you'll never have to worry about your pants being too long or cropped. They're ultra high-rise around the waist and have a classic straight silhouette inspired by '90s pants. The pants are also super soft and come in multiple neutral shades to choose from.
Price at time of publish: $110
Colors: Black, Dark Brown | Fit: Ultra high-rise, straight-leg | Material: 90% polyester, 10% elastane with a 100% polyurethane coating | Size Range: 23–37 in extra short, short, long, and long sizes
Best Straight-Leg
Banana Republic The Straight Leather Pant
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Banana Republic
Banana Republic nails the straight-leg silhouette in supple leather. This pair features a high rise and a cropped hem—the perfect transition pants in fall and spring. Style them with your favorite pair of loafers, a sweater, and a blazer and you'll be good to go.
Price at time of publish: $500
Colors: Black, Bone, Deep Brown | Fit: High-rise, straight-leg | Material: Leather | Size Range: 24–35 with additional tall sizing
Best Carpenter
Staud Domino Pant Vegan Leather
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Moda Operandi
Tap into the Y2K moment with leather cargo pants. It’s all in the details in this design by Staud with contrast stitching at the pockets and side seam. Think of these as your Kim Possible pants, only cooler.
Price at time of publish: $375
Colors: Cherry | Fit: High-rise, wide leg | Material: 100% polyurethane shell; 100% polyester lining | Size Range: 00–16
Best Patent
AGOLDE Recycled Leather 90s Pinch Waist
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Revolve
Patent leather can feel a bit intimidating and costume-y, especially when it's skin-tight like latex, so that’s why we like this version from AGOLDE that features a looser fit for a more laid-back approach. You still get AGOLDE’s signature pinch waist and straight-leg design but with more shine. Who knew recycled leather could look so good?
Price at time of publish: $378
Colors: Black, Shadow, Quail, Chili | Fit: High-rise, straight-leg | Material: 50% recycled leather, 30% polyurethane, 10% viscose, 10% poly | Size Range: 23–34
Best Recycled Leather
AGOLDE Recycled Leather Mid-Rise Relaxed Boot Trousers
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Revolve
For those who prefer real leather, the dream is to find a perfect pair from a vintage store. Yet, that’s easier said than done. To similarly minimize your environmental impact, you can look to this AGOLDE pair that's made from recycled leather. The style comes in the brand’s relaxed boot cut—meaning it’s a slightly flared silhouette with a shorter 28.5-inch inseam. We like the neutral shade in powder for a twist on the usual dark pant.
Price at time of publish: $348
Colors: Detox, Night Shade, Wisp, Powder | Fit: Mid-rise, bootcut | Material: 50% recycled leather, 30% polyurethane, 10% viscose, 10% polyester | Size Range: 23–34
Best Brown
Miaou Junior Pant
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Revolve
If you're in the habit of wearing black bottoms, perhaps it's time to try something new. Wear this chocolatey pair with a simple, black or white tank top for a casual look, or team it with a blouse and blazer for a more work-appropriate appeal.
Price at time of publish: $395
Colors: Brown, Creme, Teal +more | Fit: High-rise, straight-leg | Material: 60% polyurethane, 40% rayon | Size Range: XS–4XL
Best High-Waisted
Vince Leather Seam Front Trouser
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Vince
Vince’s high-waisted straight-leg style is a classic investment piece that will last you a lifetime of day-to-evening wear. Aesthetics aside, the soft leather coupled with the loose fit and high-rise make for pants that are as comfortable as they get.
Price at time of publish: $1,250
Colors: Cedarwood | Fit: High-rise, straight-leg | Material: 100% leather shell; 100% polyester lining | Size Range: 00–16
Best Faux Leather Leggings
Spanx Faux Leather Leggings
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Spanx
Want an easy way to test out the leather trend? Faux leather leggings are a bit more polished than your typical Lulus and can be worn with anything from oversized sweaters to knee-high boots. Stitch Fix stylist Ashley Sanchez says her favorite pick comes from the shapewear brand Spanx and is so good at flattering the figure.
Price at time of publish: $98
Colors: Black | Fit: High-rise, skinny | Material: 87% nylon, 13% elastane body with polyurethane coating (shell); 80% polyester, 20% elastane (lining) | Size Range: XS–3X with additional petite and tall sizing
Best Trouser
Heron Preston Faux Leather Chino Pants
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Saks Fifth Avenue.
Need a good pair of going-out pants? You can’t go wrong with this pair from streetwear brand Heron Preston. It features a slouchy, straight silhouette with a low-slung, trouser-style waistband. Wear it with a humble white tank top and black booties for a sleek edge.
Price at time of publish: $570
Colors: Black | Fit: Low-rise, straight-leg | Material: 63% polyurethane, 21% viscose, 5% polyester, 4% cotton, 2% metallic fibers, 5% other fibers | Size Range: XS–M
Best Wide-Leg
Banana Republic Cruise Leather Wide-Leg Pant
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Banana Republic
The beauty of leather pants is that they often feel less constricting than jeans, and we are sure that’s the case, too, with this wide-leg pair from Banana Republic. Despite their drama, the pleated pants would still look as good with platform sneakers as they would with sleek heeled shoes.
Price at time of publish: $750
Colors: Black | Fit: Ultra high-rise, wide leg | Material: 100% leather | Size Range: 0–20 with additional short and tall sizing
Best Cropped
Deadwood Presley Leather Wide-Leg Pants
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Net-A-Porter
Cropped pants are a great transitional piece that can be worn with boots in the fall and sandals in the spring. Snagging a pair in leather is, well, taking things to the next level. These pants by Deadwood have a wide-leg shape that feels both edgy and elegant. Best of all, they're fairly economical for leather pants, and they're made from recycled leather, so you can feel good about the environmental impact of your purchase, too.
Price at time of publish: $300
Colors: Black | Fit: High-rise, cropped wide leg | Material: 100% recycled leather shell; 100% polyethylene lining | Size Range: DK32–DK42
Best Petite
Reformation Petites Veda Cynthia Leather Pant
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The Reformation
Just like with jeans, finding the ideal pair of cropped leather pants can prove tricky for those who are 5-foot-4 and under. (As you may already know, the regular cropped styles often serve as the key to finding a proportionate pair of full-length pants for petite frames.) Reformation's cropped leather pants in petite sizing offer the best of everything, as they're designed to fit a small frame and feature an inseam short enough to make a cropped hem. Alas, no more bunched-up fabric at your ankles.
Price at time of publish: $298
Colors: Black | Fit: High-rise, straight-leg | Material: Leather | Size Range: 00P–12P
Best Skinny
Veronica Beard Debbie Skinny Leather Pants
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Intermix
Sick of jeggings and skinny jeans? Not as tight as leggings but still slim enough to tuck into boots, leather pants in a skinny fit are a great way to test out the leather trend and step out of your comfort zone while staying true to your style. To complete the look, Franklin recommends throwing on an oversized sweater and boots or going for a roomy white button-up if your style is more preppy.
Price at time of publish: $1,095
Colors: Black | Fit: High-rise, skinny | Material: 100% leather | Size Range: 23–31
Best Plus-Size
Eloquii Classic Fit Slim Faux Leather Pant
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Eloquii
With a high waist, contour waistband, and no stretch faux leather, these pants from Eloquii will look fantastic from your morning to coffee to after-work drinks. Deep green is an elegant alternative to black while creamy cashmere is a great neutral that can go with both dark and light pieces. Pair these ankle-length pants with ankle boots or heels.
Price at time of publish: $100
Colors: Black, Pure Cashmere | Fit: High-rise, tapered leg | Material: 100% viscose | Size Range: 16–28
Best Jogger
Blank NYC Faux Leather Jogger
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Blanknyc
What’s better than wearing sweatpants? Wearing leather joggers that are just as comfy but look way more elevated. This pair from Blank NYC is extra comfortable with a drawstring waistband and stretchy faux leather material. The drawstring cuffs allow you to show off your favorite heels, ankle boots, or sneakers. Pair these pants with a bodysuit and blazer for a more elevated occasion.
Price at time of publish: $98
Colors: Black | Fit: High-rise, drawstring waist | Material: 50% polyurethane, 50% polyester | Size Range: 24–31
Best On Amazon
Balleay Art Faux Leather Pants
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Amazon
For affordable (faux) leather pants, you can’t go wrong with this pair from Balleay Art. Unlike some leather pants, these come with real pockets and belt loops, so you can throw on a chain belt and keep your keys handy. The straight leg makes them easy to pair with different types of shoes from boots to sneakers, and the faux fabric is wrinkle-resistant and durable. Some reviewers note there is a smell to them at first, but that it goes away after your first wear. Additionally, there seem to be some irregularities in size, with some reviewers saying the pants run small and others saying they run large.
Price at time of publish: $53
Colors: Black | Fit: Mid-rise, straight-leg | Material: 55% polyester, 45% polyurethane | Size Range: S–XXL
Best Maternity
Spanx Mama Faux Leather Leggings
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spanx
It’s easy to live in leggings 24/7 when you are pregnant. With these leather leggings from Spanx, you can stay just as comfortable while stepping up your style. The best part? Spanx’s Mama Magic waistband supports and grows with you, so you can wear these leggings before, during, and after your pregnancy. Yeah, you won’t want to take them off.
Price at time of publish: $110
Colors: Black | Fit: High-rise, legging | Material: 87% nylon, 13% elastane with a polyurethane coating (body); 89% nylon, 11% elastane (tummy) | Size Range: XS–3X
Best Faux Leather Straight-Leg
Good American Better Than Leather Good Icon
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Good American
Good American knows how to make your booty look good. This pair will do that with its high-rise and wide-spaced back pockets. The pants are fitted through the hips and then open up to a straight leg—perfect for heels or ankle booties. Feel free to top it all off with a looser-fitting top.
Price at time of publish: $175
Colors: Black, Burnt Caramel, Bone | Fit: High-rise, straight-leg | Material: 100% polyurethane | Size Range: 0–26
Final Verdict
The Recycled Leather Fitted '90s Pants have AGOLDE's signature, '90s-inspired silhouette with a pinched high waist and straight legs. They're leather, but you can feel good about their environmental impact because they're made from recycled material. You can and should wear them with absolutely everything this fall and winter. Deadwood's Phoenix pants have a similar value proposition, which is why they share the top spot. Meanwhile, vegan shoppers are sure to love Wilfred's Melina pants, which comes in so many different shades and will cost a fraction of the price of a real leather pair of pants.
Meet the Expert
- Solange Franklin is a stylist who's worked with celebrities including Tracee Ellis Ross, Serena Williams, and Solange Knowles, and clients like Marshalls, Glossier, Elle UK, and Saks Fifth Avenue.
- Ashley Sanchez is a stylist at Stitch Fix, an online personal styling service. She also has over six years of retail experience at Nordstrom.
What to Look for in Leather Pants
Fit
Just like with jeans, leather pants come in all kinds of shapes like bootcut, skinny, wide-leg, and joggers. If you're shopping for your first pair, think about what pant silhouettes you feel comfortable in and try to find a leather version you'll love.
“If leather pants are outside of your fashion comfort zone, I recommend sticking to your favorite fits,” says Sanchez. “Whether you’re loyal to your skinnies or have made the switch to straight-leg silhouettes, there’s an option on the market for you.”
Color
Black is the go-to shade when it comes to leather pants. Not only does it pretty much go with everything, but it automatically adds a bit of elegance and edge to your outfit. Still, you can find plenty of leather pants in softer brown and neutral tones that can seem a bit softer. Conversely, go for a pair of colorful leather if you're going for a show-stopping look. You can go with a more lighthearted, playful shade like yellow or lilac or sultry red à la Buffy The Vampire for a racy look.
Material
Even if you are committed to avoiding animal products, you can still tap into the trend as many brands are making faux leather versions. Besides being cruelty-free, faux leather is generally more affordable than real leather styles and can be easier to care for. Case in point: Both our vegan leather favorites, Wilfred's Melina pants and Abercrombie & Fitch's Vegan Leather 90s Straight Pants, are under $200.
On the other hand, because real leather can last decades, you can often find real leather pants at thrift and vintage stores as another sustainable option that supports the environment.
Why Trust Byrdie
Emily Cieslak is a fashion contributor for Byrdie and has covered fashion for other publications like Real Simple and The Knot. Working as a stylist has given her an eye for dressing different body types and aesthetics; she personally loves her leather pants from Zara. For this roundup, she interviewed two stylists for their recommendations and advice and spent hours of online research to determine the best options across each category.
According to our Diversity Pledge, 15% of products in our newly-published market roundups will feature Black-owned and/or Black-founded brands. At the time of publishing, we were not able to find enough leather pants from Black-owned and/or Black-founded businesses to meet this percentage. If you know of one we should consider, please email us at contact@byrdie.com, and we will evaluate the product ASAP.
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