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Original poster

£1000 leather trousers

115 replies

OlennasWimple · 13/12/2016 02:08

I couldn't see a thread already, so apologies if this is a duplicate, but can we talk about the PM's leather trousers?

Firstly, how do you actually wear leather trousers without getting sweaty and sticky? (Or is that something that only happens with not real leather?)

Secondly, I can understand that they get softer and more comfortable as they are worn in, like jeans, but surely unless you wear them everyday by the time they are properly broken in they are a bit dated?

Thirdly, it is a lot of money on a pair of trews, isn't it?

OP posts:

hoddtastic · 14/12/2016 00:42

My favourite ever bottoms were leather jeans- black ones. Wore them with a bikini top and trainers. Size 8.

I would love to be able to wear them again but doubt they'd fit on a 25 year older (and a few stone heavier) body!

libertydoddle · 14/12/2016 10:16

This thread has got me thinking…
My first reaction was very much ‘here we go again, no one talks about men in this way’. However, the fact is that if DC had ever been photographed wearing £1000 gold leather trousers I think it would have created some comment .
Women in public life get scrutinised because women haven’t got an ‘agreed’ professional look the way men have. Men wear dark suits, light coloured shirts, polished dark shoes and occasionally show a small flash of personality via choice of tie or cufflinks. Suits have the effect of making almost every man look good by the standards we apply for men i.e. shoulders look wider, a solid colour top to toe makes you look taller and some good tailoring hides a less than toned tum. I think any man in public or professional life who deviated from that look would be talked about and judged.
Women like Angela Merkel and Hillary Clinton have made a deliberate decision to do their version of a professional uniform sticking to a non-controversial formula. The result is that people know what to expect when they see them – they don’t even change hairstyle. And no one questions how much their clothes cost.
Part of the reason for the ‘uniform’ approach for both men and women is that for very busy people it saves a lot of time. Experimenting with your look takes time and headspace and I think behind the criticism of TM is a sub conscious questioning about how she has the time to give to fashion when she’s in such a demanding role.
On the £££ front Nicky Morgan was playing to her audience – for a lot of people spending £1k on a pair of trousers is inconceivable. The reality is that envy and resentment are natural human emotions. I think it is important that a leader, especially at a time when so many people rightly or wrongly are feeling left out and left behind, is mindful of the potential impact of their behaviour and that includes the impact of their appearance. I work in as an interim consultant in the public sector – if I am undertaking consultations with staff at risk of redundancy I don’t flash my salary in their faces by turning up wearing obvious labels or with a very expensive handbag – it would be insensitive. TM should think about how her appearance contributes to her impact as a leader. Toning down on the public appearances in gold leather trousers for a couple of years is a fairly minor sacrifice in the big scheme of things.

Floisme · 14/12/2016 11:02

As I've already said, one of the few things I like about Theresa May is her enthusiasm for clothes and her willingness to take risks and yes (in my opinion) get the look wrong sometimes. I very much hope she doesn't get browbeaten into going down the anonymous trousers and jacket route. It may suit Angela Merkel but it's clearly not who Theresa May is.
I also think the Prime Minister should try and make more ethical clothing choices and avoid wearing stuff that has almost certainly come from a sweat shop. Clothes like that cost money - sometimes a lot of money, more than most of us can afford. She can afford it. She's in a position to promote British designers and if she's doing that then I applaud her even if I don't have the funds myself to copy her.

polyhymnia · 14/12/2016 11:03

Whoops, sorry, you're quite right Floisme they're Amanda Wakeky!

Floisme · 14/12/2016 11:17

It was another poster who said Amanda Wakeley, Poly. To be honest, I'd have preferred Margaret Howell who I think is fab even though I can't afford her and doubt that I ever will!

libertydoddle · 14/12/2016 11:41

Floisme I think she could adopt a 'uniform' without going down the 'pant suit' route. She looks good in fitted, above knee dresses and long jackets for example. She could build a wardrobe around that while reflecting her own personality with bags/shoes/necklace for example and look professional and appropriate. I think she gets it wrong a lot and often looks a bit disheveled.

The point I am trying to make is that the 'rules' are different for leaders. I think for the period while she is PM she has to take more care about the messages that her appearance gives both on and off duty. And the leather trousers were a big mistake - both in terms of fashion and politically.

I should add, I really don't like her politics at all - the best I can give her is that she's not Andrea Leadsom. But since she is what we have I'd like her to act like a leader and demonstrate that she has some awareness of how the public feel and as though she understands the importance of things like appearance as a tool for ensuring you are respected and heard.

Bobochic · 14/12/2016 12:33

She'd be better off spending her pocket money at the orthodontist.

babybarrister · 14/12/2016 13:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Newbrummie · 14/12/2016 13:31

You can buy a lovely pair of fashionable trousers for £9.99 in new look. It's not about fashion it's the lack of empathy and understanding - we're all in this together - oh except me I'm not my trews cost more than your car/6 weeks rent/etc

Fuzzypeggy · 14/12/2016 13:34

So what should she do with her salary and other money if she's not allowed to spend it then newbrummie? Give it all to charity?

Newbrummie · 14/12/2016 13:35

I think she should be fairly low key during her time in office tbh. It's not forever

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 14/12/2016 13:40

On the £££ front Nicky Morgan was playing to her audience

However as it has now come out about the price of Nicky Morgan handbag, maybe it was a bit of an own goal

libertydoddle · 14/12/2016 13:41

Can you be a non fashion professional and have an interest in fashion and how you look? Emphatically Yes.

Can you be PM and dress purely for your own pleasure without any consideration for how the people you represent or how the people you meet might view your choices? I think no.

Lots of jobs require that people dress themselves in ways that might not fully reflect their personalities or preferences. PM is one of those jobs.

Floisme · 14/12/2016 13:41

But Newbrummy why do those New Look trousers only cost £9.99? Who made them and where? Lots of people have no choice but to buy cheap clothes from sweatshops. She's not one of them.

libertydoddle · 14/12/2016 13:42

But the bag was a gift . She obviously isn't on S&B otherwise she's have asked for a bench instead.

Newbrummie · 14/12/2016 13:44

We are both taking it to the extremes. If she gave a shit about sweat shops she wouldn't allow the imports into the uk at all, the whole thing could be ground to a hault over night so please do not try and tell me that's the point being made here. No doubt the £1000 leather trousers were made by a 12 year old somewhere in the world for £5 per hour too.

Newbrummie · 14/12/2016 13:45

libertydoddle - again why can she accept that bag as a gift when a GP can't take a sandwich and a can of coke from a Pharma company without it being a dodgy bribe and the world up in arms. One rule for them

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 14/12/2016 13:45

But the bag was a gift grin. She obviously isn't on S&B otherwise she's have asked for a bench instead.

Nicky Morgan was doing nothing more than point scoring tbh. Never saw her mention the price of DC suits...

Floisme · 14/12/2016 13:55

My point is that she can and should make more ethical personal choices than the rest of us. I don't know where her trousers were made but absolutely nothing ethical about buying from New Look or one of Philip greens stores when you can afford not to.

Original poster

OlennasWimple · 14/12/2016 13:58

libertydoddle - I think you're spot on about the "uniform" that men have, an the lack of an equivalent for women. I hope that the Clinton Pant Suit never fills that hole - one of the things that I love about being a professional woman is that I have so much more latitude to wear what I want than my male colleagues enjoy.

babybarrister - I find it similarly frustrating that we seem to have to choose between "serious professional" and "has an interest in fashion". It really is possible to do both at once!

bobochic - that's just a bitchy comment

The trousers are Amanda Wakeley but lined with polyester (and have sold out)

OP posts:

Floisme · 14/12/2016 18:40

One more thing and then I'm done (at least for today). I'm with barrister and Olenna - this notion that a woman in a serious job shouldn't be interested in clothes pisses me off mightily. I'm pretty low down the food chain myself but there are many regular posters on here who have highly responsible jobs.

If a male politician is into football (and we know how much a premier league season ticket costs, don't we?) it's taken as evidence that he has a 'hinterland'. David Cameron was said to have... let's say overstated his support of Aston Villa for that very reason. And yet a female politician can't think about her job and clothes at the same time? Do me a favour.

It's lazy, tired thinking and deeply sexist. I hope Theresa May continues to take fashion risks and kicks the pant-suited arse of any finger waggers. Goodnight to you all.

SooBee61 · 14/12/2016 19:50

I just look at those trousers and think 'Thrush' and 'Cystitis' !

ForeverEyesOfBlue · 14/12/2016 20:06

I feel a bit sorry for TM, she won't be able to wear those trousers ever again without being reminded of all this fuss. If I was her I would have rocked up to PMQs today in my leather trousers and a Christmas jumper!

libertydoddle · 14/12/2016 21:36

Well that's everyone who disagrees with you told Floisme!

Floisme · 14/12/2016 22:40

Ahem

I was admittedly in a bad mood when I wrote that. Feeling obliged to defend this woman is making me very grumpy.

The other thing I was going to say Liberty is that if she had worn those trousers at a summit meeting, I might have agreed with your point. But as I understand it, the interview was showing her at home and 'off duty'. If she'd been wearing Top Shop Baxters and helping to line Philip Green's pockets, no-one would have turned a hair.

Right I'm going back to bed now.

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