A friend of mine urged me to watch a short program of Russian figure skaters Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov. The pair had already performed the program in 2011 Skate Canada. The pair reprised the program in 2011 Trophée Eric Bompard. I had the chance to watch a recording of the latter.

Maxim Trankov wore a pair of trousers made of black, leather-like material. I always enjoy watching a masculine, athletic man in a pair of shiny black pants, so I was pleased that my friend had alerted me. However, it wasn’t until the end of the recording that something really caught my attention: as the last slow-motion clip from the Russians’ program, the director showed a close-up of Tatiana Volosozhar’s face — and Maxim Trankov’s shiny crotch.

More images like this and the popularity of figure skating broadcasts is sure to increase.

In her book Artistic Impressions: Figure Skating, Masculinity, and the Limits of Sport, Mary Louise Adams makes an interesting point about leather-like materials in the costumes of male figure skaters:

Anxieties over men’s costumes are based on some kind of Liberace-stereotype of gay men. They ignore the fact that almost any masculine image can be assimilated by or associated with gay cultures. – - – In the 1990′s, when some skaters tried to mark their masculinity in an aggressive fashion by sporting tight black t-shirts, studded wrist cuffs, and (fake or real) leather trousers, they were simply trading one set of gay signifiers for another. Indeed, when I have presented video clips of men’s skating to gay audiences, some viewers have argued that skating’s leather-clad, tough guys fit more easily into a contemporary gay image than do skaters wearing satin shirts or beaded boleros.

François wears these fantastic leather pants when he’s not in his cardinal robes so I think he just loves them. The boys really like it because it’s every boy’s dream to go around in knight’s gear or fabulous leather pants. They strut around loving it. They might pretend they don’t, but they really do.

Actress Ruta Gedmintas about actor François Arnaud in The Borgias.

Jamie [Campbell Bower] and I learned how to jump off a moving horse for a semi-stunt, which was awesome rehearsing at the stables in track pants. But then getting on set and trying to do that in leather pants was a whole other debacle!

Sadly, I couldn’t integrate much of what I wore on that show into my real life! The leather pants died in that horse stunt. Otherwise I’d be wearing them right now. They were pretty cool.

Actor Peter Mooney regarding his role in the historical-fantasy-drama television series Camelot

 I’ve never put on a pair of leather trousers in my life before that. I didn’t realize how comfortable they were. I always thought leather trousers would be difficult to wear.

Actor Jim Sturgess regarding his costume in a scene in the movie One Day

If there was a man whose skin was like black leather, would a leather fetishist find him attractive in a fetishistic way?

The question sprang into my mind while looking at some photographs of Andrew. From Andrew’s facial features I deduced that Andrew is Caucasian. However, the photographs were shot or post-processed in such a way that his skin looks very black.

For me, the photographs of Andrew do not pass muster: looking at the photographs does not make me want to jerk off. But why is that? I am not sure.

How about you?

How does one open the kind of leather pants that François Arnaud wears in some scenes of The Borgias? Untying and tying that elaborate crotch seems like a time-consuming process. Arnaud must have planned his visits to the toilet carefully while wearing those pants. I wonder if he needed help. Perhaps there is a line about Mr. Arnaud’s crotch assistant in the closing credits.

The Borgias is a fictional television series about a real person, Rodrigo Borgia. He was Pope from 1492 until his death in 1503. Rodrigo Borgia is played by Jeremy Irons. François Arnaud plays Cesare Borgia, one of Rodrigo Borgia’s sons.

If you liked The Tudors, you will probably like The Borgias – they even have the same production company. The central theme in The Borgias is the use of religion as a pretext to gain power and wealth. In that respect, little has changed since the 14th century.

However, I must admit that I quite like the outfit that Jesse McCarthy wore while shopping in Beverly Hills on 23 December 2010. Perhaps it is because his leather pants are black but his leather jacket is brown. It seems that Jesse himself likes the outfit, too, since he has recently worn it on numerous occasions.

Yesterday I stumbled upon something I all too rarely see on the catwalks: an outfit that appealed to my fetishistic inclinations and could actually be worn outside the catwalk by a non-fashionista. In addition, the male model wearing the outfit was not another one of those anorectic, androgynous dolls that usually populate the catwalks but a masculine, attractive man.  Oh, joy.

The outfit belonged to the Hermès fall 2011 menswear collection that was unveiled a couple of days ago in Paris. A couple of other outfits featuring leather pants were quite agreeable, too. On the other hand, the collection included also some horrible creations proving that not all that is leather looks good.

Fall 2011 Menswear Collection

What are the biggest style mistakes guys make on a daily basis?

They can’t step out of their box and express their own personalities. They feel trapped in that prism of skinny jeans, black jacket, gray T-shirt…

I’ve noticed several models in your lookbook images wearing leather pants. Really, is that ever okay?

I think if you’ve got style, you can pull anything off; if you believe in it, you can do it. Who is the judge of good taste? You just have to be enjoying what you’re wearing.

John Scher, the designer of the knitwear line Ca$hmere, in an interview at Gilt.com

I would say, regardless of where you are, playing music is one of the most rewarding and satisfying things you can do. You have to be satisfied with the reward it brings you on a personal level. I think that’s the only bit you can control. Whether or not anyone’s going to care about what you’re doing is beyond your control. You can be smart about opportunities that come to you but it’s first and foremost about being proud of your work and, you know, some leather pants. Tight leather pants. They definitely help.

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World when asked what advice he would give students starting a band

It was amazing pratting about in Belfast wearing leather trousers.

Actor Ben Barnes about the upcoming film “Killing Bono” where he plays music journalist Neil McCormick

The story of the piece comes out in a very literal way. It’s quite cinematic and accessible for the audience. People won’t have a problem understanding it. Plus, I get to wear a really tight pair of leather pants that make my butt look great.

Dancer Brendan Wyatt about Sasha Ivanochko’s choreography “The future memory heartbreak junction: diptych”

The manuscript of Joe Orton’s play Entertaining Mr. Sloane dictates the titular character to wear leather pants. That is why I was delighted to learn that the play will soon be performed at the Finnish National Theatre.

In the Finnish production titled “Herra Sloane“, the titular character will be played by Samuli Niittymäki. He will be accompanied by Sari Puumalainen as Kath, Timo Tuominen as Ed and Jaakko Kytömaa as Kemp.

Kath, a middle-aged landlady, is attracted to Sloane and brings him home as a lodger. Sloane plays Kath along by letting her seduce him. Soon also her brother Ed lusts after the young, handsome man  and employs him as his leather-clad chauffeur:

ED: Can you drive?
SLOANE: Yes.
ED: I might let you be my chauffeur.
SLOANE: Would you?
ED: (Laughs.) We’ll see…  I could get you a uniform.  Boots, pants, a guaranteed 100 percent no imitation jacket… an… er… a white brushed nylon T-shirt… with a little leather cap. (Laughs.) Like that?

In the beginning, Sloane adapts a naive and innocent persona but his real motives are soon exposed and he begins to take advantage:

SLOANE is lying on the settee wearing boots, leather trousers and a white T-shirt. A newspaper covers his face. KATH enters. Looks at the settee.
SLOANE: Where have you been?
KATH: Shopping, dear. Did you want me?
SLOANE: I couldn’t find you.
KATH: (Goes to the window. Takes off her headscarf.) What’s Eddie doing?
SLOANE: A bit of servicing.
KATH: But that’s your job. He shouldn’t do your work.

The only one who is not charmed by Sloane is Kemp, the father of the siblings, who recognizes Sloane as a murderer wanted by the police.

Judging from the photographs of past productions, costumiers have been quite faithful to the playwright’s instructions. I will soon find out whether Antti Einari Halonen and Katri Rentto, the costumiers of the Finnish production, have followed suit: I have booked a ticket to the first preview of “Herra Sloane”.

Edit 12/8/2010: In the Finnish production, Mr. Sloane wears leather breeches. Too bad. I find breeches unattractive.

Tim Page as Sloane in the Masque Theatre’s production in 2000

Benjamin Warren as Sloane in the London Classic Theatre’s production in 2003

Stephen Weston as Sloane in the American Theatre of Actors’ production in 2004

Chris Carmack as Sloane in the Roundabout Theatre Company’s production in 2006

Ben Geurens as Sloane in the Melbourne Theatre company’s production in 2007

Mathew Horne as Sloane in English Touring Theatre’s production in 2008

I know it sounds like Hollywood bullshit, but Chris is a stand-alone. A star. He’s beautiful and sexy. He’s got mystery and darkness. He’s got everything.

Director Tony Scott about actor Chris Pine in the cover story of the November 2010 issue of the Details magazine

So those are my thoughts on my leather trousers which can be condensed to this: I shouldn’t wear them, but I do.

Spaceship Mark in his entertaining blog post “Trouser Questions“