History Main / HellbentForLeather

** This was {{lampshaded}} rather hysterically by Arizona {{filk}}er Nancy Freeman, in the song called (what else?) [[http://nansongs.com/lyric/LeatherPants.html "Leather Pants of Evil"]]. They're from an evil cow.

This is also a common trapping of historical epics and fantasy, as clothing made from leather is percieved as being more old-fashined and primitive. All kinds of leathery gear is also presented as armor, since it looks cool, can be put together pretty easily by the costume department, may be less uncomfortable for actors to wear than the alternatives, and is well-accepted by audiences thanks to decades of TheCoconutEffect. There are real examples of leather clothing and armor in certain times and places throughout history, but HollywoodCostuming is par for the course. The popularity of leather clothing and armor in a historical setting is often hugely exaggerated; designs may be anachronistic or completely fictitious; and modern forms of tanning and coloring may show up. Furthermore, items made from soft or flimsy pieces of leather are treated as armor when they'd do nothing to resist blades or arrows in real life. Actual leather armor was often thick, of significant weight, and hardened by special treatments. Not exactly your casual leather jacket.

* The second incarnation of ''Series/{{Blackadder}}'' spends most of his series in head-to-toe black leather. There's a reason this version of the character is considered the [[EvilIsSexy sexiest]] of the dynasty. According to WordOfGod, the entire female cast went "pwhoar" the first time Rowan Atkinson showed up on set in costume, including the very lesbian Creator/MiriamMargolyes.

* The ClassyCatBurglar Alex on ''Series/WhiteCollar'' is known to wear a black leather jacket and leather pants pretty often. [[FridgeLogic Probably too tight for a good thief to conceal anything]], [[{{Fanservice}} but we're not complaining]].

* Diana Rigg as the archetypal Mrs. Emma Peel in her first season of ''Series/TheAvengers1960s''.
** Honor Blackman before her.

** ''Especially'' Avon.

* Han Solo has apparently picked up on this trope for ''Franchise/StarWars: Film/TheForceAwakens'', as he's shown wearing a brown leather jacket in place of his iconic black vest from the original trilogy.

* ''Film/AustinPowers'': Creator/MimiRogers in skintight black leather. Sweet Jesus...
** And her daughter (Elizabeth Hurley), since Mrs. Kensington is a LegacyCharacter.

** [[DoubleSubversion Doubly subverted]]. If you read most rulebooks (or at least D&D 3.5 and 5e and Pathfinder), leather armor is canonically cuir bouilli. But ultimately played straight, because most people probably didn't bother reading that and just assume leather and studded leather are just biker jackets with or without spikes.

[[caption-width-right:275:The {{Trope Namer}}s, [[WaxingLyrical black as night, faster than a shadow]].]]

[[caption-width-right:275:The TropeNamer, [[WaxingLyrical black as night, faster than a shadow]].]]

* The alternate title of the 1968 British-French film ''The Girl on a Motorcycle'' is ''Naked Under Leather''.

This is also a common trapping of historical epics and fantasy, as clothing made from leather is percieved as being more old-fashined and primitive. All kinds of leathery gear is also presented as armor, since it looks cool, can be put together pretty easily by the costume department, may be less uncomfortable for actors to wear than the alternatives, and is well-accepted by audiences thanks to decades of TheCoconutEffect. There are real examples of leather clothing and armor in certain times and places throughout history, but HollywoodCostuming is par for the course. The popularity of leather clothing and armor in a historical setting is often hugely exaggerated; designs may be anachronistic or completely fictitious; and modern forms of tanning and coloring may show up. Furthermore, items made from soft or flimsy pieces of leather are treated as armor when they'd do nothing to resist blades or arrows in real life. Actual leather armor was often thick, of significant weight, and hardened by special processes. Not exactly your casual leather jacket.

* Pizzazz from ''ComicBook/JemAndTheHolograms'' hates many things. Four of the few things she "loves" are her cat, curly fries, music, and leather. While not exactly a "badass", Pizzazz is the lead singer in a metal band and is the rival of Jem. She has a HairTriggerTemper as well.

* Fonzie from ''Series/HappyDays'' is almost never seen without his trademark leather jacket. It's so iconic, it now hangs in the Smithsonian.

* ''{{VideoGame/Yakuza}}'': Goro Majima's standard outfit throughout the series consists of black, steel-toed leather shoes, black leather pants, black leather gloves and a snakeskin jacket.

* The most rebellious ComicBook/{{Superboy|1994}}, Kon-El, wears a leather jacket, leather belts, and LennonSpecs with his spandex in his first and second outfits. Kon-El is back to his more traditional personality and back in leather, now with more metal studs, as of ''ComicBook/YoungJustice2019''.

* ''Manga/DeadlineSummonner'' has Mamoru's Werewolf, who dons a leather jacket and [[{{Stripperific}} not much else]].

** Both Black Widow and Gamora are fond of leather gear.

* A surprising amount of characters in ''Manga/{{Gunnm}}'' (''Battle Angel Alita''), starting from the [[BrokenAce heroine herself]] and [[TheAce Zekka]], even though they technically don't really need clothing ''at all'', most of them being {{Hollywood Cyborg}}s. They usually wear it for its sheer badass appeal--there's the definite correlation between the amount of leather and general badassitude of the character in the series.

* Stormfront on ''Series/TheBoys2019'' wears a [[SpyCatsuit form-fitting black leather suit]] with [[BlackAndRedAndEvilAllOver red trim]]. Given that she's a virulent racist [[spoiler:and old-school Nazi (meaning that she's also PuttingOnTheReich)]] who murders people of color just for kicks, definitely a villainous example [[VillainWithGoodPublicity despite her public image]].