I am summarizing this two-week series of postings about leather and the leather life with some of my own personal reflections. Tomorrow I will move on to other topics. I hope you have enjoyed the commentary and pieces lifted from my Complete Guide to Leather Gear.

What possessed me to write that Leather Gear Guide and this series? Primarily, I wanted to share knowledge I had gained over the 30 years or so in which I have been enjoying leather. Several email messages related to that Guide and this blog series have said something on the order of, “I wish I had that information when I was getting into leather….”

Those messages, along with some others, have indicated to me that there are fewer younger guys who are getting into leather. And that’s rather obvious by what I have seen in attendance at major leather events such as IML and MAL: we’re mostly all middle-aged and older men. There are few young men filling the ranks when us older guys move on. Go to a leather bar in a major U.S. city these days (except, perhaps, San Francisco) and you seldom see anyone in leather, except for perhaps a leather vest. Not even boots. So many shorts, sneakers, and sandals… sigh. Since bar business has declined, many leather bars have closed. Some have morphed into general gay bars, expanding the clientele into “y’all come”. I understand that they need to do different things to stay in business. I don’t begrudge them for those changes. So I shouldn’t complain about a lack of leather when the attendance is from a broad gay population, many of whom aren’t into leather. That’s fine, I’m not into what they’re into.

I know that as I have aged and have settled into a permanent, monogamous relationship with my partner, I just don’t have the interest in going out any more, even to major leather events. Most of those events are “model and pose” weekends for the once-a-year leather set anyway. Man, you wouldn’t believe how one once-a-year queen raised a ruckus last year during Mid-Atlantic Leather when he was “caught” in public space on a short video clip I took. (It’s sad that so many guys have to live in the closet and aren’t “out” in their leather gear.)

When I was younger, I generally didn’t go out much to leather bars anyway. When I was first getting into leather, we were just learning about AIDS and HIV. It was very scary to think that you might be exposed to a disease that would kill you rather painfully. And at the time, the authorities weren’t really sure what was causing the disease or how it was spread. Studying microbiology at the time, I knew enough about the subject to be appropriately frightened.

Another reason why I didn’t go out that much was/is that I have always been a morning person, and fade quickly when the sun goes down. Even with a “disco nap,” I still can’t manage to stay awake much past 10pm, and that’s “early” for the bars. (Frankly, I have never understood why leathermen don’t go out until 11pm or later.)

The final reason, most relevant today, is that I am not interested in meeting other guys for sex; I get all I want at home, thanks. I don’t need a venue to meet the next trick. My partner isn’t social, and doesn’t want to make friends. I don’t go anywhere without him, so if he doesn’t want to go out, I don’t go. I haven’t really missed much, anyway. No biggie.

HOWEVER, that does not mean that I do not enjoy my leather gear! Heck, I have put a lot of money into buying it, having it custom tailored to fit me, and getting certain changes made to accommodate interests. These changes include pockets on chaps and reflective stripes on breeches for motorcycle riding, and certain other adjustments which I won’t describe, but make the gear more enjoyable for certain activities with my partner.

I wear my leather often in autumn, winter, and spring. I don’t wear it as much in summer, just because it is warm and makes me sweat. It goes without saying, though, that I wear boots all year ’round. I wear my leather when riding my Harley. I wear it when I go out grocery shopping, visiting family and friends, and to meetings. I go to A LOT of meetings in my community, and it is quite common that I may have on a pair of leather jeans, a vest, and boots. That’s my “signature.”

On nights after work or weekends when I am not going anywhere, I may choose to wear one of my uniforms. Just because. I like uniforms, they are comfortable, look good, and may “encourage” some spontaneous encounters with my partner. (smile.)

In summary, leather is great gear: it lasts forever if you take care of it. It is forgiving for those of us whose builds have changed over time. It has a great utilitarian purpose, in providing protection for motorcyclists and against the elements. And it’s just fun!

Life is short: enjoy your boots and leather!

There are several different items made of leather that just don’t work for most guys. Some are frivolous (like doo-dads on duty belts), some are silly (like cell phone holsters), and some never look right on most regular men (like leather shorts). Here is the snippet from my Complete Guide to Leather Gear on leather items that aren’t recommended, and why:

Harness: If you don’t have a chest, don’t waste your money on a harness. You’re just highlighting what you don’t have. If you want a harness, go light on the studs. Buckles look better than studs. Clean designs work best. Make sure the straps are at least 2 inches wide. Thin straps are cheaper — and they certainly look it. The wider the strap, the more masculine the look.

Leather Jocks: Seldom would anyone wear a leather jock in public. And if you’re in private, anything covering your privates will likely come off rather quickly. Generally speaking, you don’t need one and do not have much use for one. Spend your money on other leather gear you will wear more often.

Leather Shorts: I have never seen anyone be able to pull off wearing leather shorts by themselves. (It is possible to wear leather shorts as “underchaps”, but that’s different from wearing shorts alone). Shorts accentuate bad features, look weird with boots (or worse, shoes or sneakers). Only body-builders can seem to pull off wearing leather shorts, and unless you are one, spend your money on other leather gear.

Doo-Dads on Duty Belts: So, okay, you like to wear a uniform. But keep the duty belt simple. Perhaps a pair of handcuffs in a case, a key chain, and a maybe a mag light or mag holder to store your cigarettes or cigars. That’s it. Don’t buy every doo-dad in the Quartermaster Catalog just because they offer it. More than a few “duty gear” items on a duty belt looks goofy.

Gauntlets: Rarely seen any more, gauntlets are thick leather pieces that are worn on your wrists. They can vary in length from 4″ to 8″ or so. Generally, gauntlets can inhibit your ability to bend your wrists thus affecting simple activities like opening a door or unzipping your fly. Unless you are a Renaissance Fair participant, don’t get them. You don’t need them.

Boot Chains: Boot chains are worn like a bracelet around a left or right boot. Don’t get them. They look weird and just are not worn in the leather fetish community.

Cell Phone Holster: DON’T wear a cell phone on your belt! It is not a badge of honor. You’re not that important. If you must carry a cell phone, put it in a pocket and set it to vibrate. By all means, don’t let a cell phone ring tone go off in a leather bar. Men don’t want to hear those noises in a bar (or anywhere else, for that matter.) And if you have an incoming call, go outside if you have to take it. Nothing is more annoying that a guy jabbering on a cell phone in a leather bar.

After Shave or Cologne: Real men don’t wear scents. Leathermen prefer the smell of leather and other men — not smelly stuff from a bottle. Do not wear after-shave or cologne with leather. Before you go out, take a shower with unscented soap, and if you use deodorant, use an unscented variety. Men like how clean men smell — not dirt or grunge, either.

The two things that are most annoying are cell phone holsters and scents. Back in the early ’90s when cell phones were more rare, it was sometimes something that some guys wanted to display, to sorta say “I’m important; I’ve arrived.” Well nowadays, when cell phones are ubiquitous, carrying one on a belt is just plain dumb. And how annoying is it when you hear one of those silly things play some stupid ring tone, like a snip of techno music? Aw, come on, you really aren’t that important. Set it to vibrate and put it away.

Scents are marketed to make one “smell” more virile … again, all marketing hype. Men want to smell a man and his leather, if you’re fortunate enough to get that close. Wash that stuff off, and don’t wear it with leather. You don’t need it, and other guys will appreciate how you and your leather smell.

Tomorrow, I will wrap up this series. Check back!

Uniforms present a striking and commanding appearance on most men. Worn with breeches and tall boots, the motor officer uniform is one that is more often worn by men who enjoy leather fetish interests. It is common to see men in uniforms at leather events like International Mr. Leather and Mid-Atlantic Leather, among many others.

There are some in the community who work hard to ensure every detail is exactly right, from the type and style of boots to the insignia to the color and style of the cloth, striping, and everything else. Others, like me, just like the boots, breeches, and shirt, and don’t go for all the other gear. It’s really a matter of personal preference.

The important thing to keep in mind if you are interested in uniforms is: DON’T IMPERSONATE AN OFFICER. I know that sounds contradictory, because you are dressing like one. But don’t wear a uniform that represents an agency that serves the same jurisdiction where you may want to wear it. Doing so is illegal. It IS legal to wear a uniform, such as from the California Highway Patrol, outside the State of California. But don’t pretend to behave like an officer: it is the actions and behavior that can cause a real cop to perceive you are impersonating an officer, take you in for questioning, and otherwise make life difficult. Don’t play such games; it will get you into trouble. Especially these days after Sept. 11, 2001, when there is such heightened awareness of actions by others that can be perceived as a threat to security.

There is a little information about uniforms in my Complete Guide to Leather Gear, but there is much more detail on my page titled, How to Assemble a CHP Uniform which I posted on my website a couple years ago. This page is visited a lot and answers many questions about uniforms. Rather than repeat it here, click on the link to review the content. It covers all the details.

Cops wear uniforms made of cloth… you just won’t see a leather uniform anywhere on cops in the United States. The only leather you may see on a cop is a leather jacket, but nowadays, most cops wear hi-tech, reflective jackets and vests instead of a black leather jacket.

Some in the leather fetish community enjoy a uniform made completely of leather. Since the CHP uniform is the most commonly worn uniform in the uniform fetish community, some guys see the pictures of hot models in a full leather CHP uniform and order one. My advice: don’t do that. The “silvertan” color of a CHP uniform just looks bad in leather. Plus, light colors accentuate one’s worst physical attributes. Even thin guys look fat; bearish men look awful. And in a dark bar, a CHP leather uniform stands out like a neon sign. IF you want a leather uniform, get one in a dark color. Dark colors are more slimming, or at least don’t make you look larger than you are.

I have a dark full leather uniform, which I put together in 2007 with the help of 665Leather of West Hollywood, California. I truly enjoy my LAPD Leather Uniform for its style, fit, and comfort. I wear the breeches very often while riding my Harley, and the shirt that goes with it from time to time as well. And as I said in previous posts, the only way to go is custom if you want to have a leather uniform. It needs to fit you right, so it will look good, and you will have the commanding appearance you desire.

Life is short! Wear your leather! Enjoy…