S     A         S             H

F A S H I O N

A LEATHERMANS DRESS GUIDE WHEN COMPETING IN CONTESTS

HELPFUL HINTS FROM THE WICKED WITCH !!!

With the influx of new young men interested in competing in leather
contests, here are a few guidelines that will prepare you.

If you are shopping for leather for the  first time, select your first
items with care. If you  are fortunate to  have someone who  is an
astute leatherperson, have that person go with you.  shop around for
pricing and value for your money. As the old saying goes---YOU GET WHAT
YOU PAY FOR!



WHAT SHOULD I PURCHASE FIRST?

Leather is an expensive investment: 
Invest in a good pair of leather boots, and a leather jacket. The jacket
does not have to be in the hundreds of dollars. If you take good care of
the jacket and condition it and clean it with several of  the leather
cleaners and conditionerson the market, it will last you for years to
come.
With a jacket and boots, you are ready to venture out to your leather
bar.
you have the basics. No need to worry about chaps and pants, levis and a
black T-shirt will suffice. Next could be a leather vest. and then
leather pants
first, and chaps second.



BECOMING A CONTESTANT-----


1.    Remember first of all, the contest is a LEATHER CONTEST. The key
      word being Leather.

2.    Make sure your leather is CLEAN. 

3.    Keep your boots POLISHED.

4.    The Length of pants or chaps, meet the instep  of your boots.

5.    Select a harness, that fits your body. Slender built men should
       never wear  a harness that is over 2 inches in width. Larger men 
       should never wear a harness that is a half to 3/4 inches wide. 
       The reason being, the harness will over power the person wearing it; 
       or, on the other hand a larger person will look underdressed. 
 
6.    The three most popular types of  harnesses are the half harness,
        the chain harness, and the full body harnesss. The chain harness, 

       and the 1/2 harness, resemble a king size X, and are the easiest to slip into. 

       The full body harness on the otherhand can be somewhat complicated getting 

        into, if you unsnap or unbuckle the entire harness. Only unbuckle one side <

       and generally it will slip over your head and you put your arm through the
       
other side.

7.    Chaps are sold based on your thigh size, not your waist size since
      most chaps have expandable lace up leather thong strings in the back.
      When purchasing chaps for the first time, try to make sure they fit as
      tight as possible. Do not let a salesperson put you into a pair that 
      fit like a pair of worn levis.if you do, then within a short amount 
      of time the chaps will begin to look baggy, since leather does stretch,         
      the same can be said for leather pants.
      Leather pants are sold by the waist size. In the case of both chaps and
      pants, they come unfinished at the length, and will be finished when         
      you purchase them. Some stores will hem them via sewing machine, others
      will turn the additional length up and glue them for you. Remember to
      wear a pair of boots when being fitted  for chaps or leather pants, to
      ensure the proper length when they are  altered, do not wear tennis
      shoes!!



FORMAL LEATHER---

Often there is much confusion on the area of  formal leather.
When the catagory calls for FORMAL LEATHER, it does not mean white tie
and tails!!! it means your best dress leather. therefore it is not 
necessary to put on a pleated tuxedo shirt with studs! A leather shirt,
will work just as well, and will look much nicer when you are on stage.
Many clubs and leather organizations will wear tuxedo shirts and tie, at
their installation of officers, anniversary dinners and other similar
"STATE" functions. That falls under the area of Leather dress,  and is
required by many clubs.

Stay away  from COSTUMES! Conan the Barbarian is OUT!!!  Tons of  chrome
is also OUT!! You do not want to look like the front end of a 59 Buick!!
Gain some insight from the old phrase- LESS IS MORE!



SUNGLASSES----

On the subject of sunglasses.  Very poor move  to wear  sunglasses when
on stage, If you must, (to complete your  look) then have the good sense
to take them off after you  have been introduced, The audience and
Especially the judges, want to see your eyes. Mirrored sunglasses are
OUT!!



BIKER CAPS-----

If  you are wearing a biker  cap, and the bill covers half your face or 
your  eyes then take the cap off!! so what if you are  bald? No one
cares!! BALD IS IN, AS ARE SHAVED HEADS!!



BORROWING LEATHER---

If you must borrow a piece of leather from someone
have the good conscious to  return it in a clean manner! this especially
applies  to borrowing a leather jock!!! (the type with the strap up the
backside!
Need I say more? If a leather jock catagory is what you are entering,
then athletic WHITE supporters should be left in your gym bag!!!
For many leathermen, borrowing someones leather is tantamount to high
crimes and  misdeamenors. Leather is expensive, and and  a investment,
and many will not lend their leather to anyone!!

Judges can usually tell if something is borrowed, simply by the way it
fits you.
If you have borrowed a jock, from someone, and the pouch is too large,
don't stuff it with tissue paper!! Your body heat, will cause it to
become soggy, and there  is  nothing worse than to see pieces of white
sticking out from the side of a jock!! The same applies to someone with
a jock that is too small and one testicle keeps popping  out!! The
question most often asked is, "how can you be a leatherman, if you own
no leather"?

When wearing chaps with  a jock, make sure the straps of the jock are
hidden under your chaps not riding high across your butt, like a "V" for
victory sign!!



LEATHER VESTS----

The standard leather bar vest should hang no lower in the back than the
bottom of  your belt loops on your levis. Bar vests are designed to show
off your wonderful  chest. A vest can be worn over your leather jacket,
especially if you are a club member and have a club patch on the back.

ARMBANDS-----

Armbands can be worn on ONE ARM you do not have to have two. The band
does not have to be flashy. However, if you are wearing one, and you
have a T-shirt on,  then roll up or fold up the sleeve at  least 1/2
inch above the band.
for years many men thought you had to have a matching ensemble. Armband,
wristband, and harness, all studded and all the same. Such is not the
case, you do not have to  look like an  advertisement from Sarah
Coventry jewelry!!!



GLOVES----
Unless you are going to an afternoon tea party or the opera, gloves are
a item of choice.  Not however, to be  worn with a jock and harness! 
Gloves can be carried  in the back pocket of your levis, or in the
epaulet of your biker jacket.
long or short sleeve shirts worn indoors,  and without a jacket look
rather silly when gloves are added, since they serve no real purpose.



JACKETS-------
The one item that every person should should invest in. You can make
quite an entrance on a stage wearing a jacket, with or without something
underneath. It is also permissable to take your jacket off and sling it
over your shoulder while you work the runway!!!



LATEX------

Anyone can  wear latex, not everyone should!!! If you decide to make an
entrance on stage wearing a rubberized girdle, then do not accesorize!!
latex speaks for  it self!!! Make sure you have  talcum powder,and latex
polish with you. However keep in mind you are  in a leather contest, and
not  attending a rubber play party! Some judges frown upon that when
scoring!



UNIFORMS----

Uniforms are terrific, and  look good on most everyone, however, a
uniform should be worn during the introduction of contestants, NOT
during formal leather, or  the selection of  the winner!!! If you are
wearing a uniform, make sure you have the entire  uniform,  and that all
badges, stripes, and pins are in their correct places. Some judges have
questioned contestants on the incorrect wearing of uniforms!!



STREET AND  CRUISE WEAR---

Much can be said  about this area. ripped and torn jeans, shredded and
torn T-shirts, are all considered cruise  wear. In some cities, you can
wear those outfits up and down the streets, but more often than not it
is not the greatest idea, especially if you use public transportation.
So just remember, when the catagory says cruise / street wear, think if
it is something that you would wear down the street. Don't try to look
cute and outrageous. Make  sure the word "normal" enters your mind.



JEWELRY-------

Gold chains, lockets, and ID bracelets, went out with leisure suits, the
"A" TEAM and Mr. T!!!!! Leave that stuff at home!! Chains with padlocks
bigger than your grandmother broach, should really be taken off (with 
the permission of your Daddy or Master) for the  duration of the
contest. The exception to that is if one  is entering a "boy" or slave
contest.



MIRRORS----

Every home  should have one (hopefully a full length) Look at yourself 
before you step out into the public, and check yourself in the mirror in
the dressing room, or bathroom at the contest site.



SUMMARY-----

Contests should be fun for you,  but do not  let someone who knows
nothing about leatherwear, tell you that you look good when you look all
wrong!
You  are not in the contest to make a fashion statement, and wind  up
looking ridiculous. Not everyone looks good in EVERYTHING!!!!
LOOK SMART BY DRESSING THE PART



SASHES-------

Everyone who  enters a contest, hopes that they will win the sash. If
you win, don't put the sash on over a T-shirt!!! Sashes are made to be
worn at various occasions--NOT, every occasion. A medallion will do the
trick for those other times that you are out. Have a nice leather band
made to hang your medallion on if you choose. Or you can certainly have
a vest made with your title on it.
This is preferred by most title holders. 
Hopefully this information will assist those that wish to seek fame, and
perhaps some that just need to know.