This latest article on the Bustle website, a recent Beyoncé onstage wardrobe malfunction and how they do seem to be one of the sexiest accessories any man or woman could wear, gives rise to the below rumination about chaps…latex or not.
Although one could argue that there’s a bit of a redundancy in the above Bustle article title: The Definitive History Of Assless Chaps, From Cowboys To Cowboy Carter; chaps being by their very design…assless, it seems chaps were invented in the 1800s. As piece of riding gear meant to be worn over pants to protect a horse rider’s legs, there is disagreement if chaps are of a Mexican origin (“chaps” taken from the word“ chaparreras”), still from their humble functional beginnings, the accessory has been coopted by the fashion world.
Be they latex chaps or not.
According to the above article and general sartorial agreement it was when Thierry Mugler had model Connie Fleming wear a fiery red sparkly bodysuit with matching chaps in his Spring/Summer Paris show in 1990 show, that sparked the modern-day use of the accessory. (And speaking of Thierry Mugler, just this weekend, Miley Cyrus took to a stage at Brooklyn New York club wearing a black latex Thierry Mugler ensemble.)
Christina Aguilera then wore motocross-influenced black leather chaps in her “Dirty” music video as well as modeled a yellow pair a year after. Victoria’s Secret had two angels wear chaps and lingerie in one of their infamous fashion shows. Rihanna sported chaps on her 2016 “Anti World Tour,” Megan Thee Stallion has jumped aboard, and surely Beyoncé is wearing chaps (even when they slip down) on her current tour.
Of course, we champion latex chaps as the perfect accessory for western couture dressing or as a great match to any kind of latex lingerie accessory. Surely, ’assless,’ always useful (no matter the ride) and available in all kinds of style and textile, it’s not just Beyoncé who can slip a pair on…or off.
