Pleather

From CaseyPedia

A pleather jacket at its traditional "breaking in" ceremony, which involves pouring wheatgrass shots into the pockets

Pleather (pronounced like Leather with a P) is a term used to describe a type of plastic-based synthetic leather. Pleather, a major component of which is polyurethane, is often used in clothing as a cheaper alternative to genuine leather. The term has therefore developed negative connotations, implying that people who wear pleather are tightwads.

Nigel Swaby's wardrobe is believed to include a varied collection of pleather jackets, pleather boots, pleather hats, and somewhat disturbingly -- pleather bondage outfits.

[edit] History of pleather as fashion statement

Pleather had its heyday in the late 60s and early 70s when the gorillas from Planet Of The Apes ran roughshod over the human population in their spiffy black vests and cod pieces. After the last Apes film and the ensuing television series, pleather disappeared as a hip look for the younger set. Then, in the late 1980s, English pop band Right Said Fred brought pleather back to the forefront of fashion. Many a gay go-go dancer sported this look and made it fashionable again.

Too Sexy for his Pleather?

Now that Swaby is an award winning blogger with 2759 fans, he is apparently attempting to bring the look back and make it mainstream. Lacking the essential charm of either the gorillas or a flash in the pan British pop band with bad teeth, many are skeptical that Nigel can repopularize this fashion oeuvre, but he appears determined to try.

Is anyone else wearing it today?

It does still appear to be favored by washed-up alcoholic ex-celebs, who enjoy rolling on their hotel room floors in a drunken stupor making a gross pudding out of take-out hamburgers. It is presumed the durability/washability/cost aspects all come into play here.^[1]