Designer leggings.  Is that an oxymoron?!

James Lillis of Black Milk would say no.  Based in Australia, this designer — who had no formal training –  was first inspired by the fashion atrocities he saw committed on the street!  Australia is awash with leggings: every girl owns several pairs, & many of them prefer leggings over pants.  Now, there’s nothing wrong with that — we are all entitled to our preferred aesthetic.  But what really upset James was the poor quality of the leggings he saw girls wearing.  If you use cheap cotton to make leggings, the sad outcome will eventually include saggy knees & bottoms, which don’t flatter anyone.

He decided that he couldn’t take it any more!  Why couldn’t anyone make good quality leggings?!  Maybe he was the right man for the job.  After many, many hours at a sewing machine, breaking needles & making messes, he created his Black Wetlook leggings & hasn’t looked back since.

He may have started out with leggings, but Black Milk has since expanded & grown into a simple but sexy line.  Using easy fabrics, Black Milk is an ideal place to stock up on glamorous, interesting basics.  From ruched, zippered miniskirts to hooded capes & screen printed bodysuits, Black Milk’s pieces are perfect for fans of that luxe, minimalist look.  If you love Rick Owens & Helmut Lang, & would prefer to wear black more than anything else, Black Milk is like the holy grail.

These bodysuits are Black Milk’s newest addition, & they’re wonderful.  Tucked into a high-waisted skirt, worn with skinny jeans or used as the foundation of a multi-layered outfit, they’re just perfect.  Another fantastic thing?  His designs won’t break the bank.  With most of his pieces sitting around the $70 mark, you can easily stock your wardrobe with a veritable treasure trove of Black Milk goodies.

As if that’s not enough, a fantastic community has sprung up around his designs, too.  The Black Milk blog is a great source of inspiration for those of us who would rather cover our gams, featuring pictures of his customers & lots of his ideas, seemingly unfiltered.  So if you’re new to Black Milk & not quite sure how to wear your new Alice in Wonderland leggings or sleeveless hooded cape, the answer could be just a click away.

Words by Gala Darling with photos courtesy of Black Milk