Are leather pants at the gym ever a good idea?

When it comes to working out at the gym, I usually have a “whatever makes you happy” stance. There are already enough things to be uncomfortable about while you’re there, from gym bros commenting on your shape to those taking an uneasy interest in what you’re wearing. But Lenny Kravitz makes me rethink my mentality.

The singer, songwriter and musician recently posted a video on Equinox wearing a rather unconventional choice of workout attire: leather pants and a mesh top. I mean the ensemble is peak Kravitz. The singer-songwriter can often be found in subtle prints, sheer shirts and tight, flared pants. That’s his style – and we love him for it.

But as someone who edits health and fitness content for a living, I couldn’t help but question the functionality (and comfort) of the clothing choices. For starters, his feet must be covered in sweat, right? And while it’s breathable, this mesh upper can’t absorb any moisture, making it a nasty city.

Could I be wrong though? Maybe leather is secretly a great workout wear material and I’m the one missing out. To help answer my burning questions, I selected two sneakers to evaluate Kravitz’s select set of athletic shoes.

“My initial reaction was, ‘Holy sweat,'” says Macy Pruett, an AFPA-certified prenatal and postpartum fitness specialist and certified personal trainer. “I can’t imagine how sweaty it would make you work in leather. I mean, just rubbing thighs isn’t worth it to me.”

Also, leather pants can restrict you. “While I wouldn’t say it’s necessarily dangerous, I think it will limit our bodies from performing exercises through their full range of motion, therefore preventing us from having our best workout!” adds Pruett. (FWIW, Kravitz looked pretty flexible while performing what can only be described as a weighted incline sit-up plus shoulder press—a move that should no attempt to recreate at home, according to The New York Times.)

The mesh top, on the other hand, wasn’t as off-putting to our training experts. “The mesh actually looks like it’s breathable,” Pruett tells PS. But this is primarily a means of style, not functionality. “Definitely not ideal for trapping sweat. And if your top doesn’t trap sweat, it’s most likely dripping down to your very hot and sticky leather pants. No thanks!” Pruett says.

The better option? Choose a Inspired by Kravitz gym. “Shiny fabrics that look like leather are a great alternative, and they’re also super grippy,” says Danielle Gray, NASM-certified personal trainer and founder of Train Like a Gymnast. Carbon 38 Leggings in Takara Shine ($128) are my personal favorite.

If you don’t like the shiny leather look, that’s OK too. The three main aspects you want to focus on when shopping for effective workout tights are lightweight, breathable, and moisture-wicking material. Gray recommends nylon and polyester, while Pruett suggests a more specific fabric percentage: 75% polyamide and 25% elastane. The Athleta Ultra High Rise Elation 7/8 Tight ($89) fits the bill—and if you want a mesh bra for training, the Alo Seamless Open Air Bra ($64), made with breathable fabric, is a great option.

However, what you wear to the gym is entirely up to you. If you want to go full Kravitz, so be it. If you want a more functional fit, that works too. The gym should be a place where you can be 100 percent yourself, and if leather pants and a mesh top do that for you (as Kravitz apparently does) — then, happy sweating.

Alexis Jones is a senior health editor at POPSUGAR. Her areas of expertise include women’s health, mental health, racial and ethnic health disparities, diversity in well-being, and chronic disease. Before joining POPSUGAR, she was a senior editor at Health magazine. Her other bylines can be found in Women’s Health, Prevention, Marie Claire, and more.